Unable to Access Wi-Fi on Jetson Orin Nano with JetPack 6 Developer Preview

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties accessing Wi-Fi on the Jetson Orin Nano 8GB (non-dev board) running JetPack 6 Developer Preview. The issue persists despite having both the original Wi-Fi card installed with antennas connected and a USB Wi-Fi dongle attached. While Bluetooth is functional and both Wi-Fi devices are detected by the system, users cannot connect to Wi-Fi networks or find the devices using the ifconfig command.

This problem significantly impacts the device’s functionality, preventing users from establishing wireless internet connections, which is crucial for many applications and development tasks on the Jetson platform.

Possible Causes

1. Driver Compatibility Issues: The JetPack 6 Developer Preview may lack proper driver support for the Wi-Fi hardware.

2. Firmware Problems: The Wi-Fi card’s firmware might be incompatible or outdated for the new JetPack version.

3. Configuration Errors: System network configuration files may be misconfigured or missing necessary entries.

4. Hardware Malfunction: There could be a physical issue with the Wi-Fi card or its connection to the Jetson board.

5. Software Bugs: As this is a Developer Preview, there might be unresolved bugs affecting Wi-Fi functionality.

6. Kernel Module Issues: Required kernel modules for Wi-Fi support might not be loaded or properly integrated.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Install Backport Wi-Fi Drivers:

   • As suggested in the forum, install the backport Wi-Fi drivers:

     sudo apt-get install backport-iwlwifi-dkms
     

   • After installation, reboot the Jetson:

     sudo reboot
     

2. Check Network Interface Status:

   • Use the following command to list all network interfaces:

     ip link show
     

   • Look for entries related to Wi-Fi (usually starting with "wlan").

3. Verify Kernel Modules:

   • Check if Wi-Fi related kernel modules are loaded:

     lsmod | grep wifi
     

   • If missing, try loading them manually:

     sudo modprobe iwlwifi
     

4. Update JetPack and Firmware:

   • Ensure you have the latest JetPack 6 Developer Preview installed.
   • Check for any available firmware updates for the Wi-Fi card.

5. Investigate Network Manager:

   • Check the status of NetworkManager:

     sudo systemctl status NetworkManager
     

   • If not running, start it:

     sudo systemctl start NetworkManager
     

6. Examine System Logs:

   • Look for Wi-Fi related errors in system logs:

     sudo journalctl -b | grep -i wifi
     

7. Test with Live Ubuntu:

   • Boot the Jetson with a live Ubuntu image compatible with ARM64 architecture.
   • If Wi-Fi works in Ubuntu, it suggests a software issue with JetPack 6.

8. Hardware Inspection:

   • Verify that the Wi-Fi card is properly seated and connected.
   • Check antenna connections for any loose or damaged parts.

9. Report to NVIDIA:

   • If the issue persists, report it to NVIDIA’s developer forums or support channels, providing:
     • Detailed hardware specifications
     • JetPack version information
     • Output of troubleshooting commands
     • Any error messages from system logs

10. Consider Downgrading:

    • As a temporary workaround, consider downgrading to a stable JetPack version where Wi-Fi functionality is known to work correctly.

It’s worth noting that as this issue involves a Developer Preview version of JetPack, some instability is expected. Users should regularly check for updates and patches from NVIDIA that might address this Wi-Fi connectivity problem.