Cloning and Flashing Jetson Orin Nano SSD Images

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties in cloning the SSD image from one Jetson Orin Nano device and flashing it onto other Orin Nano devices in their lab. The main challenges include:

• Lack of clear understanding of the cloning and flashing process
• Uncertainty about the required software and tools
• Confusion about the location of necessary files and folders
• Questions about the need for external devices during the flashing process

The issue primarily affects users who are new to the Jetson platform and need to replicate their Orin Nano setup across multiple devices efficiently.

Possible Causes

1. Insufficient familiarity with Jetson ecosystem:
   Users new to the platform may struggle with understanding the architecture and tools specific to Jetson devices.

2. Lack of clear documentation:
   The existing documentation may not be comprehensive or easily accessible for beginners.

3. Confusion about BSP (Board Support Package) location:
   Users may not know where to find the Linux_for_Tegra folder, which is crucial for the cloning process.

4. Uncertainty about software requirements:
   Users may be unaware of the specific software needed for cloning and flashing Jetson devices.

5. Version-specific differences:
   Different JetPack versions may have slight variations in the cloning process, causing confusion.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify your setup:

   • Confirm you are using the Jetson Orin Nano Development Kit 8GB
   • Verify your JetPack version (in this case, 5.1.1)

2. Locate the Linux_for_Tegra folder:

   • If you’ve used SDK Manager to flash your devkit, the folder should be on your host computer
   • Alternatively, download the BSP package from the NVIDIA Developer website:
     https://developer.nvidia.com/embedded/jetson-linux-archive

3. Access the backup and restore instructions:

   • Navigate to the Linux_for_Tegra/tools/backup_restore directory
   • Open the README_backup_restore.txt file

4. Set up the BSP package (if not already done):

   • Follow the Quick Start guide: https://docs.nvidia.com/jetson/archives/r35.3.1/DeveloperGuide/text/SD/QuickStart.html

5. Clone the SSD image:

   • Connect the source Jetson Orin Nano to your host computer via USB
   • Put the Jetson device into recovery mode
   • Open a terminal on your host computer and navigate to the Linux_for_Tegra directory
   • Run the following command to create a backup image:

     sudo ./tools/backup_restore/l4t_backup_restore.sh -e nvme0n1 -b jetson-orin-nano-devkit
     

6. Flash the cloned image to a new device:

   • Connect the target Jetson Orin Nano to your host computer via USB
   • Put the target device into recovery mode
   • In the terminal, run:

     sudo ./tools/backup_restore/l4t_backup_restore.sh -e nvme0n1 -r jetson-orin-nano-devkit
     

7. Verify the flashed image:

   • Boot the target device and check if all settings and software are correctly transferred

Additional Notes:

• No external devices are required for flashing; the process uses the USB connection between the Jetson device and the host computer
• Always ensure you have a backup of important data before performing cloning or flashing operations
• If you encounter specific errors during the process, consult the NVIDIA Developer Forums or the official Jetson documentation for further assistance