Read NVCSI Register Failed on Orin Nano Platform

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing an issue when attempting to read the NVCSI controller registers on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The specific symptoms include receiving a read value of 0xFFFFFFFF and encountering an error message indicating a firewall error. This issue arises when executing the command:

busybox devmem 0x15a00000

The error log details include:

• Error Code: FIREWALL_ERR
• MASTER_ID: CCPLEX
• Address: 0x15a00000
• Protection: Unprivileged, Non-Secure, Data Access

This problem occurs consistently when users attempt to access the NVCSI registers, suggesting a potential security restriction or misconfiguration. The impact on user experience is significant, as it prevents access to critical register information necessary for debugging or development tasks.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The issue may stem from hardware that does not support the access method used for reading the NVCSI registers.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the current software version or conflicts with other drivers that prevent proper access to the registers.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the system configuration may lead to unauthorized access attempts.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers could be causing the inability to read the registers correctly.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could affect the board’s performance and lead to errors.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may not have the necessary permissions or may be using incorrect commands to access protected registers.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Permissions and Security Settings:

   • Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access the NVCSI registers. You may need to run commands as a superuser (using sudo).

2. Check for Driver Updates:

   • Update your Jetson Orin Nano’s software and drivers to the latest version. Use the following command:

     sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
     

3. Disable Firewall Protection (if applicable):

   • If instructed by documentation or community guidance, consider disabling the firewall for CCPLEX. This can often resolve access issues but should be done with caution and understanding of security implications.

4. Inspect System Logs for Additional Errors:

   • Use dmesg to check system logs for any additional error messages that might provide more context:

     dmesg | grep -i error
     

5. Test with Different Configurations:

   • If possible, try accessing the registers on a different Jetson Orin Nano board to rule out hardware defects.

6. Consult Documentation and Community Forums:

   • Review Nvidia’s official documentation for any notes on register access restrictions and check forums for similar issues and solutions provided by other users.

7. Gather System Information:

   • Collect relevant system information that might help diagnose the issue further, such as:

     uname -a
     lspci
     

8. Reboot the Device:

   • Sometimes a simple reboot can resolve temporary issues related to system states or configurations.

9. Seek Further Assistance:

   • If none of these steps resolve your issue, consider reaching out directly to Nvidia support or posting detailed logs and steps taken in community forums for more targeted help.

By following these troubleshooting steps, users can systematically address the issue of reading NVCSI registers on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board while ensuring they maintain proper security practices and configurations.