Jetson Orin Nano Boot Failure and SD Card Corruption Issue

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Board are experiencing persistent boot failures and SD card corruption problems. The issue manifests after a few safe shutdowns or reboots, preventing the device from turning on. Multiple users have reported this problem, with some noting that the corruption starts small and gradually worsens, eventually leading to failed networking. The issue persists even after reflashing the SD card multiple times, suggesting a deeper underlying problem.

Possible Causes

1. SD Card Compatibility: The Orin Nano may have issues with certain SD card types or brands.

2. Firmware Mismatch: A mismatch between the QSPI firmware and the JetPack version on the SD card could be causing conflicts.

3. Hardware Defect: There might be a hardware issue affecting the SD card interface or power management.

4. Improper Shutdown: Despite users reporting "safe shutdowns," the system might not be properly completing the shutdown process.

5. Software Bug: A bug in the bootloader or operating system could be causing file system corruption over time.

6. Power Supply Issues: Unstable power supply might be causing unexpected behavior during boot or shutdown.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use Alternative Boot Methods:

   • Try booting from an NVMe drive or USB drive instead of the SD card.
   • If successful, this can serve as a temporary workaround while the SD card issue is being investigated.

2. Proper Reflashing Procedure:

   • Use NVIDIA SDK Manager for a complete reflash of the system.
   • Ensure you’re flashing the entire system, not just the SD card.
   • Command to check JetPack version:

     sudo apt-cache show nvidia-jetpack
     

3. Check for eMMC Presence:

   • Verify if your Orin Nano model has eMMC storage.
   • If it doesn’t, investigate why the boot log is attempting to mount eMMC partitions.

4. Serial Console Debugging:

   • Connect a serial console to gather more detailed boot logs.
   • Use a tool like PuTTY or screen to connect to the serial port.
   • Command to connect (replace X with the appropriate port number):

     screen /dev/ttyUSBX 115200
     

5. File System Check and Repair:

   • If you can boot occasionally, run a file system check:

     sudo fsck -f /dev/mmcblk0p1
     

   • Replace mmcblk0p1 with the appropriate partition if different.

6. QSPI Firmware Update:

   • Ensure the QSPI firmware matches the JetPack version on the SD card.
   • This process may require specific tools from NVIDIA; consult their documentation for the exact procedure.

7. Power Supply Verification:

   • Ensure you’re using a power supply that meets the Orin Nano’s specifications.
   • Try a different power supply to rule out power-related issues.

8. Temperature Monitoring:

   • Check the system temperature during operation:

     tegrastats
     

   • Ensure proper cooling to prevent thermal throttling or unexpected shutdowns.

9. Kernel and Boot Log Analysis:

   • Examine dmesg logs for any error messages or warnings:

     dmesg | grep -i error
     dmesg | grep -i warning
     

   • Look for patterns or recurring issues in the logs.

10. Contact NVIDIA Support:

    • If the issue persists after trying these steps, contact NVIDIA support.
    • Provide them with the serial console logs, dmesg output, and a detailed description of the problem.

It is worth accentuating that NVIDIA has acknowledged this as a known issue and is working on a fix. In the meantime, using NVMe or USB storage for booting is recommended as a workaround. Users should keep their systems updated and watch for official announcements regarding a permanent solution to this problem.