function getDefaultChannel($layer = null)
    {
        $ret = false;
        if ($layer === null) {
            foreach ($this->layers as $layer) {
                if (isset($this->configuration[$layer]['default_channel'])) {
                    $ret = $this->configuration[$layer]['default_channel'];
                    break;
                }
            }
        } elseif (isset($this->configuration[$layer]['default_channel'])) {
            $ret = $this->configuration[$layer]['default_channel'];
        }

        if ($ret == 'pear.php.net' && defined('PEAR_RUNTYPE') && PEAR_RUNTYPE == 'pecl') {
            $ret = 'pecl.php.net';
        }

        if ($ret) {
            if ($ret != 'pear.php.net') {
                $this->_lazyChannelSetup();
            }

            return $ret;
        }

        return PEAR_CONFIG_DEFAULT_CHANNEL;
    }