Jetson Orin Nano SoM Boot Issues with NVMe

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties booting the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano System on Module (SoM) from an NVMe drive. The main symptoms include:

• Inability to boot from NVMe after flashing it with the SDK Manager.
• Errors indicating that the system does not recognize the NVMe as a bootable device.
• Users have reported that the production module lacks an SD card slot or eMMC, necessitating the use of an external NVMe drive for storage.

The issue arises primarily during the initial setup and configuration of the production SoM. Users have consistently noted that simply connecting a flashed NVMe drive does not lead to successful booting, indicating a more complex setup requirement. The impact of this problem is significant, as it prevents users from utilizing their hardware effectively, thereby hindering development and deployment of applications.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes have been identified for the booting issues:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The absence of SD card and eMMC may lead to reliance solely on NVMe, which must be correctly configured to boot.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The JetPack version being used may not be fully compatible with the production module.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect parameters in flashing scripts or failure to flash necessary components like QSPI memory can prevent successful booting.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may hinder the recognition of NVMe as a bootable device.
• User Errors: Misconfigurations during the flashing process or incorrect usage of flashing commands can lead to issues.
• Environmental Factors: Power supply inconsistencies can affect boot performance.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To diagnose and resolve the boot issues with the Jetson Orin Nano SoM, follow these comprehensive steps:

1. Initial Setup Verification:

   • Ensure that all hardware components are correctly connected and powered.
   • Verify that you are using a compatible power supply (19V for Orin Nano).

2. Flashing QSPI Memory:

   • Use the following command to flash QSPI memory:

     sudo ./flash.sh --no-systemimg -c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml jetson-orin-nano-devkit external
     

   • This command ensures that QSPI is properly initialized before attempting to boot from NVMe.

3. Flashing NVMe Drive:

   • Confirm that your NVMe drive is properly flashed with the correct image using SDK Manager.
   • If issues persist, consider using:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_external.xml -p "-c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml --no-systemimg" --network usb0 external
     

4. Boot Configuration:

   • Check if you need to modify UEFI settings or use specific scripts for booting from NVMe. If necessary, use flash_t234_qspi_nvme.xml for proper configuration.

5. Testing Different Configurations:

   • Test with different NVMe drives if possible to rule out hardware defects.
   • Confirm that your NVMe drive is formatted correctly and contains a valid filesystem.

6. Logs and Debugging:

   • Collect logs during the flashing process to identify any errors. Use EXPORT LOGS in SDK Manager for detailed diagnostics.

7. Documentation Review:

   • Consult Nvidia’s official documentation on setting up NVMe drives and troubleshooting boot issues:
     • Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit User Guide
     • Flashing Support Documentation

8. Community Support:

   • Engage with community forums for additional insights and shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.

9. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Always ensure that you are using stable versions of JetPack suitable for your specific hardware configuration.
   • Regularly check for firmware updates and patches provided by Nvidia.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve their booting issues with the Jetson Orin Nano SoM when using an NVMe drive.