Jetson Orin Nano Freezes During Torchvision Installation

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing freezing issues on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board while attempting to install the Torchvision library. The specific symptoms include the system becoming unresponsive during the installation process, particularly when installing Torchvision v0.18.0 after successfully installing PyTorch 2.3.0. This problem has been reported multiple times, with users noting that similar freezing occurs even with earlier versions of PyTorch (2.2.0) and Torchvision (0.17.0).

The context of the issue arises during the installation phase of Torchvision, as per the guidelines provided in the PyTorch for Jetson documentation. The Jetson Orin Nano is running Jetpack 6, which is crucial for compatibility with various software packages.

The frequency of this issue appears to be consistent among users who have attempted the installation, indicating a potential underlying problem affecting multiple setups. The impact on user experience is significant, as it halts progress in setting up a development environment for machine learning applications, thereby limiting functionality and productivity.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: There may be issues related to the specific hardware configuration of the Jetson Orin Nano that could lead to freezing during intensive operations like library installations.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The versions of PyTorch and Torchvision being used might have unresolved bugs or compatibility issues with Jetpack 6.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings or parameters during installation could lead to system instability.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may cause conflicts during the installation process, especially when compiling libraries.

• Environmental Factors: High temperatures or inadequate power supply could contribute to system freezes during resource-intensive tasks.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may not be following installation procedures correctly, leading to unexpected behavior.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Wait Time During Installation:

   • Ensure that you allow sufficient time for Torchvision to compile, as it may take longer than expected on the Jetson Orin Nano. If freezing occurs within a few minutes, consider other troubleshooting steps.

2. Check System Resources:

   • Monitor CPU and memory usage during installation using:

     top
     

   • Ensure that sufficient resources are available and that no other processes are consuming excessive resources.

3. Update Drivers and Software:

   • Ensure that all drivers and Jetpack components are up to date. Follow these commands:

     sudo apt update
     sudo apt upgrade
     

4. Install Dependencies:

   • Verify that all necessary dependencies for PyTorch and Torchvision are installed:

     sudo apt install python3-pip libjpeg-dev zlib1g-dev
     

5. Use a Virtual Environment:

   • Consider setting up a virtual environment to isolate dependencies:

     python3 -m venv myenv
     source myenv/bin/activate
     pip install torch torchvision
     

6. Compile from Source:

   • If pre-built binaries fail, compile Torchvision from source:

     git clone https://github.com/pytorch/vision.git
     cd vision
     git checkout v0.18.0
     python setup.py install
     

7. Check Logs for Errors:

   • Review system logs for any errors that might provide insight into the cause of the freeze:

     dmesg | grep -i error
     

8. Test with Different Versions:

   • If issues persist, try different versions of PyTorch and Torchvision to determine if a specific version is causing the problem.

9. Power Supply Check:

   • Ensure that your power supply meets the requirements for the Jetson Orin Nano, as insufficient power can lead to instability.

10. Community Support:

    • If problems continue after trying these steps, consider reaching out to community forums or support channels for further assistance.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to freezing during Torchvision installation on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board.