Date-Time Synchronization Issues on Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit

Issue Overview

Users of the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit (8GB) have reported issues with date-time synchronization, particularly after rebooting the device. The primary symptoms include:

• When connected to a home Wi-Fi network, the device synchronizes the date and time automatically.
• However, when connected to an Ethernet network at a company that requires user authentication, the synchronization fails, with the command timedatectl returning "system clock synchronized: no."
• This issue occurs specifically after rebooting the device and is consistent across multiple instances.
• Users are concerned about whether automatic synchronization is supported over both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Network Configuration: The Ethernet connection may require additional configurations or credentials that are not being handled correctly by the device.
• Firewall or Proxy Settings: Company network security measures could be blocking access to NTP servers necessary for synchronization.
• Software Bugs: There may be bugs in the Jetpack version (5.1.1) that affect time synchronization features.
• User Authentication: The requirement to authenticate before accessing the internet may prevent the device from reaching NTP servers.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the timedatectl or related configuration files could lead to synchronization failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To diagnose and potentially resolve the date-time synchronization issue, follow these steps:

1. Check Network Connection:

   • Ensure that the Ethernet connection is properly configured and authenticated. Use the command:

     nmcli connection show
     

   • Verify that you can access external sites using ping:

     ping google.com
     

2. Verify NTP Configuration:

   • Check if NTP is enabled and correctly configured:

     timedatectl show-timesync
     

   • If NTP is not enabled, enable it with:

     sudo timedatectl set-ntp true
     

3. Manual Synchronization:

   • Attempt manual synchronization with an NTP server:

     sudo ntpdate pool.ntp.org
     

4. Check Firewall/Proxy Settings:

   • If your company uses a proxy or firewall, ensure that it allows traffic to NTP servers (UDP port 123). Consult your IT department for assistance.

5. Inspect System Logs:

   • Review system logs for any errors related to time synchronization:

     journalctl -u systemd-timesyncd
     

6. Update Software/Firmware:

   • Ensure that your Jetson Orin Nano is running the latest version of Jetpack. Update if necessary using NVIDIA SDK Manager.

7. Best Practices for Future Use:

   • Always connect to a stable network before rebooting.
   • Regularly check for updates from NVIDIA regarding software or firmware that might address known issues.

8. Further Investigation:

   • If issues persist after following these steps, consider reaching out on NVIDIA forums or support channels for additional insights or patches related to Jetpack 5.1.1.

By following these troubleshooting steps, users should be able to identify and potentially resolve their date-time synchronization issues on the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit.