Booting the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board from NVMe Without SDK Manager

Issue Overview

Users have reported difficulties booting the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board from an NVMe SSD without utilizing the SDK Manager or an external Ubuntu PC. Symptoms include failure to recognize the NVMe drive during boot attempts, leading to a black screen or system hang. This issue typically arises during the initial setup phase, particularly when users attempt to transition from an SD card boot to an NVMe boot. The hardware specifications noted include various NVMe SSDs, with users having success primarily with PCIe Gen3 drives, while some have attempted to use Gen4 drives despite the Orin Nano’s limitations. The frequency of this issue appears to be common among users unfamiliar with manual configurations, impacting overall user experience by complicating the setup process.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities:

   • Using unsupported NVMe SSDs can lead to recognition issues during boot.

2. Software Bugs or Conflicts:

   • Incompatibility between JetPack versions and the board firmware can result in boot failures.

3. Configuration Errors:

   • Incorrectly editing the extlinux.conf file or failing to update the UUID can prevent successful booting from NVMe.

4. Driver Issues:

   • Missing or outdated drivers may hinder proper communication between the OS and hardware components.

5. Environmental Factors:

   • Insufficient power supply or overheating can cause instability during boot.

6. User Errors:

   • Misconfigurations during setup, such as incorrect UUID entries or improper mounting of partitions, can lead to failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Initial Setup:

   • Boot into the Jetson Orin Nano using an SD card with a pre-installed Jetson Linux image.

2. Creating a Bootable NVMe Drive:

   • Use the Disks application to write the Jetson Linux SD-card image onto the NVMe SSD.
   • Confirm successful restoration by checking partition visibility.

3. Finding UUID for NVMe Partition:

   • Execute the command:

     ls -l /dev/disk/by-partuuid/
     

   • Note down the UUID for partition nvme0n1p1.

4. Editing extlinux.conf:

   • Mount partition nvme0n1p1 using Disks application.
   • Open extlinux.conf located in /media/{UserName}/{mount point}/boot/extlinux/ with admin privileges using:

     sudo nano /media/{UserName}/{mount point}/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf
     

   • Change the line root=/dev/mmcblk1p1 to root=PARTUUID={UUID for nvme0np1}.

5. Finalizing Setup:

   • Save changes and unmount the partition.
   • Remove the SD card and reboot the board.

6. Boot Order Adjustment:

   • If necessary, change boot order settings in UEFI shell to prioritize NVMe booting.

7. Installing Additional Software:

   • After successful booting, run the following commands to install NVIDIA JetPack and DeepStream:

     sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
     sudo apt install nvidia-jetpack
     

8. Using Scripts for Automation:

   • Consider using community-provided scripts that automate these steps for easier installation and configuration.

9. Common Issues and Fixes:

   • If UUID fails to appear, restart and repeat step 3.
   • For persistent issues, consider re-flashing the SD card with JetPack 5 instead of 6 due to stability concerns noted by other users.

10. Documentation and Resources:

    • Refer to official NVIDIA documentation for detailed setup instructions and troubleshooting guides.

11. Best Practices:

    • Always verify compatibility of hardware accessories before installation.
    • Keep firmware updated through official channels.
    • Regularly check community forums for updates on common issues and solutions shared by other users.

This structured approach provides a comprehensive guide for troubleshooting and resolving issues related to booting from NVMe on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board without relying on SDK Manager or external setups.