Installation Failure During USB Flashing of Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing installation failures when attempting to flash the Jetson Orin Nano using a USB drive for the initial setup via SDK Manager. The specific symptoms include:

• Installation process reaches 50% completion
• Flashing progress reaches 99%
• Error message appears: "Flash Jetson Linux: flash-command terminated with error"
• The issue consistently occurs at the same point (50% installation) across multiple attempts
• The problem prevents successful installation and setup of the Jetson Orin Nano

The user in question was using a 30GB USB drive for the flashing process, which is smaller than the recommended storage size for this operation.

Possible Causes

1. Insufficient Storage Space: The 30GB USB drive may not provide enough space for the flashing process, as NVIDIA typically supports 64GB or larger storage devices for this operation.

2. Image Size Requirements: The flashing process creates both raw and sparse images, which can require significantly more space than the actual device storage capacity.

3. Additional Content Requirements: Boot partitions, binary content, and QSPI memory data for SD card models take up additional space during the flashing process.

4. Virtual Machine Configuration: If using a virtual machine, improper USB disconnect/reconnect setup can cause flashing failures.

5. Corrupted Download: There’s a possibility that the downloaded files or the USB drive itself may be corrupted, leading to installation failures.

6. SDK Manager or Driver Issues: Problems with the SDK Manager software or related drivers could potentially cause the flashing process to fail.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use a Larger USB Drive

   • Replace the 30GB USB drive with a 64GB or larger storage device.
   • Ensure the new drive is properly formatted and recognized by the system.

2. Calculate Required Space

   • Determine the space needed for flashing using this formula: Raw image size + Sparse image size + Additional content.
   • For example, if flashing a 30GB image that is 75% full: 30GB + (0.75 * 30GB) + Additional content ≈ 52.5GB + Extra space.
   • Always add extra space for boot partitions and binary content.

3. Check and Prepare the Host PC

   • Ensure the host PC has sufficient free space on its main drive for temporary file creation during the flashing process.
   • Close unnecessary applications to free up system resources.

4. Verify Downloads and USB Drive Integrity

   • Re-download the Jetson Orin Nano software package from the official NVIDIA website.
   • Use a tool like MD5 checksum to verify the integrity of the downloaded files.
   • Check the USB drive for errors using built-in OS tools or third-party software.

5. Update SDK Manager and Drivers

   • Ensure you’re using the latest version of SDK Manager.
   • Update all relevant drivers, especially those related to USB and storage.

6. Virtual Machine Considerations

   • If using a VM, properly configure USB disconnect/reconnect settings.
   • Consider performing the flashing process on the host OS instead of a VM to eliminate potential VM-related issues.

7. Generate and Provide Logs

   • If the issue persists, generate detailed logs of the flashing process.
   • Share these logs with NVIDIA support or on the official forums for further assistance.

8. Alternative Flashing Methods

   • If USB flashing continues to fail, consider using alternative methods such as SD card flashing if supported by your Jetson Orin Nano model.

9. Check for Known Issues

   • Visit the official NVIDIA Jetson forum and documentation to check for any known issues or recent updates related to the flashing process for Jetson Orin Nano.

10. Consult NVIDIA Support

    • If all else fails, reach out to NVIDIA’s official support channels with detailed information about your setup and the steps you’ve taken.

Remember to always back up any important data before attempting to flash or modify your Jetson Orin Nano device. Following these steps should help resolve the installation failure issue and successfully complete the flashing process.