GPIO Setting in Device Tree on Jetson Orin Nano Causes Boot Error

Issue Overview

The issue discussed pertains to the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Devkit running Jetpack 6.0 L4T 36.3. Users are experiencing a boot error after modifying the GPIO configuration in the device tree overlay file. Specifically, when the GPIO configuration is added and the device is rebooted, the system displays the error message: “L4TLauncher: Unable to boot via extlinux: Device Error.”

This problem occurs during the boot process, indicating that there is a misconfiguration in the device tree that prevents successful startup. The error is consistently reproducible when the incorrect GPIO settings are applied, leading to significant disruption in user experience as the device fails to boot properly.

Possible Causes

• Incorrect GPIO Configuration: The primary cause identified is an error in the GPIO configuration syntax within the device tree overlay file.

• Hardware Incompatibility: If the GPIO pins specified do not match those available or expected on the Jetson Orin Nano, this could lead to boot errors.

• Software Bugs: There may be bugs within Jetpack 6.0 or L4T 36.3 that affect how GPIO settings are processed during boot.

• Configuration Errors: Misconfigurations in other related files (e.g., extlinux.conf) could also contribute to boot failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify GPIO Configuration:

   • Check the syntax of your GPIO configuration in the device tree overlay file.
   • Ensure that you use the correct format for specifying GPIOs:

     reset-gpios = <&gpio DES_PWDN GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
     

   • The incorrect configuration that led to issues was:

     reset-gpios = <&tegra_main_gpio DES_PWDN GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
     

2. Edit extlinux.conf:

   • Ensure that any changes made in extlinux.conf are correctly pointing to your modified device tree overlay.
   • Open extlinux.conf and verify that it includes your overlay without errors.

3. Reboot and Test:

   • After making changes, reboot the device to see if it resolves the boot error.
   • If you still encounter issues, revert to a previous configuration that worked without errors.

4. Check for Software Updates:

   • Ensure that you are using the latest version of Jetpack and L4T.
   • Check Nvidia’s official documentation for any updates or patches related to GPIO handling.

5. Testing with Different Configurations:

   • If issues persist, test with different GPIO configurations or revert to default settings to isolate whether specific changes trigger the error.

6. Documentation and Community Support:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for guidance on configuring GPIOs within device trees.
   • Engage with community forums for additional insights and shared experiences from other users who may have faced similar issues.

7. Best Practices for Future Configuration:

   • Always back up current configurations before making changes.
   • Document any modifications made for easier troubleshooting in case of future issues.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and resolve issues related to GPIO settings in their Jetson Orin Nano Devkit effectively.