Jetson Orin Nano: Issues with NVMe Flashing and USB Device Detection

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, particularly when using NVMe drives. The primary symptoms include repeated failures during the flashing process, with errors indicating that the device cannot be found or that the flashing process times out. Users have reported that despite following the correct procedures for flashing and using multiple NVMe drives, they consistently encounter errors during the process.

Relevant Hardware and Software Specifications

• Device: Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit (8GB)
• Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04
• JetPack Version: 6.0 DP (L4T 36.2.0)
• Flashing Method: SDK Manager and command-line tools

Symptoms

• Flashing attempts fail at various stages, often timing out with messages like "Waiting for target to boot-up."
• Users see error messages in logs indicating issues with USB communication or missing device nodes.
• The system may not recognize the NVMe drive during flashing attempts.

Possible Causes

1. Incompatible NVMe Drives: The NVMe drives being used may not be compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano.
2. Driver Issues: Missing drivers or kernel modules required for proper NVMe support could lead to failures during the flashing process.
3. USB Connection Problems: Issues with USB connections between the host PC and Jetson board can disrupt the flashing process.
4. Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in the device tree or flashing scripts may prevent successful flashing.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Verify NVMe Compatibility:

   • Ensure that the NVMe drives being used are compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano.

2. Inspect USB Connections:

   • Use a high-quality USB-C cable and try different USB ports on your host PC to rule out connection issues.

3. Check Kernel Logs:

   • Use dmesg to check for any errors related to USB or NVMe initialization:

     sudo dmesg | grep -i usb
     sudo dmesg | grep -i nvme
     

4. Run SDK Manager Properly:

   • Ensure you are using the latest version of SDK Manager from a supported host OS (Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04).
   • Follow these steps to flash correctly:
     • Put the Jetson board into recovery mode by connecting appropriate pins.
     • Connect to your host PC via USB-C.
     • Use lsusb to verify that the Jetson board is detected as an NVIDIA device.

5. Use Command-Line Flashing:

   • If SDK Manager fails, consider using command-line tools:

     sudo ./flash.sh --no-systemimg -c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

6. Check for Firmware Updates:

   • Ensure that your firmware is up-to-date and compatible with your current JetPack version.

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to NVIDIA’s official documentation for guidance on flashing procedures and troubleshooting common issues.

Recommended Fixes

• Users have successfully resolved similar issues by ensuring they are using compatible NVMe drives and verifying physical connections.
• If issues persist after following these steps, consider reaching out to NVIDIA support for further assistance.

Best Practices for Future Prevention

• Always verify compatibility of hardware components before attempting a flash or setup.
• Keep updated documentation on hand regarding specific configurations and requirements for different Jetson modules.

Unresolved Aspects and Further Investigation

• Users continue to seek clarity on whether specific configurations can be reliably used across different generations of Jetson hardware.
• There may be additional troubleshooting steps required that are not fully documented in existing resources.

By following these troubleshooting steps and solutions, users can effectively address issues related to flashing NVMe drives on their Jetson Orin Nano platform while ensuring compatibility with their hardware configurations.