CSI Camera Pipeline Issue on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano with Xvfb and GStreamer

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing issues when attempting to run CSI camera pipelines on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano using Xvfb (X Virtual Framebuffer) with GStreamer. The main symptoms include:

• Errors from the Argus library: When executing the pipeline on JetPack 5.0.2, users receive an error indicating Error BadParameter, which leads to the pipeline exiting prematurely.

• Pipeline hangs: In contrast, the same pipeline works without errors on JetPack 4.6.0 but hangs indefinitely when executed on JetPack 5.0.2 until interrupted manually.

• Context of the issue: The problem arises during the execution of GStreamer commands designed to capture video from a CSI camera. The user has confirmed that the same commands work successfully under JetPack 4.6 but fail under the newer version.

• Hardware and software specifications: The issue is observed specifically with JetPack versions 4.6.0 and 5.0.2, with a noted update in the Argus Camera API from version 0.98 to 0.99 that may be related to the problem.

• Frequency of occurrence: This issue appears consistently for users who have transitioned from JetPack 4.6 to 5.0.2.

• User experience impact: The inability to run camera pipelines effectively disrupts workflows that rely on video capture, particularly in headless setups.

Possible Causes

The following potential causes have been identified for the issue:

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The update from Argus Camera API version 0.98 to 0.99 may introduce bugs or incompatibilities affecting how pipelines are managed.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations or missing elements in the GStreamer pipeline could lead to errors, especially with new requirements in JetPack 5.x.

• Driver Issues: Changes in driver support or functionality between JetPack versions can affect hardware interactions, particularly with EGLStream consumers.

• Environmental Factors: Running in a headless environment without a physical display may lead to complications since newer versions of JetPack have altered how display outputs are managed.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently misconfigure their pipelines due to changes in API behavior between versions.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues encountered with CSI camera pipelines on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, follow these troubleshooting steps and potential solutions:

1. Verify Software Versions:

   • Ensure you are using the latest version of JetPack (recommended: JetPack 5.1.2) as updates may fix existing bugs.

2. Modify GStreamer Pipeline:

   • Add queues to your pipeline to manage buffering and improve stability:

     $ xvfb-run -a gst-launch-1.0 nvarguscamerasrc ! 'video/x-raw(memory:NVMM),width=1280,height=720' ! queue ! nvvidconv ! 'video/x-raw,width=640,height=360,format=(string)BGRx' ! queue ! videoconvert ! 'video/x-raw,format=(string)BGR' ! queue ! appsink
     

3. Check Display Environment Variable:

   • Experiment with setting or unsetting the DISPLAY environment variable:

     export DISPLAY=:0  # Set DISPLAY
     unset DISPLAY      # Unset DISPLAY
     

4. Use Dummy HDMI/DisplayPort Plug:

   • For headless setups, consider using a dummy HDMI or DisplayPort plug to simulate a connected display, which has resolved issues for other users.

5. Test Alternative Methods:

   • Run sample applications provided in the Jetson Multimedia API to verify camera functionality without Xvfb:

     /usr/src/jetson_multimedia_api/samples/10_argus_camera_recording/
     

6. Consult Documentation for Consumer Types:

   • Review changes in consumer types as outlined in JetPack documentation, particularly regarding deprecated features like NvBuffer and how to utilize NvBufSurface instead.

7. Engage with Community Support:

   • If issues persist, consider reaching out on forums or community channels for further assistance and sharing experiences with similar setups.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly update software and drivers.
   • Thoroughly test new configurations before deploying them in critical applications.
   • Maintain documentation of working configurations for future reference.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to running CSI camera pipelines on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano devices using Xvfb and GStreamer effectively.