Mass Flashing Jetson Orin Nano Dev Boards: Troubleshooting Unsuccessful Programming

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to mass flash multiple Nvidia Jetson Orin NX devices simultaneously. The main problem is that some devices are successfully programmed while others fail during the process. The key challenges include:

• Inability to distinguish between successfully and unsuccessfully programmed devices externally
• Frequent errors related to NVMe SSD detection during the flashing process
• Need for an efficient method to handle hundreds of Jetson devices

This issue significantly impacts the setup and deployment of Jetson Orin Nano Dev boards in large-scale scenarios, causing delays and requiring additional troubleshooting steps.

Possible Causes

1. NVMe SSD Detection Issues: The most prevalent cause appears to be the system’s failure to detect the NVMe SSD on some devices. This could be due to:

   • Faulty or improperly seated NVMe drives
   • Incompatible or outdated NVMe firmware
   • Hardware issues with the Jetson board’s NVMe interface

2. Formatting Problems: Unformatted or improperly formatted NVMe SSDs may lead to detection and flashing failures.

3. USB Connection Issues: Given the mass flashing setup, there might be problems with USB connectivity or power delivery to some devices.

4. Software or Script Limitations: The flashing script may have limitations in handling multiple devices simultaneously, leading to inconsistent results.

5. Hardware Variations: Slight differences in hardware revisions or components among the Jetson devices could contribute to inconsistent flashing results.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify NVMe SSD Detection:

   • Set up a serial console for each Jetson device before flashing.
   • Boot the device into initrd mode using the command:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --initrd jetson-orin-nano-devkit nvme0n1p1
     

   • In the serial console, check for NVMe detection:

     ls /dev/ | grep nvme
     

   • If /dev/nvme0n1 is not listed, the SSD is not detected and flashing will fail.

2. Format NVMe SSDs:

   • Remove the SSD from the Jetson board and connect it to a host PC.
   • Format the SSD before reinserting it into the Jetson device.
   • This step is crucial and should be done for all SSDs before mass flashing.

3. Improve Mass Flashing Process:

   • Use the following commands for mass flashing:

     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" --massflash 10 --no-flash --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit external
     
     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --flash-only --showlogs --network usb0 --massflash 10
     

4. Individual Device Testing:

   • For devices that fail mass flashing, attempt individual flashing to isolate issues.
   • Use the serial console to monitor the boot process and identify specific errors.

5. Check USB Connections:

   • Ensure all USB connections are secure and using high-quality cables.
   • Consider using powered USB hubs to ensure adequate power delivery to all devices.

6. Update Flashing Tools:

   • Ensure you’re using the latest version of the NVIDIA SDK Manager and flashing tools.
   • Check for any known issues or patches related to mass flashing on the NVIDIA Developer forums.

7. Hardware Inspection:

   • For persistently failing devices, inspect the NVMe slot and connections for any physical damage or debris.
   • Consider swapping NVMe drives between working and non-working units to isolate hardware issues.

8. Documentation and Tracking:

   • Maintain a detailed log of which devices fail and under what circumstances.
   • Use this information to identify patterns and potentially isolate batches of problematic hardware.

By following these steps systematically, you should be able to improve the success rate of mass flashing and efficiently identify and resolve issues with individual Jetson Orin Nano Dev boards. Remember that formatting the NVMe SSDs before flashing is a critical step that can resolve many of the detection and flashing issues encountered.