Flashing Remotely Orin Devices

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing challenges related to remote flashing of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The primary symptoms include:

• Inability to Flash Remotely: Users initially believed that remote flashing was not possible without a physical connection to an Ubuntu host PC.
• Boot Issues: Some users reported that their boards were unable to boot correctly, often getting stuck at the Nvidia logo. This is particularly problematic when attempting to copy new images or device trees remotely.
• Initial Setup Requirements: The first flash requires an Ubuntu host PC (recommended version 20.04) connected via USB to the Jetson device.

The issue occurs primarily during the setup phase and when users attempt to update or recover their systems remotely. The impact on user experience is significant, as failure to boot can render the device unusable until resolved.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for these issues have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: Issues may arise if the hardware is not compatible with the required software or configurations.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the SDK Manager or other software components that hinder remote flashing capabilities.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in files like extlinux.conf may prevent successful booting or remote updates.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers can lead to boot failures or issues during the flashing process.

• Environmental Factors: Factors such as power supply fluctuations may affect the performance and reliability of the device.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Mistakes in following flashing procedures or commands can lead to failures in updating the system.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues surrounding remote flashing of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Initial Setup Verification:

   • Ensure you have an Ubuntu host PC (preferably 20.04) ready for the first flash.
   • Connect your Jetson device via USB in recovery mode.

2. Remote Flashing Process:

   • After initial flashing using SDK Manager, you can replace the kernel and device tree remotely:
     • Use SSH to connect to your Jetson board.
     • Copy updated kernel and device tree files:

       sudo cp /path/to/new/Image /boot/
       sudo cp /path/to/new/device_tree.dtb /boot/dtb/
       

3. Modify Boot Configuration:

   • Edit /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf with appropriate entries:

     TIMEOUT 30
     DEFAULT primary
     
     MENU TITLE L4T boot options
     
     LABEL primary
         MENU LABEL primary kernel
         LINUX /boot/$NEW_IMAGE
         INITRD /boot/initrd
         FDT /boot/dtb/$NEW_DTB.dtb
         APPEND ${cbootargs} quiet root=/dev/mmcblk0p1 rw rootwait rootfstype=ext4 console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty0 fbcon=map:0 net.ifnames=0 isolcpus=1-2 nv-auto-config
     
     LABEL backup
         MENU LABEL backup kernel
         LINUX /boot/Image.bk
         INITRD /boot/initrd
         APPEND ${cbootargs} quiet root=/dev/mmcblk0p1 rw rootwait rootfstype=ext4 console=ttyS0,115200n8 console=tty0 fbcon=map:0 net.ifnames=0 isolcpus=1-2 nv-auto-config
     

   • Reboot the board after making changes.

4. Boot Recovery Options:

   • If your board fails to boot (e.g., stuck at Nvidia logo), consider using AB partitioning for redundancy. This allows you to maintain two sets of root filesystems and kernels.
   • For more details on AB partitioning and OTA updates, refer to Nvidia’s documentation on AB Partitioning and OTA Updates.

5. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly update your SDK Manager and related software components.
   • Maintain backups of your current configurations before making significant changes.
   • Document all changes made during flashing processes for future reference.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and resolve issues related to remote flashing of their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev boards effectively.