Jetson Orin Error with RTSP stream from Dahua camera: timeout occurred waiting for the next image buffer

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing an error while attempting to set up a WebRTC stream using the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. The specific error encountered is:

[gstreamer] gstDecoder::Capture() – a timeout occurred waiting for the next image buffer.

This issue arises when executing the video-viewer command with an RTSP stream URL, particularly during the initialization of the GStreamer pipeline.

Symptoms

• Error Messages: Users report various GStreamer errors, including:

  • Timeout waiting for the next image buffer.
  • Resource discovery and auto-negotiation failures.
  • Missing or invalid IP port in the RTSP URI.
  • Failure to create encoder pipelines due to missing elements such as x264enc.

• Context: The problem occurs when users attempt to stream video from Dahua cameras using different codecs (H264 and H265) and various RTSP URLs.

Hardware and Software Specifications

• Hardware: Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit.
• Software: GStreamer version 1.16.3.0; various plugins including gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly.

Frequency and Impact

The issue appears to be consistent among users attempting similar setups, significantly impacting their ability to utilize video streaming capabilities effectively.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Limitations: The Orin Nano does not have a built-in hardware encoder, which necessitates the use of software encoders.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: Issues may arise from conflicts between installed GStreamer plugins, particularly with gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly, which includes essential encoders like x264enc.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect RTSP URI formatting or codec specifications can lead to failures in establishing a connection or decoding streams.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may affect the performance of GStreamer components.

• User Errors: Misconfigurations in command syntax or RTSP URL structures can lead to errors.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Validate RTSP URI:

   • Use tools like ffmpeg or vlc to ensure that your RTSP URL is correct and accessible.

2. Test GStreamer Pipeline:

   • Execute the following command to check if the issue is specific to video-viewer:

     gst-launch-1.0 rtspsrc location="rtsp://login:[email protected]/profile" ! decodebin ! autovideosink
     

3. Inspect Installed Plugins:

   • Check if x264enc is available:

     gst-inspect-1.0 x264enc
     

   • If it returns "No such element or plugin ‘x264enc’", this indicates that the necessary plugin is not installed.

4. Clear GStreamer Cache:

   • Clear the GStreamer registry cache to refresh available plugins:

     rm ~/.cache/gstreamer-1.0/registry.aarch64.bin
     

5. Install Necessary Plugins:

   • If you need x264enc, consider reinstalling gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly, as it contains essential encoding plugins.
   • Alternatively, explore using Jetson Multimedia API for encoding tasks as suggested by forum users.

6. Test with Different Codecs:

   • Experiment with both H264 and H265 codecs in your commands to see if one works better than the other.

7. Modify Command Syntax:

   • Ensure that your command syntax is correct, especially regarding special characters in URLs (e.g., replacing ‘&’ with ‘&’).

Recommended Approach

If multiple users reported success after reinstalling gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly, it is advisable to follow this route if you encounter issues related to missing encoder elements.

Best Practices

• Regularly update your Jetson Nano software and GStreamer plugins to ensure compatibility and access to new features.

• Maintain a backup of working configurations for quick recovery in case of future issues.

Unresolved Aspects

Some users noted ongoing issues without clear resolutions, particularly regarding alternative encoders when gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly cannot be used. Further investigation into available plugins and potential updates from Nvidia may be necessary for long-term solutions.