Jetson Orin Nano nvbuild.sh -o ***/kernel_out Directory “nvethernetrm” is not found, exiting

Issue Overview

Users are encountering an issue when attempting to build the kernel for the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board. The specific error message states that the directory "nvethernetrm" is not found, which leads to the termination of the build process. This problem arises during the execution of the command nvbuild.sh -o ***/kernel_out on a development environment running Ubuntu 18.04 and Jetson Linux version 36.3. The symptoms include:

• Error Message: "Directory ‘nvethernetrm’ is not found, exiting."
• Context: The issue occurs after following the kernel customization tutorial from Nvidia’s documentation.
• Hardware Specifications: Users reported using Ubuntu 18.04, which may not be compatible with JetPack 6.0 and above.
• Frequency: This issue appears to be consistent among users who are new to developing on this platform.
• Impact: The inability to successfully build the kernel hampers development efforts and can lead to frustration among new developers.

Possible Causes

The following potential causes have been identified for this issue:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: Using an unsupported version of Ubuntu (18.04) may lead to compatibility issues with JetPack 6.0.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the nvbuild.sh script or conflicts with other installed software.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect paths or missing files in the kernel source could lead to this error.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may prevent successful kernel builds.
• User Errors: Misconfiguration during setup or failure to unpack necessary kernel modules could cause missing directories.

Each of these causes can disrupt the expected build process and result in the observed error.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issue effectively, users can follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Development Environment:

   • Ensure that you are using a compatible version of Ubuntu (preferably 20.04 or later) as recommended for JetPack 6.0.
   • Upgrade your operating system if necessary.

2. Check Kernel Sources:

   • Confirm that all required kernel sources are present. Specifically, ensure that kerner_oot_modules_src.tbz2 is unpacked, as it contains the missing "nvethernetrm" directory.

3. Run Commands to Gather Information:

   • Execute the following command to check for available directories:

     ls /home/zynq/NVIDIA/orin_Nano_prj/Linux_for_Tegra/source/kernel/output/kernel/
     

   • This will help identify if "nvethernetrm" exists in the expected location.

4. Re-download Kernel Sources:

   • If files are missing, consider re-downloading or re-cloning the kernel sources from Nvidia’s official repositories.

5. Consult Documentation:

   • Follow Nvidia’s Kernel Customization documentation closely, ensuring you are referencing the correct release notes for version 36.3 rather than earlier versions.

6. Test with Different Configurations:

   • If issues persist, try building with a fresh installation of JetPack or using a different development machine with a supported OS.

7. Seek Community Support:

   • Engage with forums and community discussions for additional insights and solutions from other developers who faced similar issues.

8. Best Practices for Future Builds:

   • Always ensure that your development environment meets the minimum requirements outlined by Nvidia.
   • Keep your system and dependencies updated to avoid conflicts.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and resolve the issue related to missing directories during kernel builds on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board.