Flashing NVMe on Jetson Orin Nano from macOS: Challenges and Workarounds

Issue Overview

Users of the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit are encountering difficulties when attempting to flash the NVMe storage directly from a macOS system. While flashing a microSD card with Jetson Linux from a Mac is straightforward, the process for flashing the NVMe attached to the developer kit is not as simple. The official NVIDIA documentation primarily focuses on using a Linux host PC with the SDK Manager, which requires running Ubuntu. This limitation poses a challenge for Mac users who want to flash their Jetson Orin Nano’s NVMe storage without switching to a Linux environment.

Possible Causes

1. Platform-Specific Dependencies: The flashing scripts provided by NVIDIA rely on libraries that are only supported on Ubuntu. This platform dependency prevents direct execution on macOS.

2. Lack of Native macOS Support: NVIDIA has not developed or released official tools or scripts specifically designed for macOS users to flash the NVMe storage on Jetson Orin Nano devices.

3. Hardware Communication Limitations: The process of flashing NVMe storage may require low-level hardware access that is not readily available or supported on macOS without additional drivers or software.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

While there is no direct method to flash the NVMe from macOS, users have found workarounds to accomplish this task. Here are the available options and steps:

Option 1: Using a Virtual Machine

1. Install a virtualization software like VirtualBox on your Mac.

2. Create an Ubuntu virtual machine within VirtualBox.

3. To avoid USB passthrough issues, run VirtualBox with elevated privileges:

   sudo virtualbox
   

4. Set up USB passthrough for the Jetson Orin Nano device in the virtual machine settings.

5. Boot the Ubuntu VM and follow the standard NVMe flashing procedure using the NVIDIA SDK Manager or command-line tools.

Option 2: Using Docker (Limited Functionality)

While this method doesn’t currently support USB passthrough, it’s worth mentioning for future reference:

1. Install Docker on your Mac.
2. Pull the existing SDK Manager Docker images.
3. Unfortunately, USB passthrough is not yet supported with this method, limiting its usefulness for NVMe flashing.

Option 3: Windows-like Tool for Mac (Potential Future Development)

There have been discussions about developing a Windows-like tool for flashing Jetson Orin Nano on macOS. While not currently available, this could be a potential solution in the future.

Best Practices and Considerations

1. Backup Data: Always back up any important data on your Jetson Orin Nano before attempting to flash the NVMe storage.

2. Use Official Methods: When possible, use the official NVIDIA SDK Manager on a supported Linux system for the most reliable results.

3. Community Resources: Keep an eye on the NVIDIA Developer Forums and community projects like JetsonHacks for updates on macOS compatibility or new flashing methods.

4. Virtual Machine Performance: When using a virtual machine, ensure your Mac has sufficient resources (RAM, CPU) allocated to the VM for optimal performance during the flashing process.

5. Stay Updated: Regularly check for updates to the Jetson Linux BSP (Board Support Package) and flashing tools, as NVIDIA may introduce improved cross-platform support in future releases.

While direct NVMe flashing from macOS remains a challenge, the virtual machine workaround provides a viable solution for Mac users. As the Jetson community continues to grow, there’s potential for improved macOS support or third-party tools to simplify this process in the future.