Unable to Flash Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties flashing the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano development board, specifically the 8GB model on a reCompute J3011 carrier board. The issue occurs during the initial setup process when attempting to install JetPack 5.1 using the SDK manager. The flashing process fails, preventing the board from booting. Subsequent attempts to flash or recover the board also fail, with a specific error message indicating a return value of 8 when using the recovery tool.

Possible Causes

1. Virtualization Environment: The primary cause of this issue appears to be the use of a virtualized environment (VirtualBox) for flashing the Jetson Orin Nano board.

2. USB Connectivity Issues: VirtualBox’s USB sharing functionality is known to be unreliable, which can lead to problems when attempting to flash or communicate with external devices like the Jetson Orin Nano.

3. Incompatible Host Operating System: The use of Ubuntu 18.04 in a virtual machine may not provide the necessary low-level hardware access required for flashing embedded devices.

4. Incorrect Flashing Procedure: There’s a possibility that the flashing procedure being followed is not suitable for use within a virtualized environment.

5. Hardware Issues: Although less likely, there could be potential hardware problems with the Jetson Orin Nano board or the USB connection being used.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Use a Bare Metal Linux Installation:

   • The most effective solution is to use a native Linux installation instead of a virtual machine.
   • Install Ubuntu 18.04 or Ubuntu 20.04 directly on your computer hardware.
   • This ensures proper USB communication and hardware access necessary for flashing the Jetson Orin Nano.

2. Verify USB Connection:

   • If using a virtual machine is unavoidable, ensure that USB passthrough is correctly configured in VirtualBox.
   • Try different USB ports on your host machine.
   • Use a high-quality USB cable to connect the Jetson Orin Nano board.

3. Update VirtualBox and Extension Pack:

   • If you must use VirtualBox, ensure you have the latest version (7.0 or newer) installed.
   • Install the corresponding VirtualBox Extension Pack to improve USB 3.0 support.

4. Check JetPack Compatibility:

   • Verify that JetPack 5.1 is compatible with your specific Jetson Orin Nano model.
   • Consider trying an older or newer version of JetPack if available.

5. Use Alternative Flashing Methods:

   • If the SDK manager fails, try using the command-line flashing tools provided by NVIDIA.
   • Use the following command to attempt recovery:

     sudo ./tools/backup_restore/l4t_backup_restore.sh -b -c p3509-a02+p3767-0000
     

6. Check for Hardware Issues:

   • Inspect the Jetson Orin Nano board for any visible damage.
   • Try a different USB cable and port.
   • If possible, test the board on another computer to rule out host-specific issues.

7. Consult NVIDIA Developer Forums:

   • If the issue persists, consider posting a detailed description of your problem on the NVIDIA Developer Forums.
   • Include information about your host system, the exact steps you’ve taken, and any error messages you’ve encountered.

8. Consider Professional Support:

   • If all else fails, consider contacting NVIDIA support or the vendor from whom you purchased the Jetson Orin Nano board for professional assistance or potential RMA if a hardware issue is suspected.

By following these steps, particularly by using a bare metal Linux installation, users should be able to successfully flash their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board and proceed with their development work.