SDK Manager Issues with Jetson Orin Nano on Custom Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to boot a Jetson Orin Nano on a custom board using the NVIDIA SDK Manager. The specific symptoms include:

• Failure to boot from both USB and NVMe storage
• The Orin is recognized as a USB device by the host machine
• The SDK Manager runs to approximately 40% completion before getting stuck waiting for the device to reboot
• Numerous "Error: Flash Jetson Linux" messages appear, particularly related to a 67MB image (likely for QSPI flash)
• The process is being attempted on an Ubuntu 20.04 x86 host machine
• A manual installation of JetPack is being used
• The USB stick is empty prior to running the SDK Manager

Possible Causes

1. Incompatible Custom Board: The SDK Manager is designed for use with official NVIDIA DevKits, not custom boards. This mismatch could lead to various compatibility issues.

2. Incorrect Board Support Package (BSP): The custom board may require a specific BSP that is not included in the standard SDK Manager package.

3. Device Tree/Pinmux Configuration: Custom boards often need specific device tree and pinmux configurations, which may not be correctly set up.

4. Flashing Process Issues: The errors related to flashing Jetson Linux suggest problems with the flashing process, possibly due to incompatible or incorrect flash configurations.

5. Host Machine Compatibility: While Ubuntu 20.04 should be compatible, there could be specific host-related issues affecting the process.

6. SDK Manager Version Mismatch: An outdated or incompatible version of the SDK Manager could cause unexpected behavior.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use Correct BSP for Custom Board:

   • Contact the manufacturer of your custom board to obtain the correct Board Support Package (BSP).
   • If you designed the board yourself, review and verify the device tree and pinmux configurations.

2. Manual Flashing with Initrd:

   • For self-made custom boards, try flashing manually using the initrd flash method.
   • This process typically involves:

     sudo ./flash.sh jetson-orin-nano-devkit mmcblk0p1
     

   • Ensure you’re using the correct flash script for your specific Orin Nano model.

3. Verify Host Machine Setup:

   • Ensure your Ubuntu 20.04 host machine meets all requirements for the SDK Manager.
   • Check for any system updates:

     sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
     

4. SDK Manager Troubleshooting:

   • Update to the latest version of the SDK Manager.
   • Run the SDK Manager with elevated privileges:

     sudo ./sdkmanager
     

   • Check SDK Manager logs for detailed error messages:

     cat ~/.nvsdkm/sdkm.log
     

5. QSPI Flash Verification:

   • If possible, verify the integrity of the QSPI flash on your custom board.
   • Consider reflashing the QSPI if issues persist.

6. Alternative Flashing Methods:

   • Try using the NVIDIA L4T (Linux for Tegra) package directly instead of the SDK Manager.
   • This involves manually flashing the system using command-line tools.

7. Custom Board Debugging:

   • Use a serial console to monitor boot messages and identify specific failure points.
   • Check for any custom board-specific documentation or support resources.

8. Community Support:

   • If the issue persists, consider reaching out to the NVIDIA Developer Forums or your board manufacturer’s support channels for more specialized assistance.

Remember that using custom boards with the SDK Manager is not officially supported by NVIDIA. For the best experience and support, it’s recommended to use official NVIDIA DevKits when possible. If you must use a custom board, be prepared for additional troubleshooting and potential compatibility issues.