ATF Flashing Issue on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash the ARM Trusted Firmware (ATF) on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board. The problem occurs during the boot process after flashing a custom-built ATF image. Specifically, users encounter an error message indicating that the system is unable to load the ATF image, resulting in a boot failure. This issue prevents users from accessing the full functionality of their Jetson Orin Nano board and hinders development efforts.

The problem arises after following a specific set of steps to build and flash the ATF:

1. Downloading Jetson Linux 36.2 and the Driver Package (BSP) Sources
2. Building the ATF using provided commands
3. Creating a Trusted OS image
4. Flashing the ATF using the flash.sh script

When the board is powered on after this process, it fails to boot properly, displaying an error message instead of entering the UEFI shell as expected.

Possible Causes

1. Incompatible ATF Source: The ATF source package used might not be compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano platform. The README file in the package mentions support for Jetson AGX Orin series, but not explicitly for Jetson Orin Nano.

2. Incorrect Binary File: The flashing process might be using an incorrect binary file for the A_secure-os partition.

3. Build Configuration Issues: There could be misconfigurations or errors in the build process, resulting in an incompatible ATF image.

4. Flashing Process Errors: The commands used for flashing the ATF might not be appropriate for the Jetson Orin Nano board.

5. Hardware Compatibility: There might be hardware-specific issues or incompatibilities between the built ATF and the Jetson Orin Nano board.

6. Outdated or Incompatible Software Versions: The versions of the tools, drivers, or BSP used might not be fully compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Platform Compatibility:

   • Check the official Nvidia documentation to confirm if the ATF source package supports Jetson Orin Nano.
   • If not supported, contact Nvidia support for the correct ATF sources for Jetson Orin Nano.

2. Use Correct Binary File:

   • Ensure you’re using the correct binary file for the A_secure-os partition.
   • As suggested in a reply, use the tos-optee_t234.img file instead of the custom-built tos.img.
   • Try flashing with the following command:

     sudo ./flash.sh -k A_secure-os --image path/to/tos-optee_t234.img jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
     

3. Revert to Default Configuration:

   • If the custom ATF build fails, try flashing only the partition table config file:

     sudo ./flash.sh -c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
     

   • This should allow you to enter the UEFI shell and diagnose further.

4. Check Build Process:

   • Review the build commands and ensure all parameters are correct for Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Verify that the PLAT=tegra and TARGET_SOC=t234 options are appropriate for your board.

5. Update Software and Drivers:

   • Ensure you have the latest Jetson Linux and BSP versions compatible with Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Check for any available updates or patches specific to ATF flashing issues.

6. Consult Nvidia Developer Forums:

   • Search the Nvidia Developer Forums for similar issues reported by other Jetson Orin Nano users.
   • Post your specific error messages and steps taken to get more targeted assistance.

7. Verify Hardware Integrity:

   • Check all connections and ensure the board is not damaged.
   • Try the flashing process on another Jetson Orin Nano board, if available, to rule out hardware-specific issues.

8. Capture Detailed Error Logs:

   • During the boot process, capture detailed error logs if possible.
   • Analyze these logs for specific error codes or messages that might provide more insight into the issue.

9. Consider Alternative Flashing Methods:

   • Investigate if there are alternative methods or tools recommended by Nvidia for flashing ATF on Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Check if using NVIDIA SDK Manager for flashing resolves the issue.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be necessary to seek direct support from Nvidia, as there might be underlying compatibility issues or bugs specific to the Jetson Orin Nano platform that require official intervention or updates.