How to Port the System of Orin NX to Orin Nano

Issue Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of porting the system from the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX to the Jetson Orin Nano. Users are seeking guidance on how to perform this transition effectively. Specific symptoms noted include difficulties in finding relevant documentation and potential issues during setup. The problem typically arises during the initial setup phase when users attempt to flash the system image onto the microSD card or when trying to boot the device for the first time.

Key hardware specifications mentioned include:

• Jetson Orin NX and Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kits
• microSD card (32GB UHS-1 or higher recommended)
• Power supply requirements (5V-2A for Nano, 9-19V for Orin Nano)

The issue appears to be consistent among users, impacting their ability to utilize the developer kits effectively.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: Users may be using incompatible microSD cards or power supplies, leading to boot failures.
2. Software Bugs or Conflicts: Issues may arise from using developer preview versions of JetPack, which can introduce instability.
3. Configuration Errors: Improper configurations during flashing or setup can prevent successful booting.
4. Driver Issues: Outdated or incorrect drivers may lead to detection problems when connecting to a host PC.
5. Environmental Factors: Insufficient power supply can affect performance and functionality.
6. User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrectly following setup instructions, such as not entering recovery mode properly.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Requirements:

   • Ensure you are using a compatible microSD card (32GB UHS-1 minimum).
   • Check that you are using the correct power supply (5V-2A for Nano, 9-19V for Orin Nano).

2. Flashing the SD Card:

   • Download the appropriate Jetson Orin Nano SD Card image from the JetPack SDK Page.
   • Use a reliable method to flash the image onto your microSD card (e.g., Balena Etcher).
   • Ensure that you are using JetPack 5.x rather than JetPack 6.x for initial setups as it is more stable.

3. Entering Recovery Mode:

   • To enter recovery mode, connect pins 9 and 10 on the device while powering it on. This is crucial for SDK Manager detection.
   • Follow instructions from NVIDIA’s documentation on how to properly set up recovery mode.

4. Using SDK Manager:

   • Launch SDK Manager on your host PC and select "Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit" as your target hardware.
   • If your board is not detected, ensure it is in recovery mode and connected via USB Type-C cable.

5. Command Line Diagnostics:

   • Use terminal commands to check connectivity and status:

     sudo apt update
     sudo apt install -y v4l-utils
     v4l2-ctl --list-devices
     

   • This will help verify if your camera or other peripherals are recognized.

6. Common Fixes:

   • If you encounter a black screen after booting, try re-flashing the SD card with JetPack 5.x.
   • Ensure that you have updated QSPI bootloaders if using JetPack 6.x for subsequent boots.

7. Documentation and Resources:

   • Refer to the NVIDIA Jetson Linux Developer Guide for comprehensive instructions.
   • Check out community forums for additional troubleshooting tips and shared experiences from other users.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Always use stable releases of software and firmware updates.
   • Keep a backup of your working configuration and document any changes made during setup.

By following these steps, users should be able to effectively troubleshoot issues related to porting systems between NVIDIA’s Jetson Orin NX and Orin Nano platforms.