Flash Failure: Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit Not Booting During OS Installation

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to install the operating system on an SSD for the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit using NVIDIA SDK Manager. The flashing process fails with a timeout error, preventing the successful installation of Jetson Linux. This issue occurs during the initial setup phase, specifically when trying to flash the operating system onto the device.

The error message indicates that the device failed to boot into the initrd flash kernel, suggesting a problem with the boot process or communication between the host computer and the Jetson device. This issue significantly impacts the user’s ability to set up and use their Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit.

Possible Causes

1. Incorrect boot mode: The Jetson device may not be in the correct mode (recovery mode) for flashing.
2. Connection issues: Poor or unstable USB connection between the host computer and the Jetson device.
3. Power supply problems: Inadequate or unstable power supply to the Jetson device.
4. Hardware compatibility: Potential issues with the SSD or its connection to the Jetson board.
5. Software conflicts: Incompatibilities between the host OS, SDK Manager version, and the Jetson Linux image being flashed.
6. Corrupted image file: The downloaded Jetson Linux image may be incomplete or corrupted.
7. QSPI bootloader issues: Outdated or corrupted bootloader in the QSPI flash memory.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify recovery mode:

   • Ensure the Jetson device is in recovery mode before starting the flash process.
   • To enter recovery mode, connect pins 9 and 10 of the Button Header while powering on the device.

2. Check connections:

   • Use a high-quality USB cable for the connection between the host PC and Jetson device.
   • Try different USB ports on the host PC.
   • Ensure the Ethernet connection is stable if using network-based flashing.

3. Power supply check:

   • Use the official power supply that came with the Developer Kit.
   • Ensure the power supply is firmly connected and providing stable power.

4. SSD compatibility:

   • If flashing to an SSD, ensure it’s properly connected and compatible with the Jetson device.
   • Try flashing to the eMMC or SD card first to isolate potential SSD-related issues.

5. Software version compatibility:

   • Ensure you’re using the correct version of SDK Manager for your Jetson device.
   • For beginners, it’s recommended to use JetPack 5.x instead of the developer preview JetPack 6.x.
   • Install SDK Manager on Ubuntu 20.04 for better compatibility with both JetPack 5 and 6.

6. Re-download and verify the image:

   • Download the Jetson Linux image again to ensure it’s not corrupted.
   • Verify the checksum of the downloaded file if available.

7. Update QSPI bootloader:

   • If using JetPack 6.x for the first time, update the QSPI bootloaders using SDK Manager.
   • This is a one-time requirement for JetPack 6.x.

8. Use command-line flashing tools:

   • If SDK Manager fails, try using command-line flashing tools which have broader host OS compatibility.
   • Navigate to the Linux_for_Tegra directory and use the flash.sh script.

9. Collect and analyze logs:

   • Retrieve the serial console log during the flashing process for detailed debugging information.
   • Use the following command to view the log in real-time:

     sudo minicom -b 115200 -D /dev/ttyACM0
     

10. Try an earlier JetPack version:

    • If issues persist with JetPack 6.x, attempt the installation using JetPack 5.1.2.
    • Download JetPack 5.1.2 from the NVIDIA Developer website.

11. Verify hardware:

    • Double-check that you’re using the correct Jetson module (Orin Nano) and not confusing it with other models like Orin NX.

12. Community support:

    • If the issue persists, consider posting detailed logs and your exact setup in the NVIDIA Developer Forums for further assistance.

Remember to document each step attempted and its outcome. If the issue remains unresolved after trying these steps, it may be necessary to contact NVIDIA support directly or consider the possibility of hardware issues with the Jetson device.