Error Flashing Basic Flavor Root File System on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash the Basic Flavor Root File System on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board. The flashing process fails with specific error messages, preventing the successful installation of the root file system. This issue occurs during the initial setup and configuration of the device.

The main symptoms include:

• Failure to write to the APP partition during flashing
• Error messages indicating problems with NFS mounting
• Kernel panic after attempting to switch from initrd to the actual rootfs

These errors result in an incomplete system setup, rendering the device unusable for further development or application deployment.

Possible Causes

1. Incompatible or corrupted root file system image:
   The Basic Flavor Root File System may not be properly compiled or may be incompatible with the specific hardware configuration.

2. NFS server connection issues:
   The device is unable to establish a stable connection with the NFS server on the host machine, preventing proper file transfer during the flashing process.

3. Partition layout or size mismatch:
   The error message suggests that the partition layout XML file may not accurately reflect the actual device size, causing issues during the flashing process.

4. Missing or incompatible software components:
   Certain required software packages or dependencies may be missing from the root file system, leading to initialization failures.

5. Hardware-specific compatibility issues:
   The flashing process may encounter problems due to specific hardware configurations or limitations of the Jetson Orin Nano development board.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify and rebuild the root file system:

   • Ensure you are using the correct version of Jetpack compatible with your Jetson Orin Nano board.
   • Rebuild the Basic Flavor Root File System following the official NVIDIA documentation, ensuring all steps are completed correctly.

2. Add missing packages to the root file system:

   • Add the ‘zstd’ package to the root file system build:

     cd ~/nvidia/Linux_for_Tegra/tools/samplefs/
     echo "zstd" >> nvubuntu-jammy-basic-aarch64-packages
     

   • Rebuild the sample rootfs:

     sudo ./nv_build_samplefs.sh --abi aarch64 --distro ubuntu --flavor basic --version jammy
     

3. Use alternative flashing command:
   Try using the following command to flash your board:

   sudo ADDITIONAL_DTB_OVERLAY_OPT="BootOrderNvme.dtbo" ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_t234_nvme.xml -p "-c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
   

4. Check and update partition layout XML:
   Review the partition layout XML file (flash_l4t_external.xml) and ensure it accurately reflects the device’s storage configuration. Update if necessary.

5. Verify NFS server configuration:

   • Ensure that the NFS server on the host machine is properly configured and accessible.
   • Check firewall settings and network connectivity between the host and the Jetson board.

6. Use default desktop rootfs:
   If issues persist with the Basic Flavor Root File System, try using the default desktop rootfs provided by NVIDIA to isolate whether the problem is specific to the custom-built rootfs.

7. Examine full logs:
   Capture and analyze the complete flashing logs to identify any additional error messages or warnings that may provide more insight into the issue.

8. Check hardware connections:
   Ensure all hardware connections, including power supply and USB connections, are secure and stable throughout the flashing process.

9. Update host machine software:
   Ensure that the host machine used for flashing has the latest updates for the NVIDIA SDK Manager and related tools.

10. Consult NVIDIA Developer Forums:
    If the issue persists after trying these solutions, consider posting detailed logs and hardware information on the NVIDIA Developer Forums for further assistance from the community or NVIDIA support staff.