Camera Connection Issues with Jetson Orin Nano in Multi-User Target Mode

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing camera connection issues with the Arducam IMX219 when using the Jetson Orin Nano 8GB Developer Kit in multi-user target mode. The camera works fine when the system is set to graphical target mode with a monitor attached to the display port. However, when switching to multi-user target mode for remote desktop access via NoMachine, the camera is not detected. This issue affects the ability to use the camera in headless or remote access scenarios.

Possible Causes

1. System target mode configuration: The difference in behavior between graphical and multi-user target modes suggests that the system configuration affects camera detection.

2. Display-related dependencies: The camera functionality may be tied to the presence of a display or graphical environment.

3. Driver or firmware issues: The multi-user target mode might not properly initialize or load necessary camera drivers.

4. OpenCV compatibility: There may be compatibility issues between OpenCV and the camera drivers in multi-user target mode.

5. GStreamer pipeline configuration: The error messages from GStreamer indicate potential issues with the video pipeline setup in multi-user mode.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use a physical display emulator:

   • Connect a dummy monitor (physical display emulator) to the Jetson Orin Nano’s display port.
   • This solution allows the camera to work even when remotely connecting via NoMachine.

2. Set the system to graphical target mode:

   • Run the following command to switch to graphical target mode:

     sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
     

   • Reboot the system after changing the target mode.

3. Check camera detection:

   • Use the following command to list video devices:

     ls -l /dev/video*
     

   • Verify if the camera is listed among the available devices.

4. Test GStreamer pipeline:

   • Run the following command to test the camera using GStreamer:

     gst-launch-1.0 v4l2src device=/dev/video0 ! 'video/x-raw,width=640,height=480,framerate=30/1' ! xvimagesink
     

   • Replace /dev/video0 with the appropriate device if necessary.

5. Check system logs:

   • Examine the system logs for any camera-related errors:

     sudo dmesg | grep -i camera
     

6. Update JetPack and drivers:

   • Ensure you have the latest JetPack version installed.
   • Check for any available updates to camera drivers or firmware.

7. OpenCV workaround:

   • If using OpenCV, try initializing the camera with different backend options:

     import cv2
     cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0, cv2.CAP_V4L2)
     

8. X11 initialization:

   • If encountering "EGL display error", run the following command before starting your application:

     xinit &
     

   • This initializes an X11 session which may be required for some camera operations.

9. Investigate NoMachine configuration:

   • Check NoMachine settings to ensure it’s not interfering with camera access.
   • Consider using alternative remote desktop solutions like VNC or RDP to isolate if the issue is specific to NoMachine.

10. Test with different camera models:

    • If possible, test with other compatible camera models to determine if the issue is specific to the Arducam IMX219.

If the issue persists after trying these solutions, consider reaching out to NVIDIA support or the Jetson community forums for further assistance, providing detailed logs and system information.