Failed to Reliably Reflash Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to reflash the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. While the initial flashing process works without issues, subsequent attempts to reflash the same device with identical configurations often fail. This problem persists even when using different USB cables or attempting to flash from another PC. The issue primarily occurs during the flashing process, with the operation stopping after "Flash Jetson Linux – flash: Formatting App partition done" and displaying multiple "Flash Jetson Linux – flash: tar: Read checkpoint x" messages, followed by a "Flash failure" error.

Possible Causes

1. USB port compatibility: The front USB ports on some desktop PCs may be causing issues, possibly due to the presence of a USB hub.

2. Firewall settings: Although not confirmed in this case, firewall settings on the host PC could potentially interfere with the flashing process.

3. SDK Manager cache or residual files: Unresolved cache or temporary files from previous flashing attempts might be causing conflicts.

4. NFS server mounting issues: The error message suggests potential problems with the device mounting the NFS server on the host.

5. Inconsistent flash command parameters: Using incorrect or inconsistent command-line arguments for different storage configurations might lead to flashing failures.

6. OEM configuration loop: In some cases, successful flashes resulted in the device getting stuck in an OEM configuration loop.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use rear USB ports:

   • Connect the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit to the USB ports at the back of the desktop PC.
   • This solution resolved the issue for the original poster and should be tried first.

2. Use the recommended flashing command:

   sudo ADDITIONAL_DTB_OVERLAY_OPT="BootOrderNvme.dtbo" ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_t234_nvme.xml -p "-c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
   

   • This command is specifically tailored for flashing NVMe storage on the Jetson Orin Nano.

3. Disable host PC firewall:

   • Temporarily disable the firewall on the host PC to rule out any interference.
   • Re-enable the firewall after successful flashing.

4. Clean SDK Manager installation:

   • Uninstall everything in the SDK Manager.
   • Reboot the PC.
   • Reinstall the necessary components before attempting to reflash.

5. Clear potential cache and temporary files:

   • Delete the contents of the following folders:
     • /nvidia/nvidia_sdk/JetPack_6.0_Linux_JETSON_ORIN_NANO_TARGETS/Linux_for_Tegra
     • ~/Downloads/nvidia
   • Look for any other temporary folders created by the flashing script and remove them.

6. Check and compare flash logs:

   • Examine the flash logs located at <Linux_for_Tegra>/initrdlog/flash_3-6_0_<date>-<time>.log on the host machine.
   • Compare logs from successful and failed attempts to identify any differences.

7. Skip OEM configuration to avoid configuration loop:

   • Refer to the Jetson Linux Developer Guide for instructions on pre-configuring the username/password before flashing.
   • This step helps prevent the device from getting stuck in the OEM configuration loop.

8. Ensure proper recovery mode:

   • Before flashing, make sure the Jetson is in recovery mode:
     1. Power off the device.
     2. Connect the USB cable between the host PC and the Jetson.
     3. Press and hold the recovery button.
     4. While holding the recovery button, power on the device.
     5. Release the recovery button after 2 seconds.

9. Verify and update JetPack SDK:

   • Ensure you are using the latest version of JetPack SDK.
   • Update if necessary before attempting to reflash.

10. Try alternative flashing methods:

    • If SDK Manager continues to fail, try using the l4t_initrd_flash.sh script directly.
    • Experiment with different flash command parameters as needed for your specific setup.

11. Check for hardware issues:

    • If all software-based solutions fail, consider testing with a different Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit to rule out hardware problems.

By following these steps systematically, users should be able to resolve the reflashing issues with their Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. If problems persist, consult the official NVIDIA Jetson documentation or seek support from the NVIDIA developer forums.