Orin Nano Internet Speed Down to 100M

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing a significant reduction in internet speed on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board, where the system reports a downshift from a negotiated speed of 1Gbps to an actual speed of 100Mbps. This issue manifests during the boot process, with the following error message displayed:

[ 164.608747] Generic FE-GE Realtek PHY r8169-8-100:00: Downshift occurred from negotiated speed 1Gbps to actual speed 100Mbps, check cabling!

The problem occurs consistently at boot, suggesting that it is not a sporadic issue but rather a persistent configuration or hardware-related problem. Users have followed design guidelines for their custom board layouts, indicating that the issue may be related to either hardware setup or driver configurations.

The impact of this issue is significant as it limits the network performance of the device, which can hinder development and deployment of applications that rely on high-speed internet connectivity.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The custom board layout may have issues such as poor connections or incorrect component placement that could lead to reduced network speeds.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the current software version or conflicts between installed drivers that affect network performance.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the network configuration could lead to improper negotiation of link speeds.

• Driver Issues: The board may be using an upstream driver (r8169) that does not function optimally with the specific hardware setup, leading to reduced speeds.

• Environmental Factors: Issues such as inadequate power supply or overheating could affect performance and cause downshifts in network speed.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may have misconfigured settings during setup, leading to suboptimal performance.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Check Cabling and Hardware Setup:

   • Ensure all cables are properly connected and are of high quality.
   • Inspect the custom board layout for any visible defects or poor connections.

2. Load Downstream Driver (r8168):

   • It has been suggested by users in the forum to load the downstream driver instead of the upstream driver. Follow these steps:

     $ sudo su
     # cd /lib/modules/5.10.104-tegra/kernel/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/
     # mv r8169.ko r8169_temp.ko
     # reboot
     

   • After rebooting, check if the speed issue persists.

3. Gather System Information:

   • After applying changes, use the dmesg command to gather logs and check for any new error messages related to network performance:

     dmesg | grep r816
     

   • Share this output for further analysis if issues continue.

4. Test Different Configurations:

   • If possible, test with different Ethernet cables and ports on your router/switch.
   • Try using a different power supply if overheating is suspected.

5. Driver Updates:

   • Check for any available updates for drivers or firmware that may address known issues with network performance.

6. Best Practices:

   • Regularly update your system and drivers to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.
   • Document any changes made during troubleshooting for future reference.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve the internet speed issue on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. If problems persist after trying these solutions, further investigation into hardware compatibility or deeper software conflicts may be necessary.