IMX219 Camera Not Recording on Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties with the IMX219 (Arducam) camera connected to the Jetson Orin Nano, specifically when attempting to record video. The primary symptoms include an inability to record despite successfully obtaining a preview image. Users report encountering the following error when executing the GStreamer command to initiate recording:

ERROR: from element /GstPipeline:pipeline0/nvv4l2h264enc:nvv4l2h264enc0: Could not open device ‘/dev/nvhost-msenc’ for reading and writing.
system error: Cannot allocate memory

This issue arises during the recording attempt using the command:

gst-launch-1.0 -e nvarguscamerasrc sensor-id=0 ! “video/x-raw(memory:NVMM),width=1920,height=1080,framerate=20/1” ! nvv4l2h264enc ! h264parse ! mp4mux ! filesink location=rpi_v3_imx219_cam0.mp4

The problem is reported consistently among users, affecting their ability to utilize the camera for intended applications, which can significantly hinder development and testing processes.

Possible Causes

1. Hardware Limitations: The Jetson Orin Nano may lack a hardware encoder, which is required for certain encoding tasks. This limitation can lead to errors when attempting to use hardware-based encoding elements like nvv4l2h264enc.

2. Software Configuration: Incorrect configuration of GStreamer pipelines may prevent proper linking of elements. For instance, using x264enc directly with nvarguscamerasrc without appropriate conversion can result in compatibility issues.

3. Driver Issues: Potential driver conflicts or outdated drivers might lead to the inability to access necessary hardware components, such as /dev/nvhost-msenc.

4. Memory Allocation Problems: The error message indicates a failure in memory allocation, which could be due to insufficient system resources or misconfigured settings.

5. User Errors: Misconfigurations in command syntax or parameters could also contribute to the issue.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Check Hardware Compatibility:

   • Ensure that the IMX219 camera is properly connected to the CAM0 port on the Jetson Orin Nano.
   • Verify that the power supply meets the operational requirements (19V for Orin Nano).

2. Use Software Encoder:

   • Since the Orin Nano does not support hardware encoding, replace nvv4l2h264enc with x264enc in your GStreamer command.
   • Example command:

     gst-launch-1.0 -e nvarguscamerasrc sensor-id=0 ! "video/x-raw(memory:NVMM),width=1920,height=1080,framerate=20/1" ! nvvidconv ! video/x-raw ! x264enc ! h264parse ! mp4mux ! filesink location=rpi_v3_imx219_cam0.mp4
     

3. Pipeline Adjustment:

   • If errors persist when using x264enc, ensure that you convert the video format appropriately before passing it to the encoder.
   • Use nvvidconv to convert from NVMM memory format to a format compatible with x264enc.

4. Memory Management:

   • Check system memory usage and ensure sufficient resources are available for running GStreamer commands.
   • Close unnecessary applications that may be consuming memory.

5. Driver Updates:

   • Ensure that all drivers are up-to-date, particularly those related to video and camera functionality.
   • Use commands like sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade to keep your system updated.

6. Testing Different Configurations:

   • Experiment with different resolutions and frame rates in your GStreamer command to see if lower settings might work.
   • Example of reduced settings:

     gst-launch-1.0 -e nvarguscamerasrc sensor-id=0 ! "video/x-raw(memory:NVMM),width=1280,height=720,framerate=15/1" ! nvvidconv ! video/x-raw ! x264enc ! h264parse ! mp4mux ! filesink location=rpi_v3_imx219_cam0.mp4
     

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to NVIDIA’s official documentation for further guidance on setting up and troubleshooting camera configurations on Jetson devices.
   • Engage with community forums for shared experiences and solutions from other users facing similar issues.

8. Best Practices:

   • Regularly check for updates on both software (JetPack) and firmware for optimal performance.
   • Maintain a clean and organized development environment by managing dependencies carefully.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to recording with the IMX219 camera on their Jetson Orin Nano systems. Further investigation may be needed if problems persist despite these troubleshooting efforts.