Jetson Orin Nano Not Detected by SDK Manager and Fails to Boot from SD Card

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties with the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit [945-13766-0005-0000]. The main problems reported are:

1. The device is not recognized by the NVIDIA SDK Manager when running on Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS.
2. The device fails to boot from an SD card, despite successful attempts with previous Jetson Nano Developer Kits.
3. Users can access the device through UART serial communication, but it appears to be stuck at the UEFI Interactive Shell.

The issue seems to occur during the initial setup and configuration of the Jetson Orin Nano. It impacts the user’s ability to properly set up and utilize the device, potentially causing delays in project deployment.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect Boot Mode: The device may not be in the correct mode for SDK Manager detection or SD card booting.
2. SD Card Image Issues: The "jp60dp-orin-nano-sd-card-image" may be incompatible or corrupted.
3. Hardware Incompatibility: There could be issues with the Crucial P3 1TB PCIe Gen3 NVMe drive compatibility.
4. SDK Manager Version Mismatch: The version of SDK Manager may not support the Jetson Orin Nano.
5. Missing Drivers: Required drivers for device detection may be absent on the host system.
6. UEFI Configuration: Incorrect UEFI settings may prevent proper booting.
7. Power Supply Issues: Inadequate power supply could cause detection and booting problems.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Enable Force Recovery Mode:

   • Place a jumper across FC REC and GND pins to put the device in force recovery mode.
   • This is crucial for the SDK Manager to detect the device.

2. Verify USB Detection:

   • Open a terminal on the host computer and run:

     lsusb
     

   • Check if the Jetson Orin Nano is listed in the output.

3. Update SDK Manager:

   • Ensure you have the latest version of NVIDIA SDK Manager installed.
   • Download it from the official NVIDIA Developer website.

4. Check SD Card Compatibility:

   • Use a high-quality, class 10 or UHS-I SD card.
   • Reformat the SD card using FAT32 file system.
   • Re-download and flash the "jp60dp-orin-nano-sd-card-image" to the SD card.

5. NVMe Drive Configuration:

   • Verify that the Crucial P3 1TB PCIe Gen3 NVMe drive is properly seated and recognized in UEFI.
   • If issues persist, try using a different NVMe drive or temporarily remove it to isolate the problem.

6. UART Debugging:

   • Analyze the full UART output for any error messages or warnings that occur before reaching the UEFI shell.
   • Look for specific error codes or messages that might indicate hardware or firmware issues.

7. Flash eMMC Using External Tools:

   • If SDK Manager fails, use the method described in the JetsonHacks tutorial to flash the eMMC:

     sudo ./flash.sh jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
     

   • This bypasses the SDK Manager and directly flashes the system.

8. Check Power Supply:

   • Ensure you’re using a power supply that meets the Jetson Orin Nano’s requirements (5V, 4A recommended).
   • Try a different power supply or USB cable to rule out power-related issues.

9. Update UEFI Firmware:

   • If available, update the UEFI firmware to the latest version compatible with Jetson Orin Nano.
   • This may resolve boot and detection issues.

10. Verify Host System Compatibility:

    • Ensure your host system (Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS) meets all requirements for SDK Manager and Jetson Orin Nano development.
    • Check for any known issues or conflicts with your specific host system configuration.

11. Community Resources:

    • Consult the NVIDIA Developer Forums for similar issues and solutions.
    • Check the JetsonHacks website for updated tutorials and troubleshooting guides specific to Jetson Orin Nano.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider reaching out to NVIDIA support directly or opening a new forum thread with detailed information about your setup and the troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken.