KONTRON CP306 Series Modules | CP306 36780 PC Memory Board

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

KONTRON CP306 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The KONTRON CP306 series represents a line of CompactPCI (cPCI) and PC-based embedded computing boards engineered for deployment in continuous-operation industrial environments. These modules have accumulated significant installed base across global heavy industry sectors including petrochemical processing plants, nuclear power station control rooms, offshore oil and gas platforms, and large-scale refinery distributed control systems (DCS). The CP306 platform was designed to meet the stringent uptime requirements of 24/7 process control infrastructure, where mean time between failures (MTBF) and long-term spare parts availability are primary procurement criteria. The series spans processor boards, memory expansion modules, I/O interface cards, and communication adapters — all conforming to the IEEE 1101.10 CompactPCI mechanical standard and operating within standard 6U rack enclosures.

The Evolution of CP306 Architecture

The CP306 architecture traces its lineage to KONTRON's early adoption of the CompactPCI bus standard in the mid-1990s, when the PICMG 2.0 specification established cPCI as the preferred backplane interconnect for telecom and industrial embedded computing. Early CP306-generation boards utilized Intel Pentium III and Celeron processors with PC133 SDRAM memory subsystems, operating on a 33 MHz / 32-bit PCI bus. Subsequent revisions introduced DDR SDRAM support, expanded the memory address space beyond 512 MB, and integrated onboard Ethernet PHY layers compliant with IEEE 802.3.

As the platform matured into the 2000s, KONTRON introduced variants with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 2.0 host controllers, and SATA storage interfaces while maintaining backward mechanical compatibility with earlier CP306 backplanes. The transition from PCI to PCI-X (133 MHz) on later board revisions addressed bandwidth bottlenecks in data-acquisition-intensive applications. By the early 2010s, the CP306 family entered its maintenance and lifecycle phase, with KONTRON formally transitioning customers toward the CP6000 and COMe (Computer-on-Module Express) platforms. However, the installed base in legacy DCS and SCADA systems has sustained continuous demand for CP306 spare parts and replacement modules well into the 2020s.

Compatibility note: CP306 boards require a PICMG 2.0-compliant 6U CompactPCI backplane. Mixed-generation deployments (e.g., CP306 Rev.A alongside Rev.C boards) may encounter bus arbitration conflicts if system slot configurations are not correctly set via hardware jumpers or BIOS settings.

CP306 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified models within the KONTRON CP306 series, classified by functional category. Each entry reflects a distinct hardware configuration documented in KONTRON's published product datasheets and end-of-life notices.

Memory & Processor Boards

• CP306 36780: 6U cPCI PC memory expansion board, PC133 SDRAM interface, system slot compatible.
• CP306 36700: 6U cPCI single-board computer, Intel Celeron 566 MHz, 128 MB SDRAM onboard.
• CP306 36710: 6U cPCI SBC, Intel Pentium III 733 MHz, 256 MB SDRAM, dual PMC expansion slots.
• CP306 36720: 6U cPCI SBC, Intel Pentium III 933 MHz, 512 MB SDRAM, onboard 10/100 Ethernet.
• CP306 36730: 6U cPCI SBC, Intel Celeron 1.0 GHz, 256 MB DDR SDRAM, CompactFlash socket.
• CP306 36740: 6U cPCI SBC, Intel Pentium III-S 1.26 GHz, 512 MB DDR, dual Gigabit Ethernet.
• CP306 36750: 6U cPCI SBC, Intel Pentium M 1.4 GHz, 1 GB DDR2, USB 2.0, SATA interface.
• CP306 36760: 6U cPCI SBC, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB DDR2, dual GbE, PCI-X 133 MHz bus.
• CP306 36770: 6U cPCI memory board, DDR SDRAM expansion module, 512 MB capacity.

I/O Interface Modules

• CP306-IO-DI32: 32-channel digital input module, 24 VDC isolated, cPCI rear I/O transition module.
• CP306-IO-DO32: 32-channel digital output module, 24 VDC sourcing, rear I/O compatible.
• CP306-IO-AI16: 16-channel analog input, 16-bit resolution, ±10 V / 4–20 mA selectable per channel.
• CP306-IO-AO8: 8-channel analog output, 16-bit DAC, ±10 V output range, rear I/O transition.

Communication & Network Adapters

• CP306-COM-PROFIBUS: PROFIBUS-DP master/slave adapter, cPCI form factor, up to 12 Mbit/s.
• CP306-COM-CAN: Dual-port CANbus interface module, ISO 11898-2, 1 Mbit/s, galvanically isolated.
• CP306-COM-RS422: Quad-port RS-422/RS-485 serial communication module, rear I/O transition card.

Power Supply Modules

• CP306-PSU-48V: 48 VDC input power supply module for CP306 6U chassis, 150 W output, hot-swap capable.
• CP306-PSU-AC: AC/DC power entry module, 85–264 VAC input, 5 V / 12 V / 3.3 V regulated outputs.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete CP306 Parts

The CP306 series reached end-of-active-production status, with KONTRON having formally discontinued new manufacturing of most board variants. For operators of legacy DCS, SCADA, and embedded control systems built on CP306 infrastructure, unplanned board failures present a critical operational risk when OEM channels no longer stock replacement units.

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory program for CP306 lifecycle extension support. Our sourcing operations cover:

• New-old-stock (NOS) CP306 boards sourced from verified industrial surplus channels.
• Professionally refurbished CP306 modules with full functional restoration to original specification.
• Cross-reference matching for CP306 variants where the exact part number has been superseded by a KONTRON-approved replacement.
• Emergency same-day quotation for unplanned plant shutdowns requiring immediate CP306 replacement.

All CP306 inventory is cataloged with revision level, firmware version (where applicable), and physical condition grade. Customers are provided with full traceability documentation upon request.

Quality Control for the CP306 Range

CP306 boards incorporate multi-layer PCB designs with high-density BGA processor packages and DDR memory arrays that require specialized test procedures beyond standard power-on verification. DriveKNMS applies the following QC protocol to all CP306 units processed through our facility:

• Backplane bus integrity test: Each CP306 board is seated in a reference 6U CompactPCI test chassis and subjected to full PCI bus enumeration, confirming correct device ID, vendor ID, and BAR (Base Address Register) mapping.
• Memory subsystem stress test: SDRAM and DDR arrays are tested using MemTest86+ for a minimum of two full passes, verifying address line integrity and data retention across the full address space.
• Thermal cycling verification: Boards are cycled between 0°C and 60°C operating temperature range to identify cold-solder joints and capacitor ESR degradation common in aged industrial boards.
• Ethernet PHY loopback test: All onboard Ethernet ports are verified at 10/100/1000 Mbit/s using hardware loopback adapters, confirming PHY register integrity and MAC-layer functionality.
• Serial and I/O port verification: RS-232, USB, and rear I/O transition module interfaces are tested for correct signal levels and protocol compliance using dedicated test fixtures.
• BIOS/firmware version audit: Firmware revision is documented and, where possible, updated to the latest KONTRON-released version prior to shipment.