Orin Nano UEFI Selection of the Kernel Image and the DTB

Issue Overview

The discussion revolves around issues related to the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board, specifically concerning the loading of the Device Tree Blob (DTB) from the Quad Serial Peripheral Interface (QSPI) during the boot process. Users have reported symptoms such as system resets and confusion regarding the booting behavior when both A and B slots fail to load the DTB.

Key points include:

• Symptoms: Users experience system resets if the DTB fails to load from both A and B slots, leading to uncertainty about whether the device enters a recovery mode or a bootloader recovery state.

• Context: The problems occur during system startup, particularly when using JetPack 6.0.0 (rev 2) with L4T r36.3.0, Linux 5.15.136-tegra, and Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS.

• Frequency: The issue seems to be consistent among users who have enabled A/B booting and are facing DTB loading failures.

• Impact: This problem can prevent successful booting of the device, significantly affecting user experience and functionality.

Possible Causes

Potential causes for the DTB loading issues include:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: Faulty hardware components could lead to an inability to read from QSPI.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in JetPack or L4T versions that affect boot processes.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in UEFI or bootloader configurations could prevent proper loading of the DTB.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers might contribute to failures in accessing necessary files.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or temperature extremes could impact hardware performance during boot.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Incorrectly configured boot parameters may lead to failures in loading the DTB.

Each of these factors can disrupt the expected boot sequence, causing the system to reset or enter an unexpected state.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the DTB loading issue on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure that all hardware components are securely connected.
   • Inspect for any visible damage on the board or components.

2. Verify Software Version:

   • Confirm that you are using compatible versions of JetPack and L4T.
   • Upgrade to the latest stable version if necessary.

3. Review Boot Configuration:

   • Access UEFI settings and verify that A/B booting is correctly configured.
   • Check for any misconfigurations in boot parameters that might affect DTB loading.

4. Monitor Boot Process:

   • Use a serial console connection to monitor boot messages for specific errors related to DTB loading.
   • Look for indications of reset triggers after failed attempts.

5. Test with Different Configurations:

   • If possible, test with different SD cards or QSPI setups to rule out hardware-specific issues.
   • Try disabling A/B booting temporarily to see if it affects behavior.

6. Recovery Mode Access:

   • If both slots fail after three attempts, confirm whether it enters recovery kernel state or UEFI shell.
   • Use recovery tools provided in JetPack documentation if needed.

7. Firmware Updates:

   • Check for updates to firmware related to QSPI and apply them if available.
   • Follow Nvidia’s guidelines for firmware updates carefully.

8. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for detailed instructions on UEFI and DTB handling.
   • Utilize flowcharts provided in developer guides for better understanding of boot processes.

9. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly update software and firmware.
   • Keep backups of working configurations.
   • Document changes made during system configuration for easier troubleshooting in future incidents.

By following these steps, users can systematically identify and resolve issues related to DTB loading on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev boards. If problems persist despite these efforts, further investigation into specific error logs may be required, as well as reaching out to Nvidia support forums for advanced troubleshooting assistance.