Flashing L4T 36.2 on Orin Nano/NX

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties while attempting to manually flash the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit with L4T R36.2 on an NVMe SSD. The primary symptoms include failure messages during the flashing process, specifically indicating issues with USB connectivity, such as "usb usb2-port2: Cannot enable. Maybe the USB cable is bad?" This issue arises during manual flashing attempts but not when using the SDK Manager, which successfully flashes other devices with the same USB cable. The problem occurs consistently across multiple custom carrier boards (Seeedstudio and Auvidea) and appears to be linked to specific command line operations used during the flashing process. The host computer runs Ubuntu 20.04, which is compatible with the flashing requirements.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The use of custom carrier boards may lead to incompatibility issues, especially if the EEPROM settings are incorrect.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: Known issues with L4T R36.2 may affect the flashing process, as indicated by community discussions.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in the flash command or XML files may prevent successful flashing.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers on the host machine could hinder USB communication.
• Environmental Factors: Power supply inconsistencies or temperature fluctuations could impact device performance during flashing.
• User Errors: Misconfigurations in command syntax or improper setup of the flashing environment could lead to failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Setup:

   • Ensure that all connections are secure and that you are using a high-quality USB-C cable.
   • Check power supply specifications; ensure it meets the requirements for the Orin Nano.

2. Check for Known Issues:

   • Refer to community forums for any discussions regarding known flash issues with L4T R36.2.

3. Update Drivers:

   • Ensure that all USB drivers on your host Ubuntu system are up-to-date.

4. Use SDK Manager for Flashing:

   • If manual flashing fails, consider using the SDK Manager as it has been reported to work without issues for many users.
   • Follow these steps:
     • Connect your Jetson Orin Nano to your PC using a USB Type-C cable.
     • Put the board into recovery mode by shorting pins 9 and 10 on the button header while powering it on.
     • Launch SDK Manager and select the appropriate options for your hardware.

5. Command Line Verification:

   • Double-check your command line syntax for any errors. The correct command should resemble:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 \
         -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_external.xml \
         --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

   • Ensure that you are using the correct configuration files for your specific carrier board.

6. Log Analysis:

   • Review log files generated during the flashing process (e.g., nano_flash.txt and UART logs) for specific error messages that can provide further insights into what went wrong.

7. Testing Different Configurations:

   • If using custom carrier boards, try reverting to the default carrier board to see if that resolves the issue.
   • Experiment with different NVMe SSDs if available.

8. Firmware Updates:

   • Check if your Jetson Orin Nano requires a firmware update before proceeding with flashing.

9. Community Support:

   • Engage with community forums or Nvidia support for additional troubleshooting tips and shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.

10. Future Prevention:

    • Regularly check for updates related to L4T, JetPack, and SDK Manager to mitigate future compatibility issues.

If problems persist after following these steps, further investigation may be required into specific error messages encountered during the process.