Flashing Issues with Jetson Orin Nano Custom Carrier Board

Issue Overview

Users developing a custom carrier board with the Jetson Orin Nano SOM are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash the device. The main issues reported include:

• Extremely long flashing times when using the complete image flashing process
• Errors during the flashing process, particularly when trying to flash to an SD card
• Boot process getting stuck at the bootloader stage after flashing attempts
• Network interfaces and drivers not being detected after flashing

These issues are impacting the development process and productivity for users working with custom Jetson Orin Nano setups.

Possible Causes

1. Incompatible flashing commands: The flashing commands being used may not be optimized for the custom carrier board setup.

2. Corrupted GPT (GUID Partition Table): Error messages indicate issues with the GPT, which could lead to flashing and booting problems.

3. QSPI flash issues: Errors related to QSPI flashing suggest potential hardware or driver conflicts.

4. Kernel or driver incompatibilities: Custom carrier boards may require specific kernel configurations or drivers that are not present in the default image.

5. Incorrect EEPROM settings: While users were able to boot with default images by changing EEPROM reading settings, these changes might be causing issues during flashing.

6. SD card compatibility: The specific SD card being used may not be fully compatible with the flashing process or the Jetson Orin Nano.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use the correct flashing command for SD cards:
   Instead of using the command for internal eMMC, use the following command for SD card flashing:

   sudo ./flash.sh jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
   

2. Update to the latest Jetson Linux version:
   It’s recommended to use the most stable and recent version. As of the time of this document, version 35.1 or 36.2.0 are suggested. Check the NVIDIA developer website for the latest stable release.

3. Rebuild the kernel with default settings:
   If custom kernel modifications are causing issues, try rebuilding the kernel with default settings:

   a. Download and extract the Jetson Linux source files from the NVIDIA developer website.

   b. Set up the build environment:

   export CROSS_COMPILE_AARCH64_PATH=$HOME/projects/orin_nano/l4t-gcc/aarch64--glibc--stable-2022.08-1/bin/
   export CROSS_COMPILE=$HOME/projects/orin_nano/l4t-gcc/aarch64--glibc--stable-2022.08-1/bin/aarch64-buildroot-linux-gnu-
   

   c. Compile the kernel:

   make -C kernel
   

   d. Install the kernel and modules:

   export INSTALL_MOD_PATH=$HOME/projects/orin_nano/Linux_for_Tegra/rootfs/
   sudo -E make install -C kernel
   cp kernel/kernel-jammy-src/arch/arm64/boot/Image $HOME/projects/orin_nano/Linux_for_Tegra/kernel/Image
   

4. Flash only the kernel:
   For quicker iterations during development, you can flash only the kernel instead of the entire image:

   a. Copy the new kernel image to the SD card:

   sudo cp /path/to/new/Image /boot/Image
   

   b. Update kernel modules if necessary:

   sudo cp -r /path/to/new/lib/modules/* /lib/modules/
   

5. Check and fix GPT issues:
   If you encounter GPT-related errors, use the gdisk tool to check and repair the partition table:

   sudo gdisk /dev/mmcblk0
   

   Use the recovery and transformation menu to fix any detected issues.

6. Verify QSPI flash compatibility:
   Ensure that your custom carrier board’s QSPI flash is compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano. Consult the hardware documentation and verify connections.

7. Review EEPROM settings:
   Double-check the EEPROM settings used for booting the default image. Ensure these settings are compatible with the flashing process.

8. Try alternative flashing methods:
   If SD card flashing continues to fail, consider using a USB flash drive or network-based flashing methods as alternatives.

9. Check for hardware-specific issues:
   Verify that all connections on your custom carrier board are correct and that there are no hardware conflicts that could interfere with the flashing process.

10. Consult NVIDIA documentation:
    Refer to the official NVIDIA Jetson Linux Developer Guide for detailed information on flashing procedures and troubleshooting steps specific to the Jetson Orin Nano.

If issues persist after trying these solutions, consider reaching out to NVIDIA developer support or consulting with the Jetson community forums for more specialized assistance with your custom carrier board setup.