JetPack 6.0 Flash Issues

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing multiple issues while attempting to flash JetPack 6.0 (rev2) onto the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit using the SDK Manager. The problems primarily arise during the installation process, particularly when flashing to an NVMe SSD formatted with ext4.

Symptoms and Errors

• Flash Status Error: The installation fails when the flash status reaches 94%.
• Java SSL Certificate Error: Users encounter an error stating they cannot open /etc/ssl/certs/java/cacerts for reading, despite having updated the certificates.
• RCM State Errors: Errors such as "rcm_state open failed" and "failed to read rcm_state" occur, indicating communication issues between the host PC and the Jetson device during recovery mode.
• Block Errors: Various block-related errors (e.g., 53899 blocks, 77459 blocks) appear during the flash process, causing installation failures.
• NFS Mount or Flash Command Failure: An error suggests that either the device cannot mount the NFS server or a flash command has failed, despite no NFS server being configured.
• L4TConfiguration.dts Warnings: Warnings about node properties appear multiple times but are unclear in their significance.
• CUDA and Dependency Errors: Issues arise during the installation of CUDA packages and other components (Nsight Systems, Nsight Graphics, VPI), often related to missing or conflicting libraries.

Context

The user is running Ubuntu 22.04 on an HP Ryzen laptop without a virtual machine. The OEM Configuration is set to Runtime mode. JetPack 5.1.3 is operational from an SD card, but the transition to JetPack 6.0 is problematic.

Frequency and Impact

These issues appear consistently during attempts to flash JetPack 6.0, significantly hindering user experience and functionality of the development kit.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The NVMe SSD or other hardware components may not be fully compatible with JetPack 6.0.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs within JetPack 6.0 or conflicts with existing software on the host machine.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in SDK Manager or system configurations could lead to installation failures.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers on the host machine may cause communication problems.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could affect performance during flashing.

• User Errors: Misconfigurations in system settings or incorrect use of SDK Manager may contribute to the problems.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Initial Setup Verification

   • Ensure that your host machine meets all system requirements for JetPack 6.0.
   • Verify that your Jetson Orin Nano’s firmware is up-to-date.

2. Flashing Process

   • Attempt to install/upgrade JetPack 6.0 on an SD card first before flashing to the NVMe SSD.
   • Disable any firewalls on your host machine before starting the flash process.

3. Java SSL Certificate Issue

   • Check if Java is properly installed and configured on your host machine.
   • Run the following command to ensure SSL certificates are updated:

     sudo update-ca-certificates
     

4. RCM State Errors

   • Ensure that the device is properly connected in recovery mode.
   • Try using a different USB port or cable to improve communication between devices.

5. Block Errors

   • Reformat the NVMe SSD to ext4 and retry flashing.
   • Check for hardware defects in the SSD by running diagnostics.

6. NFS Mount Failure

   • If NFS is not required, ensure that no configurations are inadvertently set for NFS mounting in SDK Manager.

7. Dependency Resolution

   • Use these commands to resolve dependency issues:

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get upgrade
     sudo apt-get install -f
     

   • Consider manually installing any missing packages reported in error messages.

8. L4TConfiguration.dts Warnings

   • These warnings may not be critical but can be investigated further by checking NVIDIA documentation for L4T configuration files.

9. Recommended Resources

   • For firmware updates, refer to resources like jetson-ai-lab.com for guidance on upgrading your Jetson UEFI Firmware.

10. Future Prevention

    • Regularly check for updates from NVIDIA regarding JetPack and related software.
    • Maintain backups of working configurations before attempting upgrades or installations.

Unresolved Aspects

While several users have reported success by initially flashing onto an SD card before moving to NVMe SSDs, further investigation may be needed into specific dependency errors encountered during installation of CUDA and Nsight components.