Jetson Orin Nano Benchmarking Issues

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing significant performance issues while running benchmarks on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, particularly with the Jetson Benchmark tool. The main symptoms include receiving a "0 fps" output and an "Error opening engine file" message, especially noted when using the 4GB version of the Orin Nano. The context of these issues typically arises during benchmarking tests after installation of the necessary software packages, such as Jetpack and the benchmarking tools. Users have reported low memory warnings, indicating potential memory constraints affecting performance. The issue appears to be consistent across multiple attempts and configurations, impacting user experience by preventing effective benchmarking of models.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Limitations: The 4GB memory capacity of the Orin Nano may be insufficient for certain models, leading to performance degradation or failure to execute.
• Software Bugs: There may be unresolved bugs within the Jetson Benchmark software or Jetpack that cause it to fail under specific conditions.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect paths or configurations in command execution (e.g., specifying model directories) can prevent successful model loading and execution.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may hinder the performance of the benchmarking tool.
• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating may affect system performance during intensive tasks.
• User Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently misconfigure their environment or commands, leading to errors in execution.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Installation Steps:

   • Ensure that all installation commands are executed correctly:

     sudo apt install nvidia-jetpack
     sudo unzip jetson_benchmarks.zip
     cd jetson_benchmarks
     sudo sh install_requirements.sh
     sudo mkdir models
     sudo python3 utils/download_models.py --all --csv_file_path benchmark_csv/orin-nano-benchmarks.csv --save_dir models
     

   • Confirm that the model directory is correctly specified in subsequent commands.

2. Check Memory Status:

   • Use free -h command to check available memory before running benchmarks to ensure sufficient resources are available.

3. Adjust Batch Sizes:

   • Modify batch sizes in the CSV configuration file to optimize performance for specific models. For example, setting a batch size of 32 for Inception_v4 may yield better results.

4. Test with Different Configurations:

   • Experiment with different configurations by adjusting parameters in the command line:

     sudo python3 benchmark.py --all --csv_file_path $PWD/benchmark_csv/orin-nano-benchmarks.csv --model_dir $PWD/models/ --jetson_clocks
     

5. Implement Swap File:

   • Consider creating a swap file to alleviate memory pressure:

     sudo fallocate -l 2G /swapfile
     sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
     sudo mkswap /swapfile
     sudo swapon /swapfile
     

   • Monitor performance changes after enabling swap.

6. Review Logs for Errors:

   • Analyze log files generated during benchmarking for specific error messages that can provide insights into failures.

7. Reboot and Retry:

   • After making changes, reboot the system and rerun benchmarks to see if issues persist.

8. Update Jetpack and Drivers:

   • Ensure you are using the latest version of Jetpack compatible with your Orin Nano. Check for driver updates that may resolve existing bugs.

9. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to the official Nvidia documentation for troubleshooting tips and community forums for shared experiences and solutions from other users facing similar issues.

10. Experiment with Alternative Tools:

    • If problems persist, consider using alternative benchmarking tools or scripts that might be more compatible with your setup.

By following these steps, users can systematically diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to benchmarking on the Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. If problems remain unresolved after these attempts, further investigation into specific error messages or community support may be necessary.