Filesystem Corruption on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 8GB SD Cards

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 8GB development kit are experiencing filesystem corruptions on their SD cards. The issue appears to occur across multiple devices, suggesting a potentially systemic problem rather than isolated incidents. The corruptions seem to happen without any apparent reason, including cases where improper shutdowns have been ruled out. This issue significantly impacts the reliability and usability of the development kits, as corrupted filesystems can lead to data loss and system instability.

Possible Causes

1. SD Card Quality: The problem might be related to the specific brand or quality of SD cards being used. Some SD cards may be more prone to failures or corruptions, especially when used in high-performance embedded systems.

2. Improper Shutdowns: While not the sole cause, improper shutdowns due to power loss could contribute to some instances of filesystem corruption.

3. Hardware Issues: There might be a hardware-related problem specific to the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 8GB development kit that is causing SD card corruptions.

4. Software or Firmware Bugs: The issue could be caused by software or firmware bugs in the Jetson Orin Nano system that are improperly handling SD card writes or filesystem management.

5. Environmental Factors: Extreme temperatures or electromagnetic interference could potentially affect SD card performance and lead to corruptions, though this is less likely given the reported consistency of the issue across multiple devices.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use Recommended SD Cards:

   • While Nvidia doesn’t specify a particular brand, they recommend using a 64GB UHS-1 or larger microSD card.
   • Users have reported better success with Samsung and Kingston brands. Ensure you purchase from reputable sources to avoid counterfeit products.

2. Proper Shutdown Procedures:

   • Always perform a proper software shutdown of the system before powering off.
   • Implement a safe shutdown mechanism in your application to handle unexpected power loss scenarios.

3. Monitor and Log Corruption Events:

   • Set up serial console logging to capture boot logs when corruption occurs.
   • Collect the following log files immediately after a corruption event:

     /var/log/syslog
     /var/log/kern.log
     /var/log/dmesg
     

   • Analyze these logs for any error messages or patterns that might indicate the root cause of the corruption.

4. Filesystem Integrity Checks:

   • Regularly perform filesystem integrity checks using tools like fsck to detect and potentially fix corruptions early.
   • Consider implementing automated integrity checks during boot or at scheduled intervals.

5. Backup and Recovery Strategy:

   • Implement a robust backup strategy to minimize data loss in case of filesystem corruption.
   • Consider using a redundant storage solution, such as mirroring the SD card content to an external storage device.

6. Update Firmware and Software:

   • Ensure that your Jetson Orin Nano is running the latest firmware and software updates from Nvidia.
   • Check for any known issues or bug fixes related to filesystem corruption in the release notes.

7. Alternative Storage Options:

   • If persistent issues occur with SD cards, consider using alternative storage options if available, such as eMMC or SSD storage, which might be more reliable for your use case.

8. Temperature Monitoring:

   • Monitor the operating temperature of your Jetson Orin Nano to ensure it’s within the specified range.
   • Implement proper cooling solutions if the device is operating in high-temperature environments.

9. Power Supply Stability:

   • Ensure that the power supply to the Jetson Orin Nano is stable and meets the required specifications.
   • Consider using a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to prevent sudden power losses.

10. Consult Nvidia Support:

    • If the issue persists after trying these solutions, contact Nvidia support with detailed logs and a description of your setup and the problems encountered.
    • Share your findings and logs on the Nvidia Developer Forums to engage with the community and Nvidia representatives for further assistance.

Remember to document all troubleshooting steps and their outcomes. This will be valuable information if you need to escalate the issue to Nvidia support or share your experiences with other users facing similar problems.