Boot failing while trying to setup CSI Drivers

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing boot failures on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board while attempting to set up the Camera Serial Interface (CSI) drivers, specifically when following the guide for the Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 IMX708 Driver. The symptoms include:

• Booting issues that manifest as errors displayed on the serial console after rebooting.
• Difficulty in accessing and restoring previous configurations due to a lack of options in the Boot Manager.
• Users have reported that the Boot Manager defaults to "Direct Boot," preventing them from editing the necessary configuration files.

The issue occurs during the setup phase, particularly when users attempt to modify the extlinux.conf file to configure boot options for the camera driver. Relevant hardware specifications include the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano and associated peripherals like the Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3. The problem appears to be consistent among users following similar setup procedures, significantly impacting their ability to utilize the camera functionality.

Possible Causes

• Configuration Errors: Users may not have correctly set up their extlinux.conf file, lacking necessary labels or entries for different boot options.

• Driver Issues: The CSI driver may not be compatible with the current setup or could have bugs that prevent proper initialization.

• User Errors: Misconfigurations or oversight in editing files can lead to boot failures, such as not creating additional labels for boot options.

• Software Bugs: There may be issues related to Jetpack versions or other software dependencies that affect booting.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or temperature extremes could impact system performance, although less commonly reported in this context.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Accessing Configuration Files:

   • To restore previous configurations, users should locate their backups of extlinux.conf and any relevant images. If these are stored on an SD card or eMMC, ensure you have access through a compatible device.

2. Editing extlinux.conf:

   • To edit extlinux.conf, use a terminal command:

     sudo nano /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
     

   • Ensure that you have created appropriate labels for each kernel entry. For example:

     LABEL Develop
     MENU LABEL Develop kernel
     LINUX /boot/Image
     FDT /boot/dtb/kernel_tegra234-p3767-0003-p3768-0000-a0.dtb
     INITRD /boot/initrd
     APPEND ${cbootargs} root=PARTUUID=77f45bd2-b473-4f54-8ff7-4ba0edc48af8 rw rootwait rootfstype=ext4 mminit_loglevel=4 console=ttyTCU0,115200 console=ttyAMA0,115200 firmware_class.path=/etc/firmware fbcon=map:0 net.ifnames=0 nv-auto-config
     

3. Using Backup Configurations:

   • If a backup image exists, consider duplicating existing entries in extlinux.conf and modifying them to point to your backup image.

4. Boot Manager Adjustments:

   • If Boot Manager defaults to “Direct Boot,” check if there are any settings in UEFI that allow you to select different boot options manually. Refer to the developer guide for detailed instructions on setting configurations through UEFI.

5. Testing Different Configurations:

   • Isolate potential issues by testing with different hardware setups (e.g., using another camera module) or reverting to a known stable configuration.

6. Documentation and Updates:

   • Review relevant documentation for updates on driver compatibility and Jetpack versions. Ensure that your system is running the latest firmware and software updates.

7. Best Practices:

   • Always create backups of configuration files before making changes.
   • Document changes made during troubleshooting for future reference.
   • Regularly check community forums for updates or similar issues reported by other users.

8. Unresolved Issues:

   • Users may still encounter difficulties with specific configurations or driver compatibility that require further investigation or community support.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve boot failures related to setting up CSI drivers on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board.