Flashing Issues with Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing failures while attempting to flash the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board using the SDK Manager on Ubuntu 20.04. The primary symptom is a USB timeout error during the flashing process, which occurs under various conditions, including when selecting different storage options (e.g., NVMe or SD card). The error messages indicate issues such as "might be timeout in USB write" and "Error: Reading board information failed." This problem seems to occur consistently across different setups, leading to a significant impact on user experience as it prevents successful installation of the required software for development.

Specific Symptoms:

• USB timeout errors during flashing.
• Errors related to reading board information.
• Inconsistent performance across different host machines.

Context:

• Flashing attempts are made using JetPack 5.1.2 and DeepStream 6.3.
• The host system is running Ubuntu 20.04.
• Users have reported varied success rates depending on hardware configurations and connection methods.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects:

   • Faulty USB cables or ports can lead to communication failures.
   • Inconsistent power supply to the device may cause interruptions during flashing.

2. Software Bugs or Conflicts:

   • Issues in the SDK Manager or JetPack versions may lead to flashing failures.
   • Conflicts with other installed software on the host machine.

3. Configuration Errors:

   • Incorrect settings in the SDK Manager could prevent proper communication with the device.
   • Users may mistakenly attempt to flash the wrong OS version for their hardware.

4. Driver Issues:

   • Outdated or incompatible drivers on the host machine can hinder USB communication.
   • Missing dependencies required for flashing may lead to errors.

5. Environmental Factors:

   • High temperatures or unstable power sources can affect device performance during flashing.

6. User Errors or Misconfigurations:

   • Incorrectly following flashing instructions or using unsupported configurations may result in failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Check Hardware Connections:

   • Use a high-quality USB cable and try different USB ports on the host machine.
   • Ensure that any required power supplies are connected and functioning properly.

2. Update Software and Drivers:

   • Ensure that the latest version of SDK Manager is installed.
   • Update all relevant drivers on the host machine, especially USB drivers.

3. Disable Firewalls:

   • Temporarily disable any firewall (e.g., UFW) on the host machine that may block communications during flashing.

4. Use Command Line Flashing:

   • If GUI methods fail, try using command line commands directly:

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

   • This method has reportedly succeeded where GUI attempts have failed.

5. Install Missing Dependencies:

   • Ensure all necessary packages are installed:

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install -y sshpass abootimg nfs-kernel-server libxml2-utils binutils qemu-user-static python
     

6. Try Different Host Machines:

   • If possible, attempt flashing from a different computer to isolate whether the issue is specific to the original host setup.

7. Use an SD Card Image:

   • As a workaround, users have successfully flashed an SD card image directly instead of using SDK Manager for initial setup:

     sudo ./flash.sh --no-systemimg jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

8. Check for Firmware Updates:

   • Ensure that both the Jetson Orin Nano and SDK Manager are updated to their latest firmware versions.

9. Monitor Logs for Errors:

   • Review terminal logs for specific error messages that can provide clues about what might be going wrong during the flashing process.

10. Recommended Approach:

    • Users have reported success by placing a USB 2.0 hub between their Jetson device and host computer, which may help mitigate USB communication issues.

Unresolved Aspects

While many users have found workarounds and solutions, some issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding specific error messages encountered during flashing that require further investigation into software bugs or hardware compatibility problems.