Mass Setup of Jetson Orin Nano with SSD Drive

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties in setting up multiple Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano devices with SSD drives prior to the arrival of the actual hardware. The primary symptoms include:

• Boot Issues: Users report that SSDs configured on one Jetson Orin Nano do not boot when connected to another device.
• Setup Context: The setup is being conducted on a standalone Ubuntu 22.04 system using the SDK Wizard for SSD preparation.
• Hardware Specifications: The setup involves multiple Jetson Orin Nano boards and SSD drives, but the specific models of SSDs are not mentioned.
• Consistency: The issue appears consistently across different users attempting similar setups.
• User Experience Impact: This problem hinders the ability to create identical systems for a graduate class, as students will not have access to a standalone Linux system for setup.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes could lead to the observed booting issues:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: Each Jetson Orin Nano module includes QSPI memory that contains the bootloader and essential partitions, which may lead to incompatibility if SSDs are moved between devices.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be issues related to the SDK Wizard or the underlying software that prevent proper configuration of the SSDs for use across different modules.

• Configuration Errors: If the SSDs are not configured correctly during the initial setup process, this could prevent them from being recognized by other Jetson Orin Nano devices.

• Driver Issues: Incompatibilities or outdated drivers may also contribute to problems in recognizing or booting from the SSDs.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently misconfigure settings during the setup process, leading to non-functional SSDs when transferred.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues with setting up multiple Jetson Orin Nano devices, follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Flashing Each Module Individually:

   • It is essential to flash each Jetson Orin Nano module individually. This ensures that each device has its unique bootloader and partition configurations.
   • Refer to the documentation for Orin Nano QSPI Flash Only to understand how to flash QSPI memory specifically.

2. Using Mass Flashing Techniques:

   • Utilize Workflow 7 from the Linux_for_Tegra tools, specifically detailed in README_initrd_flash.txt, which provides guidance on mass flashing multiple devices efficiently.

3. Verify SSD Configuration:

   • Before moving SSDs between devices, ensure they are correctly configured. Use the SDK Wizard on each Jetson Orin Nano to set up the SSDs directly on their respective modules.

4. Testing Boot Process:

   • After flashing, connect each SSD back to its original module and test the boot process. Confirm that it boots without any errors before attempting to use it on another module.

5. Driver Updates:

   • Ensure all drivers are up-to-date on both the standalone Ubuntu system and each Jetson Orin Nano device. Check Nvidia’s official site for any available updates.

6. Documentation and Resources:

   • Review Nvidia’s official documentation for additional details on setup processes and troubleshooting tips specific to Jetson Orin Nano devices.

7. Best Practices for Future Setups:

   • To prevent similar issues in future setups:
     • Always flash modules individually.
     • Maintain consistent hardware configurations across all devices.
     • Provide students with access to necessary tools and documentation for setup.

By following these steps, users should be able to successfully set up multiple Jetson Orin Nano devices with SSD drives in a manner conducive to creating identical systems for educational purposes.