Setting Up WiFi and Ethernet Sharing on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board are experiencing difficulties in configuring the device to share a WiFi connection over its Ethernet port. The desired setup involves connecting the board to a 4G WiFi network and then allowing a personal computer to access this network through the Ethernet port, effectively enabling router-like functionality. Symptoms include confusion on how to configure network settings, with some users expressing a lack of knowledge on the topic. The issue appears to be consistent across various attempts and has been noted by multiple users in forum discussions.

Possible Causes

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in the network configuration could prevent proper sharing of the WiFi connection.
• Driver Issues: Incompatibility or bugs in the drivers for the Ethernet or WiFi hardware may hinder functionality.
• User Errors: Lack of familiarity with Linux networking commands and configurations can lead to misconfigurations.
• Environmental Factors: Network interference or insufficient power supply could affect connectivity and performance.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure that both the WiFi module and Ethernet port are properly connected and functional.

2. Check Network Configuration:

   • Use the following command to check current network interfaces:

     ifconfig
     

   • Confirm that both wlan0 (WiFi) and eth0 (Ethernet) interfaces are listed.

3. Configure IP Forwarding:

   • Enable IP forwarding by running:

     echo 1 | sudo tee /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
     

   • This allows packets to be forwarded between interfaces.

4. Set Up NAT (Network Address Translation):

   • Use iptables to configure NAT for sharing the internet connection:

     sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o wlan0 -j MASQUERADE
     sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i wlan0 -o eth0 -m state --state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
     sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -o wlan0 -j ACCEPT
     

5. Assign IP Addresses:

   • Assign a static IP address to the Ethernet interface:

     sudo ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
     

   • Configure the connected PC to use an IP address in the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.2).

6. Test Connectivity:

   • From the connected PC, ping an external site (e.g., ping google.com) to verify internet access through the Jetson board.

7. Reboot and Verify Settings:

   • Reboot the Jetson board and check if settings persist after reboot.

8. Documentation and Resources:

   • Refer to the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit User Guide for detailed setup instructions.
   • Review additional resources on configuring networking in Linux environments.

9. Best Practices:

   • Ensure that all software is up-to-date, including drivers and firmware.
   • Regularly backup configurations before making changes.

10. Unresolved Issues:

    • If problems persist, consider reaching out on forums or NVIDIA’s support channels for further assistance, as some users have noted difficulties even after following these steps.

This structured approach should help users successfully set up WiFi and Ethernet sharing on their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development boards, enhancing their overall experience with the device.