AWS KVS WebRTC Blocking State

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues with the AWS Kinesis Video Streams (KVS) WebRTC SDK while attempting to stream video from the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano. The primary symptoms include a blocking state when connecting to the master stream, which prevents successful video streaming. This problem arises specifically after modifications are made to the GStreamer pipeline in the kvsWebrtcClientMasterGstSample.c file, where users have adjusted settings such as resolution and bitrate. Notably, the same code functions correctly on an Ubuntu 20.04 machine, indicating a potential compatibility issue or misconfiguration on the Jetson Orin Nano. The issue appears to be consistent across multiple attempts, significantly impacting user experience by hindering the ability to stream video effectively.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The Jetson Orin Nano may have specific hardware configurations that differ from standard Ubuntu setups, potentially leading to compatibility issues with the KVS SDK.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the KVS WebRTC SDK or conflicts with installed libraries on the Jetson device that could cause the blocking state.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect parameters in the GStreamer pipeline (e.g., improper resolution or bitrate settings) may lead to failures during stream initialization.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers for video processing on the Jetson Orin Nano could result in streaming problems.
• Environmental Factors: Network conditions such as latency or packet loss might contribute to connection issues, especially in a cloud streaming context.
• User Errors: Misconfigurations in the GStreamer pipeline or incorrect usage of SDK functions could lead to these issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify GStreamer Pipeline:

   • Before running the application, test the GStreamer pipeline using gst-launch-1.0 to ensure it works independently of the KVS SDK.
   • Example command:

     gst-launch-1.0 uridecodebin uri=<your_rtsp_uri> ! nvvideoconvert ! autovideosink
     

2. Check Logs for Errors:

   • Review any log files generated during streaming attempts for error messages that can provide insight into what might be going wrong.

3. Simplify Pipeline Configuration:

   • Temporarily revert changes made to the GStreamer pipeline (e.g., remove custom resolutions and bitrate settings) to see if it resolves the blocking state.

4. Test with Different Settings:

   • Experiment with different resolutions and bitrates in your GStreamer pipeline. For instance, try setting both min and max bitrate to a standard value that is known to work.

5. Update Software and Drivers:

   • Ensure that all software dependencies and drivers on the Jetson Orin Nano are up-to-date. This includes updating the KVS SDK and any relevant GStreamer plugins.

6. Network Configuration Checks:

   • Verify network settings and ensure that there are no firewall rules or network policies blocking necessary ports for KVS WebRTC communication.

7. Use Fakesink for Debugging:

   • If replacing appsink with fakesink did not resolve the issue, consider testing other sink elements to isolate whether the problem lies within data handling.

8. Consult Documentation:

   • Reference the Amazon Kinesis Video Streams WebRTC Developer Guide for additional troubleshooting tips and configuration examples.

9. Community Support:

   • Engage with community forums such as NVIDIA Developer Forums or GitHub issues related to KVS WebRTC for shared experiences and solutions from other users facing similar issues.

10. Monitor ICE Candidate Generation:

    • Use tools like Trickle ICE to monitor ICE candidate generation and ensure that candidates are being successfully gathered and exchanged between peers.

11. Test on Alternative Hardware/Software Configurations:

    • If possible, try running your application on different hardware (e.g., another Jetson device or a standard PC) to determine if the issue is specific to your current setup.

By following these steps, users can systematically diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to AWS KVS WebRTC blocking states when using Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano devices.