Can’t Flash NVMe Drive with SDK

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash an NVMe drive on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. The symptoms include:

• Failure during the flashing process, indicated by logs showing "Flash failure" and "Could not stat device /dev/nvme0n1 – No such file or directory."
• The NVMe drive, specifically an SN520 258GB model, is not detected by the system, as confirmed by a user who attempted to flash a different drive (Crucial P3 Plus 500GB) with similar results.
• The issue occurs during the setup phase while using the JetPack SDK (version 5.1.2) on Ubuntu 20.04.
• This problem appears to be consistent across multiple attempts, leading to significant frustration and hindering the user experience.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The NVMe drive may not be compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano, or there may be a hardware defect in the drive itself.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There could be bugs in the JetPack SDK or conflicts with other installed software that interfere with the flashing process.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings or parameters in the flashing command could lead to failures.
• Driver Issues: Missing or outdated drivers for the NVMe drive might prevent it from being recognized by the system.
• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could affect the performance of the device during flashing.
• User Errors: Misconfigurations or incorrect procedures followed during setup may lead to these issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address this issue, users can follow these troubleshooting steps and solutions:

1. Verify Hardware Compatibility:

   • Ensure that the NVMe drive is compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano. Consult Nvidia’s documentation for supported drives.

2. Check Connections:

   • Make sure that all connections are secure, including power and data connections to the NVMe drive.

3. Test with Different Drives:

   • If possible, try using another NVMe drive or a USB drive to determine if the issue persists across different hardware.

4. Update Software and Drivers:

   • Ensure that you are using the latest version of JetPack SDK. Consider updating to JetPack 6 if it is stable for your use case.
   • Check for any available firmware updates for both the Jetson Orin Nano and the NVMe drive.

5. Use Correct Flashing Commands:

   • Double-check the commands used for flashing. Here’s an example command based on user logs:

     ./tegraflash.py --bl uefi_jetson_with_dtb_sigheader.bin.encrypt --bct br_bct_BR.bct --securedev --cmd "rcmboot" ...
     

   • Ensure that all paths and filenames are correct.

6. Force Recovery Mode (RCM):

   • To enter recovery mode, connect pins 9 and 10 of the button header while powering on the device. This allows for proper detection during flashing.
   • Use this command to reboot into recovery mode if you have terminal access:

     sudo reboot --force forced-recovery
     

7. Gather Logs for Analysis:

   • Collect logs from the SDK Manager to analyze errors further. Use EXPORT LOGS in SDK Manager after an unsuccessful flash attempt.
   • Review serial console logs if available, as they provide detailed information about boot and flash processes.

8. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for detailed instructions on flashing and troubleshooting specific to Jetson Orin Nano.

9. Seek Community Support:

   • If issues persist after trying these steps, consider posting detailed logs and descriptions of your attempts in Nvidia’s developer forums for community assistance.

10. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

    • Regularly update both software and firmware.
    • Maintain backups of working configurations and images.
    • Follow official guidelines closely when setting up hardware components.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to flashing their NVMe drives on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. If problems remain unresolved, further investigation into specific hardware or software configurations may be necessary.