HDMI Output Issue on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano (8G) Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano (8G) Dev Board are experiencing an issue where HDMI output works during the UEFI stage but fails to function once the Ubuntu operating system boots up. This problem occurs after successfully flashing the NVMe storage and booting the system. The issue appears to be specific to the Ubuntu environment, as HDMI output is confirmed to work during the earlier boot stages.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect Display Interface Configuration: The default configuration may be set to enable DisplayPort (DP) instead of HDMI for the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit.

2. Incompatible Board Configuration: Attempts to use a different board configuration (p3509-a02+p3767-0000) that supposedly enables HDMI by default have resulted in flashing failures.

3. Custom Carrier Board Limitations: The user is using a custom-designed carrier board that can only boot from NVMe, which may introduce compatibility issues with standard configurations.

4. Software or Driver Issues: There might be problems with the HDMI drivers or software configuration in the Ubuntu environment.

5. Hardware Incompatibility: The custom carrier board design might have incompatibilities with the standard HDMI implementation.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Current Configuration

   • Confirm that you are using the correct configuration for the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit.
   • The default configuration jetson-orin-nano-devkit should be used for flashing and initial setup.

2. Flash NVMe with Correct Parameters

   • Use the following command to flash the NVMe storage:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_external.xml -p "-c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

   • Ensure that you use jetson-orin-nano-devkit as the board configuration.

3. Check HDMI Configuration in Ubuntu

   • Once booted into Ubuntu, check the display configuration using:

     xrandr
     

   • Look for HDMI outputs in the list and their status.

4. Update System and Drivers

   • Ensure your Jetson Linux is up to date:

     sudo apt update
     sudo apt upgrade
     

   • Check for any available driver updates specific to display interfaces.

5. Modify Device Tree

   • If HDMI is not enabled by default, you may need to modify the device tree to enable it.
   • Consult the Jetson Linux Developer Guide for instructions on customizing the device tree.

6. Check HDMI Cable and Monitor

   • Verify that the HDMI cable is functioning correctly by testing it with another device.
   • Try a different HDMI-compatible monitor to rule out display compatibility issues.

7. Investigate Custom Carrier Board Design

   • Review the custom carrier board design to ensure it properly implements HDMI connectivity.
   • Verify that the HDMI signals are correctly routed and terminated on the custom board.

8. Console Debugging

   • Use a serial console to monitor boot messages and look for any HDMI-related errors or warnings.
   • Check system logs in Ubuntu for any display-related issues:

     dmesg | grep -i hdmi
     

9. Consider Alternative Display Interfaces

   • If HDMI continues to be problematic, consider using DisplayPort if available on your custom carrier board.

10. Seek Support for Custom Hardware

    • If the issue persists, reach out to NVIDIA developer support or the Jetson community forums with detailed information about your custom carrier board design and the steps you’ve taken to troubleshoot.

Remember that using a custom carrier board may introduce complexities not present in the standard Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit. Some solutions that work for the standard kit may need adaptation for your custom hardware.