Intermittent Boot Issues with Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 4G (L4T: 35.5.0)

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing intermittent boot issues with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 4G, where the device occasionally powers on but often fails to do so. The details surrounding the issue include:

• Symptoms: The device sometimes displays the NVIDIA logo during boot but frequently results in a black screen afterward. Users have reported that the system does not consistently power on.

• Context: This issue arises when attempting to boot the device running L4T version 35.5.0. Users have captured logs via a debugging serial port for analysis.

• Hardware/Software Specifications:

  • Device: Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 4G
  • L4T Version: 35.5.0
  • Custom Board: Users have indicated that they are using a custom version of the board.

• Frequency: The problem appears to occur inconsistently, with users noting that it can sometimes boot successfully but often does not.

• Impact on User Experience: The inability to reliably boot the device can significantly hinder development and testing efforts, leading to frustration and delays in project timelines.

Possible Causes

Several factors could contribute to the intermittent boot issues:

• QSPI Issues: The logs indicate potential problems with the QSPI (Quad Serial Peripheral Interface), which may affect booting and loading of system files.

• Corrupted Firmware or Software: If the firmware or software is corrupted, it can lead to inconsistent boot behavior.

• Hardware Defects: There may be underlying hardware issues with the custom board that prevent it from powering on reliably.

• Power Supply Issues: Insufficient or unstable power supply could cause intermittent failures during the boot process.

• User Errors During Flashing: Incorrect flashing procedures or configurations could lead to problems during startup.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the intermittent boot issues with the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check QSPI Integrity:

   • Review logs for any specific errors related to QSPI. If errors are present, consider checking the physical connections and integrity of the QSPI flash memory.

2. Reflash the Device:

   • Attempt to reflash the device following proper procedures:

     sudo ./flash.sh <your_device_configuration>
     

   • Ensure you are using a reliable power source during this process.

3. Monitor Boot Logs:

   • Capture and analyze detailed boot logs through the debugging serial port during startup to identify any specific errors or warnings.
   • Look for patterns in logs when it fails versus when it boots successfully.

4. Test Different Power Supplies:

   • If possible, test with a different power supply to rule out power-related issues that may affect boot reliability.

5. Use Known Good Hardware:

   • If available, compare with another known working baseboard or configuration to isolate whether the issue is specific to your custom board.

6. Reduce Boot Complexity:

   • Temporarily simplify your boot configuration (e.g., disconnect peripherals) to see if it affects the ability to start up successfully.

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for troubleshooting boot issues and best practices for flashing Jetson devices.
   • Engage with community forums for additional insights from users who may have encountered similar issues.

8. Unresolved Aspects:

   • Users have noted that multiple fast modules encountered this issue; further investigation may be needed into whether this is a widespread problem across different configurations or specific to certain setups.
   • Gathering more detailed statistics on failure rates and conditions under which failures occur could provide valuable insights for troubleshooting.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve intermittent boot issues with their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano 4G devices running L4T version 35.5.0.