Cannot Boot Jetson Orin Nano from SSD on Custom Carrier Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties booting the Jetson Orin Nano from an SSD on a custom carrier board designed for the original Jetson Nano. While the original board successfully boots from internal memory, the Orin Nano fails to boot from the SSD, resulting in a non-responsive system. The user has confirmed that the Orin module works correctly when tested with the original development kit, indicating that the issue may be related to the custom carrier board’s configuration or design.

Relevant Hardware and Software Specifications

• Device: Jetson Orin Nano
• Carrier Board: Custom carrier board designed for Jetson Nano
• Boot Method: Attempting to boot from an SSD
• Previous Configuration: Original Jetson Nano successfully boots from internal memory.

Symptoms

• The Orin Nano starts the booting sequence but fails to complete it when attempting to boot from the SSD.
• Communication via Ethernet is not possible after the failed boot attempt.
• The PCIE0_RST* pin shows insufficient voltage levels during boot attempts.

Possible Causes

1. Incompatibility of Custom Carrier Board: The custom board may not fully support all functionalities required for the Orin Nano to boot from an SSD.
2. Power Sequencing Issues: Incorrect power sequencing or insufficient power supply may prevent the SSD from being recognized during boot.
3. Boot Configuration Errors: The configuration settings in the device tree or bootloader may not be set up correctly for SSD booting.
4. Driver Issues: There could be bugs or limitations in the drivers that affect SSD recognition and initialization during boot.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Verify Custom Board Compatibility:

   • Ensure that your custom carrier board is designed to support the Jetson Orin Nano and its specific requirements for booting from an SSD.

2. Check Power Supply Connections:

   • Confirm that all power connections are secure and that the power supply meets the requirements for both the module and any connected peripherals.

3. Inspect Boot Configuration:

   • Review and modify any relevant device tree configurations to ensure they support SSD booting. This includes checking settings related to PCIe and power management.

4. Test with Different SSDs:

   • If possible, test with different brands or models of SSDs to rule out compatibility issues with specific hardware.

5. Monitor Voltage Levels:

   • Use an oscilloscope or multimeter to check voltage levels on critical pins like PCIE0_RST* during startup to ensure they meet specifications.

6. Check Serial Console Logs:

   • Connect a serial console to gather detailed logs during boot attempts, which can provide insights into where the failure occurs.

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to NVIDIA’s official documentation on flashing procedures and troubleshooting steps related to firmware issues.

8. Reflash with Correct Configuration:

   • If necessary, reflash your setup using proper configurations that ensure compatibility with your custom board and SSD setup:

     sudo ./flash.sh jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
     

Recommended Fixes

• Users have reported success by ensuring their custom carrier boards are properly configured for SSD support and by verifying power supply adequacy.
• If issues persist after following these steps, consider reaching out to NVIDIA support for further assistance.

Best Practices for Future Prevention

• Always verify compatibility of hardware components before attempting a flash or setup.
• Keep detailed documentation of all configurations and modifications made during development for future reference.
• Regularly check NVIDIA forums and documentation for updates regarding known issues with specific L4T versions.

Unresolved Aspects and Further Investigation

• Users continue to seek clarity on whether specific configurations can be reliably used across different generations of Jetson hardware.
• There may be additional debugging steps required that are not fully documented in existing resources.

By following these troubleshooting steps and solutions, users can effectively address issues related to booting their Jetson Orin Nano from an SSD while ensuring compatibility with their custom hardware configurations.