Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board: nvpmodel and Docker Service Failures

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board are experiencing critical service failures, specifically with the nvpmodel and Docker services. The issue manifests as follows:

• The nvpmodel service fails to start, resulting in a "failed (Result: exit-code)" status.
• The Docker service also fails to start, showing a similar "failed (Result: exit-code)" status.
• These service failures lead to significant latency in connected devices, such as IMX219 cameras.
• The problem appears to have occurred suddenly, after the system was previously working correctly.
• The issue persists across multiple JetPack versions, including the latest 6.0 release.

Possible Causes

1. Software Corruption: The sudden onset of the problem suggests a possible corruption in the system software or critical service files.

2. Hardware Failure: Persistent issues across multiple software versions may indicate a hardware problem with the Jetson Orin Nano board.

3. Incompatible Updates: Recent updates to the system or related packages might have introduced incompatibilities leading to service failures.

4. Storage Device Issues: Problems with the SD card or NVMe SSD could cause system instability and service failures.

5. Power Supply Problems: Inadequate or unstable power supply could lead to erratic behavior and service failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify JetPack Version:
   Ensure you are using the latest stable JetPack version. The user reported using JetPack 6.0, but it’s worth checking for any available updates.

   cat /etc/nv_tegra_release
   

2. Check System Logs:
   Examine system logs for more detailed error messages:

   sudo journalctl -u nvpmodel.service
   sudo journalctl -u docker.service
   

3. Reinstall Critical Packages:
   Try reinstalling the nvpmodel and Docker packages:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install --reinstall nvidia-l4t-core
   sudo apt-get install --reinstall docker.io
   

4. Downgrade JetPack:
   As suggested in the forum, try flashing older JetPack versions (5.1.3, 5.1.2, 5.1.1) to isolate if the issue is specific to JetPack 6.0.

5. Check Storage Device:
   If your Jetson Orin Nano has an SD card slot, try using a different SD card. For models with NVMe SSD, try a different SSD if available.

6. Verify Power Supply:
   Ensure that the power supply meets the required specifications for the Jetson Orin Nano.

7. Complete System Reflash:
   If all else fails, perform a complete system reflash:

   a. Download the latest Jetson Linux and JetPack from the NVIDIA Developer website.
   b. Use the NVIDIA SDK Manager to flash the system.
   c. If flashing fails, try using different storage devices (SD cards or NVMe SSDs).

8. RMA Process:
   If the issue persists after trying multiple JetPack versions and storage devices, the board may be physically damaged. In this case, initiate the RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) process through NVIDIA’s support channels.

9. Community Support:
   If you’re still facing issues, consider posting on the NVIDIA Developer Forums or reaching out to NVIDIA support directly for more personalized assistance.

Remember to back up any important data before performing major system changes or reflashing the device. If the problem persists across multiple software versions and hardware configurations, it’s likely a hardware issue requiring a board replacement through the RMA process.