Jetson Orin Nano Recovery Error

Issue Overview

Users are encountering a ‘failed to read rcm_state’ error while attempting to flash the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Devkit using the SDK Manager. This issue arises when the device is put into force recovery mode by connecting pins 9 and 10 of the Jetson’s header pins.

Specific Symptoms

• The error message ‘failed to read rcm_state’ appears during the flashing process.
• Users report inconsistencies with account settings, such as language, keyboard, and timezone not being configured at startup after flashing.

Context

• The issue occurs during the setup phase while flashing the device.
• The host system is running Ubuntu 20.04.
• The frequency of this error seems to vary, with some users reporting successful flashes without encountering this message.

Impact

The inability to complete a proper flash affects the user experience significantly, as it leads to misconfigured system settings and potential operational issues post-flash.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: Issues with the Jetson Orin Nano Devkit hardware could lead to communication failures during the flashing process.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the SDK Manager or conflicts with existing software on the host system that disrupt the flashing process.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in the SDK Manager settings may prevent a successful flash.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers on the host PC can interfere with device recognition and flashing.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently set configurations that lead to incomplete setups, such as specifying account settings incorrectly.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Check Flashing Process Logs:

   • Review logs generated by SDK Manager for any additional error messages or confirmations that the flash was completed successfully despite the warning.
   • Use command:

     cat /path/to/SDKM_logs_JetPack_5.1.2_Linux_for_Jetson_Orin_Nano_modules_2023-12-20_10-32-43.zip
     

2. Verify Serial Console Boot Log:

   • Connect to the serial console to monitor boot logs for further troubleshooting.
   • Install a terminal application like gtkterm:

     sudo apt-get install gtkterm
     sudo gtkterm -b 8 -t 1 -s 115200 -p /dev/ttyACM0
     

   • Ensure proper connection to the correct serial port on the Jetson device.

3. Reconfigure SDK Manager Settings:

   • Delete existing Board Support Packages (BSP) from your host PC:
     • Navigate to folders specified in Nvidia’s documentation and delete old BSP files.
   • Re-download and re-flash using SDK Manager without setting user account details beforehand.

4. Adjust OEM Configuration:

   • Leave OEM Configuration as Runtime during flashing to avoid defaulting settings from the host PC.

5. Testing Different Configurations:

   • If issues persist, try flashing with different configurations or settings in SDK Manager to isolate potential causes.

6. Documentation and Resources:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for further guidance on flashing processes and troubleshooting steps:
     • NVIDIA Jetson Documentation

7. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Always ensure that your SDK Manager and drivers are up-to-date before performing a flash.
   • Double-check configurations before initiating a flash process.

Unresolved Aspects

While many users have reported success by following these troubleshooting steps, there may still be unresolved issues pertaining to specific hardware configurations or unreported software bugs that require further investigation.