Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board: Secure Boot Error and Troubleshooting Guide

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board have reported encountering errors after enabling secure boot. The symptoms include failure to mount the filesystem and various error messages during the boot process. The issue arises during the setup phase, particularly when attempting to flash the device with secure boot enabled. Affected users have mentioned using specific commands to generate encryption keys and flash the device, but they experience consistent failures despite following the outlined procedures. The problem significantly impacts user experience by preventing successful booting and usage of the device.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The issue may stem from hardware defects, particularly with the System on Module (SoM) or carrier board.
2. Software Bugs or Conflicts: Users have noted that certain software versions (e.g., r35.4.1) may contain bugs that lead to these errors.
3. Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in files like fuse.xml or during the key generation process could cause failures.
4. Driver Issues: Incompatibilities or bugs in drivers associated with secure boot functionality may lead to boot failures.
5. Environmental Factors: Issues related to power supply or thermal conditions could contribute to instability during boot.
6. User Errors or Misconfigurations: Mistakes in command execution or configuration settings can lead to errors during flashing and booting.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Software Version:

   • Ensure that you are using the correct version of public sources (e.g., r35.4.1) for generating EKS images.
   • Recommended command:

     wget https://developer.nvidia.com/downloads/embedded/l4t/r35_release_v4.1/sources/public_sources.tbz2
     

2. Check Fuse Variables:

   • Use odmfuseread.sh to verify that fuse variables match expected values:

     sudo ./odmfuseread.sh -i 0x23 -k rsa.pem -S sbk.key jetson-orin-nano-devkit
     

3. Recreate EKS Image:

   • If issues persist, recreate the EKS image using an example script provided by Nvidia instead of running gen_ekb.py directly.
   • Example command for creating an EKS image:

     echo "2d4a614e645267556b58703273357638792f423f4428472b4b6250655368566d" > oem_k1.key
     

4. Flash Device with Correct Commands:

   • Follow a structured approach while flashing:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --network usb0 -u ./rsa.pem -v ./sbk.key --no-flash --showlogs -p "-c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

   • Ensure that you are using the correct parameters for your specific setup.

5. Test with Different Hardware Configurations:

   • If possible, swap the SoM with a new one to determine if hardware is causing the issue.

6. Monitor Boot Logs:

   • Collect and analyze complete boot logs for further insights into any underlying issues.
   • Command for capturing logs:

     dmesg > boot_logs.txt
     

7. Driver and Firmware Updates:

   • Regularly check for updates to drivers and firmware that may address known issues.

8. Consult Nvidia Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for additional troubleshooting steps and best practices related to secure boot.

9. Community Support:

   • Engage with community forums or support channels for shared experiences and solutions from other users who faced similar issues.

By following these steps, users can systematically diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to secure boot on their Jetson Orin Nano Dev Boards. Further investigation may be needed if problems persist despite these efforts.