If it is FireWire (IEEE 1394) or USB to the external box, and it's the only drive in the box, then "master" or "only" jumper setting (usually means no jumper).
If it is not the only drive in the box, and the cable has two 40pin ide connectors on it, the middle one is the slave and the end one is the master; you can either jumper the drive to match the cable connector position, or set the drive jumper for "cable select" and let the connector position determine mastership or slaveship.
Master gets first crack at the bus for data transfer.
You probably want mastership, especially if it's a burner.
(Corrections welcomed, and I will edit the above as needed; thanks!)
=DH
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