Trouble flashing Nvidia SDK Manager to Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties while attempting to flash the Nvidia SDK Manager to the Jetson Orin Nano 8GB development board. The primary symptoms include an error message indicating a failure to read the ECID (Electronic Chip ID) during the flashing process. The issue arises when users connect the device via USB-C, use a jumper cable to enter force recovery mode, and then attempt to execute the flashing script. The specific error encountered is:

*** Error: ECID read failed.
Put the target board in RCM mode and retry.
*** ERROR: Parsing boardid failed

This problem occurs in the context of setting up Ubuntu on the Jetson Orin Nano, with users running Ubuntu 22.04 on their host machines. There is uncertainty regarding whether an older version of Ubuntu is required for successful flashing. The issue appears to be consistent, as users have reported encountering it multiple times during setup.

The impact of this problem significantly hampers user experience, as it prevents the installation and configuration of necessary software on the Jetson Orin Nano, thereby limiting its functionality for development purposes.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: If the USB-C cable or jumper cable is faulty, it could prevent proper communication between the host machine and the Jetson Orin Nano.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The use of an unsupported or incorrectly configured version of the Nvidia SDK Manager could lead to errors during flashing.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the flashing script or failure to properly enter recovery mode may result in unsuccessful attempts to read device identifiers.

• Driver Issues: Incompatibilities with USB drivers on the host machine, especially if running in a virtual machine environment, could hinder device recognition.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could affect device performance during flashing.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: If users are unfamiliar with the flashing process or have not followed all necessary steps correctly, this could lead to errors.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure that the USB-C cable is functioning properly and securely connected.
   • Check that the jumper cable is correctly placed to put the device into force recovery mode.
   • If possible, try using a different USB-C cable or port.

2. Confirm Recovery Mode:

   • Make sure that you have successfully entered recovery mode by checking if the device is recognized by running lsusb on your host machine.
   • Look for an entry similar to Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0955:7523 NVIDIA Corp. APX.

3. Check Host Environment:

   • If using a virtual machine (VM), consider switching to a physical machine for flashing, as VMs can introduce additional complications with USB device recognition.
   • Ensure that your host OS (Ubuntu 22.04) has all necessary updates and dependencies installed for Nvidia SDK Manager.

4. Use Correct Flashing Script:

   • Verify that you are using the official flashing script provided by Nvidia. The command ./flash_jetson_external_storage.sh should be run from the correct directory where the script resides.
   • Ensure that you have navigated correctly into directories before executing scripts.

5. Run as Superuser:

   • Make sure you are executing commands with sufficient permissions by using sudo when necessary.

6. Check for Software Updates:

   • Look for any available updates for Nvidia SDK Manager and install them.
   • Confirm compatibility between your version of Ubuntu and the SDK Manager being used.

7. Review Documentation:

   • Consult Nvidia’s official documentation for any specific requirements regarding OS versions and installation procedures.

8. Testing Alternative Configurations:

   • If issues persist, consider testing with an older version of Ubuntu (e.g., 20.04) to determine if compatibility is causing problems.

9. Seek Further Assistance:

   • If none of these steps resolve your issue, consider posting a new thread in forums dedicated to Nvidia Jetson support, providing detailed information about your setup and any error messages encountered.

10. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

    • Always ensure that your development environment meets all hardware and software requirements before starting installations.
    • Keep backups of working configurations and scripts for future reference.

By following these troubleshooting steps and solutions, users should be able to effectively diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to flashing the Nvidia SDK Manager on their Jetson Orin Nano devices.