Flashing Orin Nano Dev Kit NVMe Hangs at 99%

Issue Overview

Users have reported difficulties while attempting to flash the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit using the SDK Manager. The symptoms include:

• The flashing process progresses but slows down significantly around 90%, ultimately hanging at 99% for an extended period.
• After a prolonged wait, the process prompts the user to retry.
• This issue occurs on a host system running Ubuntu 20.04, not in a virtual machine.
• Users have experimented with various USB cables and ports without success.
• The Nano is capable of booting from a pre-flashed SD card, and the NVMe SSD drive is recognized.

The problem seems to be consistent across different attempts, leading to frustration and hindering the installation of the operating system.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: Issues with USB ports or cables may lead to unreliable connections, causing the flashing process to fail.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs within the SDK Manager or conflicts arising from using different versions of Ubuntu (20.04 vs. 18.04).

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the SDK Manager or during the flashing process could lead to failures.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may affect communication between the host and the Jetson device.

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

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrect procedures followed by users can contribute to the problem.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issue, users can follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Check Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure that all USB cables are functioning properly and try different USB ports on the host machine.
   • If possible, use a powered USB hub to ensure adequate power supply.

2. Use Alternative Host OS:

   • Consider using Ubuntu 18.04 on a bare metal x86_64 system if available, as some users have suggested it may resolve compatibility issues.

3. Review Logs for Diagnostics:

   • Dump logs from SDK Manager for further analysis. Use the following command in Docker to output logs:

     sdkmanager --log-level debug
     

   • Capture logs generated by l4t_initrd_flash.sh script for insights into errors encountered during flashing.

4. Utilize Jetson Linux Quick Start:

   • As an alternative method, follow instructions from the Jetson Linux Quick Start guide. Download release version 35.4.1 and attempt installation following those steps.

5. Serial Console Debugging:

   • Set up a Serial Debug Console as detailed in JetsonHacks documentation for basic interfacing with the Jetson device.
   • This can provide additional insights into what is happening during the boot and flash process.

6. Check Network Configuration:

   • Ensure that network settings are correctly configured, as errors like "RTNETLINK answers: File exists" and "mount.nfs: Connection timed out" indicate potential networking issues that could hinder flashing.

7. Re-attempt Flashing Process:

   • After making necessary adjustments, retry flashing using SDK Manager or Jetson Linux Quick Start.

8. Consult Documentation and Community:

   • Check Nvidia’s official documentation for any updates regarding driver compatibility or known issues.
   • Engage with community forums for additional support and shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.

By following these steps, users should be able to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue of flashing the Orin Nano Dev Kit NVMe hanging at 99%. If problems persist, further investigation may be necessary based on specific error messages encountered in logs.