How to Enable Device Mode on the USB-B Port of Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano on A603 Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties enabling the USB-B port on the Seeed Studios A603 board for device mode communication between the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano and mobile devices. The symptoms include:

• No device recognition: When connecting the Jetson to a mobile device, it fails to appear as a recognized USB device.
• Error messages: Attempts to load kernel modules (e.g., modprobe g_acm) result in errors indicating that the modules are not found.
• Inconsistent behavior: While some users report seeing a rndis interface when connected to a PC, others do not see any new devices appear at all.
• Context: The issue arises during attempts to use the USB-B port for debugging or as an accessory, with users reporting this problem across multiple A603 boards.
• Impact: This issue significantly hampers user experience by preventing intended communication with mobile devices and limiting the functionality of the board.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Hardware incompatibilities: The A603 board’s design may not fully support the expected USB device modes, leading to recognition issues.
• Software bugs or conflicts: There may be unresolved software issues within the Jetson OS that prevent proper configuration of USB modes.
• Configuration errors: Incorrect settings or missing configurations in system files related to USB gadget functionality could lead to these symptoms.
• Driver issues: Missing or incompatible drivers for USB functionality could prevent proper operation of the USB-B port.
• Environmental factors: Power supply issues or faulty cables, although ruled out by users, can sometimes cause connectivity problems.
• User errors or misconfigurations: Incorrectly attempting to load kernel modules or misusing system commands might lead to failures in enabling device mode.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issue of enabling device mode on the USB-B port, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Kernel Modules:

   • Verify that necessary kernel modules are available and correctly loaded. Use:

     lsmod | grep g_*
     

   • If modules like g_acm are missing, ensure you have the correct kernel version.

2. Inspect Configuration Files:

   • Navigate to /sys/kernel/config/usb_gadget/l4t and check if the directory structure is correct. Ensure that functions such as acm.GS0, mass_storage.0, etc., are properly configured.

3. Load Required Modules:

   • If modules are missing, try loading them manually:

     sudo modprobe g_acm
     

   • If you encounter errors, check your kernel version against available modules in /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/.

4. Check System Services:

   • Ensure that relevant services for USB device mode are running:

     systemctl status l4t-usb-device-mode
     

   • Restart the service if necessary:

     sudo systemctl restart l4t-usb-device-mode
     

5. Test with Different Devices:

   • Connect various types of devices (e.g., mass storage) to confirm whether the issue is specific to certain devices or universal across all connections.

6. Examine System Logs:

   • Use dmesg to check for any error messages related to USB connections:

     dmesg | grep usb
     

7. Firmware and Software Updates:

   • Ensure that your Jetson Orin Nano is running the latest firmware and software versions. Follow instructions from NVIDIA’s official documentation on updating firmware.

8. Recovery Mode Configuration:

   • If jumper settings are needed for recovery mode (to reflash or reset configurations), refer to documentation on how to properly set jumpers on the A603 board.

9. Consult Documentation and Community Forums:

   • For additional guidance, refer to NVIDIA’s Jetson Developer Kit User Guide and community forums where similar issues may have been discussed.

10. Best Practices for Future Use:

    • Keep your system updated regularly.
    • Document any changes made during troubleshooting for future reference.
    • Test new configurations in a controlled manner to isolate variables effectively.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, further investigation into hardware compatibility with specific software versions may be required.