Problems flashing Orin Nano to NVME

Issue Overview

Users have reported difficulties in flashing the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit when attempting to use an NVMe drive. The primary symptoms include:

• Error Messages: Users encounter the error message ERROR: failed to read rcm_state during the flashing process, indicating a failure in reading the recovery state machine.

• Context of the Issue: The problem arises during the flashing process using the Nvidia SDK Manager on a host computer running Ubuntu 18.04. The connection is made via USB to the USB-C port of the board, and the FC_REC pin is shorted to ground, which is a typical requirement for initiating recovery mode.

• Hardware and Software Specifications:

  • Host OS: Ubuntu 18.04
  • JetPack Version: 5.1.3
  • Connection Type: USB-C
  • Storage Options Available: NVMe, USB, and SD card (only NVMe is connected).

• Frequency of Occurrence: This issue appears to be consistent among multiple users attempting to flash their devices.

• Impact on User Experience: Users are unable to successfully flash their boards, which prevents them from utilizing the device for development or testing purposes.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The NVMe drive may not be fully compatible with the Orin Nano Dev Kit, leading to errors during flashing.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs within JetPack or SDK Manager that affect the flashing process, particularly with specific configurations.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the flashing command or misconfiguration of the NVMe drive could lead to failures.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may prevent proper communication between the host and the device.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or temperature fluctuations could impact the board’s ability to flash successfully.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently make mistakes in command execution or setup procedures that lead to these errors.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address and potentially resolve the issue, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify Connections:

   • Ensure that all connections (USB-C and NVMe) are secure.
   • Check that the FC_REC pin is correctly shorted to ground.

2. Check for Compatibility:

   • Confirm that your NVMe drive is compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit.
   • Refer to Nvidia’s documentation for a list of supported hardware.

3. Use Correct Flashing Commands:

   • Navigate to the appropriate directory in your terminal:

     cd <nvidia_sdk>/JetPack_5.1.3_Linux_JETSON_ORIN_NANO_TARGETS/Linux_for_Tegra
     

   • Execute the following command to initiate flashing:

     sudo ADDITIONAL_DTB_OVERLAY_OPT="BootOrderNvme.dtbo" ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_t234_nvme.xml -p "-c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

4. Gather Logs for Analysis:

   • Collect both flash logs from the host and serial console logs from the device. This information can provide insights into what might be going wrong.
   • For serial console logging, connect a UART logger to RX/TX headers and ensure proper configuration as per guidelines available on forums or Nvidia documentation.

5. Test with Different Storage Options:

   • If possible, attempt to flash using an SD card instead of NVMe to determine if the issue is isolated to NVMe.
   • If successful with SD card, this indicates a potential incompatibility with NVMe.

6. Check Permissions for Commands:

   • Ensure you have proper permissions when executing commands that modify system files:

     echo 8 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/printk
     echo 'module usbcore +p' | sudo tee /sys/kernel/debug/dynamic_debug/control
     echo 'module xhci_hcd +p' | sudo tee /sys/kernel/debug/dynamic_debug/control
     

7. Consult Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for any updates or patches related to JetPack and Orin Nano.
   • Engage with community forums for additional troubleshooting tips or shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly update your software and drivers.
   • Maintain proper environmental conditions (stable power supply and temperature).
   • Follow detailed setup guides closely when configuring new hardware.

Unresolved aspects of this issue may require further investigation into specific hardware configurations or deeper software debugging from Nvidia’s support team. If multiple users report success with specific solutions, consider these as recommended approaches when troubleshooting similar issues in the future.