DisplayPort Connection Issue on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Board are experiencing difficulties with the DisplayPort (DP) connection. The primary symptom is a lack of display output on the connected screen, despite the board appearing to be powered on. This issue seems to occur during the initial setup or after system updates. The problem significantly impacts the user’s ability to interact with the device visually, potentially hindering development and troubleshooting processes.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Malfunction: The DP port on the Jetson Orin Nano or the DP cable itself may be faulty.

2. Software Configuration: Incorrect or corrupted display drivers could prevent proper output.

3. NVIDIA Driver Updates: Recent NVIDIA driver updates may have introduced compatibility issues or bugs affecting the display output.

4. JetPack Version Incompatibility: The installed JetPack version might not be compatible with the current hardware configuration.

5. BIOS/Firmware Issues: Outdated or corrupted BIOS/firmware could interfere with proper hardware initialization.

6. Power Supply Problems: Insufficient or unstable power supply might prevent the board from fully initializing all components.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure the DP cable is securely connected to both the Jetson Orin Nano and the display.
   • Try a different DP cable to rule out cable issues.
   • Test the display with another device to confirm it’s functioning correctly.

2. Check Board Status:

   • Confirm that the green light on the board is illuminated, indicating power.
   • Use a serial console to check the board status and identify any boot-up issues.

3. Set Up Serial Debug Console:

   • Follow the guide provided by JetsonHacks to set up a serial debug console.
   • This will allow you to access the board even without display output.

4. Reinstall JetPack:

   • If the issue persisted after NVIDIA driver updates, consider reinstalling JetPack 6.0.
   • To install JetPack without display output:
     a. Put the Jetson in recovery mode.
     b. Use SDK manager on an Ubuntu host to install JetPack onto the Jetson.

5. Update NVIDIA Drivers:

   • If you have SSH access, try updating the NVIDIA drivers:

     sudo apt update
     sudo apt upgrade nvidia-l4t-core
     

6. Check NVIDIA-SMI:

   • If you can access the board via SSH or serial console, run:

     nvidia-smi
     

   • This will display the driver version and CUDA version, helping to identify potential driver issues.

7. Verify Power Supply:

   • Ensure you’re using the recommended power supply for the Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Try a different power supply if available.

8. BIOS/Firmware Update:

   • Check for any available BIOS or firmware updates for your Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Apply updates if available, following NVIDIA’s official documentation.

9. Community Support:

   • If the issue persists, consider posting detailed information about your setup and the steps you’ve tried on the NVIDIA Developer Forums.
   • Include information such as the JetPack version, any recent changes or updates, and the exact model of your Jetson Orin Nano.

Remember to document each step you take and the results. This will help in further troubleshooting if needed and can be valuable information if you need to seek additional support from NVIDIA or the developer community.