Feasibility of Using USB-to-eMMC Chip with Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties with utilizing a USB-to-eMMC chip for booting their systems based on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The main symptoms reported include failure to recognize the eMMC as a bootable device, leading to boot failures or black screens during startup. This issue arises particularly when attempting to set up the system or after flashing the device with different JetPack versions. The hardware involved is primarily the Jetson Orin Nano and the GL3227E USB-to-eMMC conversion chip. Users have noted that this problem is consistent and impacts their ability to use the board effectively, particularly for development purposes.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities: The GL3227E chip may not be fully compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano, leading to issues in recognizing eMMC as a boot drive.
2. Driver Issues: If UEFI does not support the necessary drivers for the USB-to-eMMC chip, it may prevent the system from booting correctly.
3. Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in UEFI or improper connections could lead to failure in recognizing the boot device.
4. Software Bugs: Bugs in JetPack versions (especially in developer previews) may cause instability or failure during the boot process.
5. User Errors: Misconfigurations during setup or flashing processes can lead to these issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Compatibility:

   • Confirm that the GL3227E chip is compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano. Consider using alternative storage solutions like PCIe NVMe SSDs, which may offer more reliability.

2. Check UEFI Drivers:

   • Ensure that UEFI has the necessary drivers for USB-to-eMMC devices. If not present, consider alternative boot methods or storage devices.

3. Reconfigure Boot Settings:

   • Access UEFI settings and verify that the eMMC is set as a primary boot device.
   • If using a USB-to-eMMC setup, ensure all connections are secure and correctly oriented.

4. Flash with Stable Versions:

   • Use stable versions of JetPack (e.g., JetPack 5.x) instead of developer previews, as they are less likely to contain critical bugs that affect booting.

5. Utilize SDK Manager:

   • Use Nvidia SDK Manager for flashing and ensure that your board is in recovery mode during this process.
   • If issues arise during flashing, utilize the "EXPORT LOGS" feature to gather diagnostic information.

6. Test Alternative Storage Options:

   • If feasible, test with an SD card or PCIe NVMe SSD to determine if the issue is specific to the eMMC setup.

7. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for troubleshooting steps related to boot issues and driver installations.

8. Community Support:

   • Engage with Nvidia forums or community discussions for additional insights and shared experiences from other users facing similar challenges.

9. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly update firmware and software components.
   • Maintain backups of configuration settings and important data before making significant changes.

10. Unresolved Aspects:

    • Further investigation may be needed regarding compatibility with third-party hardware components and specific configurations that lead to successful setups.

By following these steps, users can better diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to using a USB-to-eMMC chip with their Jetson Orin Nano Dev boards.