Failed to Build UEFI on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer board have reported difficulties in building the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) while running Ubuntu 22.04. The primary symptoms include errors indicating that the build script does not support the ARM64 architecture, despite users attempting to perform the build directly on the ARM-based development board.

Specific Symptoms

• Errors stating that mu_nasm and edk2-acpica-iasl do not have support for the detected host (Linux, ARM, 64-bit).
• An exception raised during the build process indicating a failure to build.

Context

The issue arises during the UEFI build process after users follow instructions from an official GitHub repository. Users have successfully flashed their boards with JetPack 6.0 and have encountered problems specifically during the execution of the build.sh script.

Hardware and Software Specifications

• Hardware: Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer board with a 256GB SSD.
• Software: Ubuntu 22.04, JetPack 6.0, EdkRepo v3.2.2, GCC/G++ version 12.3.

Frequency of Issue

The problem appears to be consistent among users attempting to build UEFI on ARM64 architecture, as indicated by multiple reports in the forum.

Impact on User Experience

This issue significantly hampers users’ ability to utilize their boards for intended applications that require custom UEFI builds, leading to frustration and potential project delays.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The UEFI build tools may not support ARM64 architecture, which is essential for the Jetson Orin Nano.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The version of EDK II being used may have limitations regarding ARM64 support.

• Configuration Errors: Users may not have configured their environment correctly for building on an ARM architecture.

• Driver Issues: Potential incompatibilities between installed packages and the build environment could lead to failures.

• Environmental Factors: Issues such as insufficient power supply or overheating could affect performance but are less likely to cause this specific error.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrect setup or following outdated instructions could lead to failures during the build process.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Verify Environment Setup:

   • Ensure all prerequisites are installed as per documentation.
   • Confirm that you are using compatible versions of Python, GCC/G++, and other dependencies.

2. Check Architecture Compatibility:

   • Review whether the version of EDK II being used explicitly supports ARM64 architectures.
   • If it does not, consider using a different host machine that runs x86_64 architecture for building UEFI.

3. Run Dependency Checks:

   • Execute dependency checks to confirm that all required libraries and tools are properly installed:

     python3 -m pip check
     

4. Modify Build Script:

   • If comfortable with scripting, modify build.sh to bypass architecture checks temporarily (not recommended for production).

5. Testing with x86_64 Host:

   • If possible, switch to an x86_64 host machine to perform the UEFI build process as suggested in community responses.

6. Review Documentation:

   • Consult official documentation or community forums for any updates regarding ARM64 support in EDK II.

7. Contact Support:

   • Reach out to NVIDIA support or contribute to GitHub discussions regarding adding ARM64 support if it is indeed lacking.

Recommended Approach

Multiple users have indicated that building UEFI on an x86_64 machine is more reliable due to current limitations in ARM64 support within EDK II. This approach is recommended until official support is confirmed or provided.

Best Practices

• Keep your development environment updated with the latest versions of dependencies.
• Regularly check NVIDIA’s forums and GitHub repositories for updates regarding compatibility and support issues.
• Document any changes made during troubleshooting for future reference or community sharing.

Unresolved Aspects

While some users have successfully built UEFI on x86_64 systems, there remains a lack of clarity on whether future updates will include ARM64 support in EDK II. Further investigation into this aspect may be needed as development progresses.