Unable to flash SD card in Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when attempting to flash an SD card for the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The primary symptom reported is an error message stating that "mmcblk0p1 is not supported" during the flashing process. This issue arises specifically when users follow the official flashing instructions provided by Nvidia.

The problem occurs during the setup phase, particularly while executing the flashing command in recovery mode. Users have mentioned using a 64GB SD card, which is typically compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano. The issue seems to be consistent among multiple users attempting to flash images from different versions of the software.

The impact of this problem is significant, as it prevents users from successfully setting up their development environment, thereby hindering any further development or testing on the device.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: The SD card may not be compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano, or it could be defective.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There could be bugs in the version of the flashing tool or conflicts between different software versions being used.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect parameters in the flashing command could lead to unsupported device errors.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or missing drivers may cause communication issues between the host machine and the Jetson board.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may inadvertently use incorrect commands or configurations based on outdated documentation.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Hardware Compatibility:

   • Ensure that the SD card is compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano. Consider trying a different SD card if possible.

2. Check Software Version:

   • Confirm that you are using the correct version of the flashing tools for your specific Jetson Orin Nano version. For instance, if using version 36.2, ensure that your commands reflect this.

3. Modify Flashing Command:

   • If you are using version 36.2, use this command instead:

     sudo ./tools/kernel_flash/l4t_initrd_flash.sh --external-device mmcblk1p1 \
     -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 command reflects changes necessary for compatibility with version 35.x and later.

4. Run Commands with Elevated Permissions:

   • Ensure that you are running commands with sudo to avoid permission issues during flashing.

5. Review Logs for Errors:

   • Use the --showlogs option in your command to gather detailed logs during the flashing process. Review these logs for any additional error messages that may provide clues.

6. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to the official Nvidia documentation for any updates or changes in procedures that may not have been reflected in your current approach.

7. Test Different USB Ports/Cables:

   • If using USB for network connections, try different USB ports or cables to rule out connectivity issues.

8. Power Supply Check:

   • Ensure that your power supply meets the requirements for powering the Jetson board during flashing. Insufficient power can lead to failures.

9. Seek Community Support:

   • If issues persist, consider posting detailed error logs and steps taken in relevant forums for community assistance.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to flashing their Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board successfully.