CompactPCI Core Specification (PICMG 2.0)

The standard for PCI-based industrial computers is called CompactPCI.

CompactPCI originated in 1999, with an update in 2011, creating the basis CompactPCI 2.0 Core Specification. It is an adaption of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Specification for industrial and/or embedded applications requiring a more robust mechanical form factor than desktop PCI. CompactPCI exists to provide a standard form factor for those applications requiring the high performance of PCI as well as the small size and ruggedness of a rack mount system. It provides a mechanism for OEM and end users to differently apply PCI components and technology to a new mechanical form factor while maintaining compatibility with existing operating systems and application software available for desktop PCI.

CompactPCI is electrically a superset of desktop PCI with a different physical form factor. CompactPCI utilizes the Eurocard form factor popularised by the VME bus. It is defined for both 3U (100mm by 160 mm) and 6U (160mm by 233 mm) card sizes.

With the move from the parallel PCI bus to the serial busses, like PCIExpress, StarFabric, RapidIO, subsequent specifications were added to the CompactPCI family. For instance, the PICMG 2.16 CompactPCI Packet Switching Backplane specification overlays a packet based switching architecture on top of CompactPCI to create an Embedded System Area Network.

The CompactPCI Core specification can be ordered from PICMG.

A short form of Revision 3.0 of this specification can be downloaded here.

Other Relevant Specifications

Additions to the core specification guarantee that the more demanding industrial requirements like hot swap, multi-computing, rear I/O of mezzanine cards or conduction cooling can be solved in a standard way.

2.1 Hot Swap

2.2 VME64x

2.3 PMC I/O

2.4 IP I/O

2.5 Telephony

2.7 Dual CompactPCI

2.9 Management

2.10 Keying

2.11 Power Interface

2.12 Software Interoperability

2.14 Multicomputing

2.15 PTMC

2.16 PSB

2.17 Star Fabric

2.18 RapidIO

2.20 Serial Mesh

EXP.0 CompactPCI Express

Information on these specifications can be found on the PICMG website.