Bootloader or Full Image Flashing Failed

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing intermittent failures when attempting to flash the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board, specifically during the bootloader and full image flashing process. The issue manifests inconsistently; sometimes the flashing is successful, while at other times it fails with specific error messages.

Symptoms:

• Users encounter errors like "NV3P_SERVER: Failed to initialize partition table from GPT."
• The command sudo ./flash.sh --no-systemimg -c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal fails consistently.
• During the flashing process, users see messages indicating that the device is waiting for SSH to become available but ultimately fail to establish a connection.

Context:

• The issue occurs when flashing the bootloader and full image to a custom carrier board using a Jetson Orin Nano 8GB production System on Module (SOM).
• Users have attempted various commands, including l4t_initrd_flash.sh with different parameters and configurations.
• The problem has been noted to occur on a specific host PC, while the same boards were successfully flashed on another machine.

Hardware/Software Specifications:

• Jetson Orin Nano 8GB production SOM
• Custom carrier board
• Host PC running Ubuntu
• JetPack version 36.2 (not JetPack 5)

Frequency:

The issue appears to be consistent during attempts on the current host PC, with users reporting failures after multiple attempts (around 10 times).

Impact:

The inability to flash the device affects users’ ability to utilize the Jetson Orin Nano for development and deployment, leading to significant disruptions in their workflow.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: Custom carrier board modifications may not be compatible with the default device tree settings for USB device mode.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The use of JetPack version 36.2, which is still in developer preview, may introduce bugs that affect flashing processes.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in the device tree related to USB ports could prevent the proper initialization of USB device mode.

• Driver Issues: Missing or outdated drivers on the host PC could hinder communication between the host and the Jetson device.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply inconsistencies or temperature issues may impact hardware performance during flashing.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrect command syntax or parameters during flashing attempts could lead to failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Check Serial Console and Logs:

   • Ensure that both device and host logs are collected for analysis.
   • Use commands like lsusb and ip a on the host PC to verify device recognition and network configuration.

2. Verify USB Device Mode:

   • Confirm that the Jetson Orin Nano is detected in USB device mode using lsusb.
   • If modifications were made to USB ports on the custom board, check if the device tree needs adjustments.

3. Use Recommended Flashing Command:

   • Execute the following command to flash again:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_external.xml -p "-c bootloader/generic/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

4. Test Different Host PCs:

   • If possible, attempt flashing from another Ubuntu host PC to determine if the issue is specific to the current machine.

5. Driver Installation:

   • Ensure that all necessary drivers for USB communication are installed on the host PC. This includes checking for updates related to USB Type-C support.

6. Device Tree Configuration:

   • If using a non-Type-C port, modify the device tree configuration accordingly. This may require consulting Nvidia’s documentation for guidance on making these changes.

7. SSH Connectivity Check:

   • Make sure SSH can be established from the host to other devices over IPv6, confirming network functionality.
   • If SSH fails consistently during flashing, further investigate network settings and configurations.

8. Firmware Updates:

   • Check for any available firmware updates for both the Jetson Orin Nano and host PC components that may resolve compatibility issues.

9. Retry Flashing Process:

   • If issues persist after following these steps, retry the flashing process multiple times while observing any changes in error messages or behavior.

By following these troubleshooting steps and solutions, users can systematically isolate and address issues related to flashing their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. Further investigation may be required if problems remain unresolved after these actions.