Kernel Configuration and Driver Compilation Issues on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board are experiencing difficulties when attempting to add drivers to the kernel and modify the device tree. The main symptoms include:

• Inability to locate the compiled driver file (e.g., imx412.ko) after following kernel compilation steps.
• Errors occurring during the execution of commands, particularly related to incorrect architecture specifications (e.g., using arn64 instead of arm64).
• Confusion regarding the proper sequence of commands and configurations needed for successful driver integration.

The issues arise primarily during the kernel setup and modification process, particularly when users attempt to compile and package additional drivers. The users involved typically operate on Ubuntu 20.04 with Jetson Linux version 36.3.

The impact of these problems significantly hampers users’ ability to customize their development environment, leading to frustration and a lack of progress in their projects.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes have been identified for these issues:

• Configuration Errors: Users may be using incorrect architecture specifications (e.g., arn64 instead of arm64), leading to compilation failures.

• Driver Compilation Issues: The absence of specific configurations in the tegra_defconfig file may prevent drivers from being compiled correctly.

• Software Bugs: There may be inconsistencies or bugs within the kernel or compilation scripts that affect driver visibility post-compilation.

• User Misconfigurations: Incorrect command sequences or missing steps in the kernel configuration process can lead to incomplete builds.

• Environmental Factors: The development environment setup (e.g., toolchain paths) may not be configured correctly, affecting the build process.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address these issues, users can follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Environment Setup:

   • Ensure that all necessary tools and dependencies are installed on your Ubuntu 20.04 system.
   • Confirm that the correct version of Jetson Linux (36.3) is being used.

2. Correct Architecture Specification:

   • Always use arm64 instead of arn64 in all commands related to architecture specification.
   • Example command:

     make ARCH=arm64 menuconfig
     

3. Modify Kernel Configuration:

   • Navigate to the appropriate directory:

     cd ~/nvidia/Linux_for_Tegra/source/kernel/kernel-5.10
     

   • Generate a base kernel configuration:

     make ARCH=arm64 defconfig
     

   • Use menuconfig to modify settings:

     make ARCH=arm64 menuconfig
     

   • Ensure that you enable the necessary configurations for your driver (e.g., set CONFIG_VIDEO_IMX412=y in tegra_defconfig).

4. Compile the Kernel:

   • Compile the kernel with the following command:

     make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=<toolchain-path>/bin/aarch64-buildroot-linux-gnu- -j8
     

5. Check for Compiled Driver Files:

   • After compilation, check for the existence of your driver files in the output directory:

     ls ~/nvidia/out
     

6. Flashing the Compiled Kernel:

   • If drivers are successfully compiled, follow these instructions to flash them onto your Jetson unit:

     ./nvbuild.sh -o ~/nvidia/out
     

7. Verify Driver Installation:

   • After booting up, check if your driver is loaded correctly by running:

     zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CONFIG_VIDEO_IMX412
     

8. Documentation and Resources:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for further guidance on kernel configuration and flashing procedures:
     • Kernel Compilation Guide
     • Flashing Instructions

9. Best Practices:

   • Always back up existing configurations before making changes.
   • Document each step taken during configuration and compilation for future reference.

Unresolved Aspects

While many users have successfully compiled their drivers by modifying tegra_defconfig, questions remain regarding why certain methods (like using make ARCH=arm64 menuconfig) result in errors. Further investigation may be needed into potential bugs within the Nvidia toolchain or documentation inconsistencies that could clarify this issue for future users.