Flashing Jetson Orin Nano with NVMe Disk through WSL2

Issue Overview

Users have reported difficulties in flashing the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board using an NVMe disk through Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2). The main symptoms include:

• During the flashing process, the device transitions from being recognized as an APX USB device to a Remote NDIS Compatible Device, which leads to connection timeouts.
• Users have verified that their USB devices are enumerated and visible in WSL2, but the expected usb0 ethernet adapter is missing when executing ifconfig -a.
• The issue occurs during the setup phase of flashing the device, specifically when attempting to establish a network connection over USB.
• Users are running WSL version 1.2.5.0 with kernel version 5.15.90.1 on Windows 10 (version 10.0.19045.3324).

The failure to detect the USB ethernet interface significantly impacts the user experience, as it prevents successful flashing of the Jetson Orin Nano, leading to frustration and confusion among users.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Kernel Configuration: The default WSL2 kernel may lack necessary configurations for supporting RNDIS (Remote Network Driver Interface Specification) over USB connections.

• USB Pass-through Issues: WSL2 may not properly handle USB pass-through, which is essential for recognizing the Jetson device during the flashing process.

• Permission Issues: Incorrect permissions on the /dev directory in WSL could prevent proper access to USB devices.

• Missing Dependencies: The absence of certain packages or configurations, such as QEMU support or binfmt_misc setup, could hinder the flashing process.

• Environmental Factors: Inconsistent behavior may arise from running WSL2 on different Windows versions or configurations that affect USB handling.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues encountered while flashing the Jetson Orin Nano through WSL2, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Kernel Configuration:

   • Verify that your WSL2 kernel has RNDIS support enabled. Use the command:

     cat /proc/config.gz | gunzip | grep RNDIS
     

   • If RNDIS support is not enabled, consider rebuilding your WSL2 kernel with the required options.

2. Rebuild WSL Kernel:

   • Follow a tutorial to rebuild your WSL kernel with RNDIS and loopback support enabled. A recommended resource is available on YouTube.
   • Ensure you select options related to CONFIG_USB_NET_RNDIS and CONFIG_BLK_DEV_LOOP.

3. Verify Permissions:

   • Check permissions on the /dev directory:

     ls -ld /dev
     

   • If permissions are incorrect, adjust them using:

     sudo chmod 755 /dev
     

4. USB Device Binding:

   • Ensure that you bind and auto-attach both device descriptors in WSL2 using commands similar to:

     wsl --usb-bind --force <device_id>
     

   • This step is crucial for allowing proper communication with the Jetson device.

5. Testing with Different Configurations:

   • If issues persist, try using a different version of Windows (e.g., Windows 11) or test on a native Linux installation to isolate whether the problem is specific to WSL2.

6. Install Missing Packages:

   • Ensure that all necessary packages are installed in your WSL environment, particularly those related to QEMU and binfmt_misc:

     sudo apt install qemu binfmt-support
     

7. Monitor USB Enumeration:

   • Use a separate PowerShell window to monitor USB device enumeration during the flashing process to ensure correct binding occurs.

8. Documentation & Updates:

   • Regularly check Nvidia’s official documentation for updates regarding SDK Manager compatibility with WSL2 and any changes in requirements or supported configurations.

9. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Keep your WSL installation updated and periodically review kernel configurations against Nvidia’s latest recommendations.
   • Maintain backups of working configurations and document any successful setups for future reference.

10. Community Support:

    • Engage with community forums or Nvidia’s support channels if unresolved issues persist, providing details of your configuration and steps taken for further assistance.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to flashing their Jetson Orin Nano Dev board through WSL2 effectively.