Unable to flash Jetson Orin Nano 8gb Dev Kit w/ NVMe using sdkmanager on WSL2

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash an image onto the NVMe drive of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit using the SDK Manager within the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2). The symptoms include:

• Frequent disconnections and reconnections of the device during the flashing process, identified as "NVIDIA USB Device (APX)" initially, then "NVIDIA USB Device (Linux for Tegra)" around 30% completion.
• The process ultimately fails with an error message: "Unknown device ‘/sys/class/net/bonding_masters’: No such device."
• The issue arises during the setup phase, specifically while trying to flash the device after entering Recovery Mode.

The environment involves Ubuntu 20.04 running in WSL2, which some users have reported as successfully functioning in similar scenarios. However, the problem appears to be inconsistent, affecting user experience significantly by preventing successful flashing and setup of the Jetson device.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: WSL2 may not fully support USB passthrough or may have issues with specific USB ports or cables, leading to unstable connections.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in the SDK Manager or conflicts with WSL2’s handling of USB devices that could disrupt the flashing process.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configurations in WSL2 or the SDK Manager settings could lead to failures during the flashing attempt.

• Driver Issues: Missing or incompatible kernel drivers in WSL2 may prevent proper communication with the Jetson device.

• Environmental Factors: Power supply issues or overheating could also contribute to disconnections during the flashing process.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Steps taken to enter Recovery Mode or attach devices might not be executed correctly, leading to failures.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address this issue, users can follow these troubleshooting steps and potential solutions:

1. Verify Hardware Connections:

   • Ensure that all cables are securely connected and try different USB ports.
   • Use a high-quality USB-C cable that supports data transfer.

2. Use Command-Line Flashing:

   • Instead of using SDK Manager, consider using command-line tools for flashing. Execute the following command:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device nvme0n1p1 \
     -c tools/kernel_flash/flash_l4t_external.xml -p "-c bootloader/t186ref/cfg/flash_t234_qspi.xml" \
     --showlogs --network usb0 jetson-orin-nano-devkit internal
     

   • This method may yield better results according to user experiences.

3. Capture Serial Console Logs:

   • Monitor and capture serial console logs during the flashing process to identify if the device is booting properly. This can be done using native Windows tools.

4. Consider Dual-Booting:

   • If problems persist, consider dual-booting with a native Linux installation (e.g., Ubuntu 20.04) instead of relying on WSL2. This setup may provide better compatibility with Jetson devices.

5. Update SDK Manager and Drivers:

   • Ensure that you are using the latest version of SDK Manager and check for any available driver updates that might resolve compatibility issues.

6. Try Custom Kernel for WSL2:

   • Some users have reported success by customizing their WSL2 kernel to include necessary drivers. This can be complex but may resolve driver-related issues.

7. Check Documentation and Community Resources:

   • Refer to official Nvidia documentation for additional guidance on flashing procedures and troubleshooting tips.
   • Engage with community forums for shared experiences and solutions from other users who faced similar issues.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • When working with Jetson devices, it is advisable to use a native Linux environment whenever possible for development tasks involving flashing and setup.
   • Regularly update both software and firmware associated with your Jetson device to minimize compatibility issues.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve the issues encountered while attempting to flash their Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit using WSL2. If problems persist after these troubleshooting steps, further investigation into hardware compatibility or deeper software conflicts may be necessary.