Understanding Secure Boot on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing challenges while attempting to enable the secure boot feature on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Development Kit. The specific symptoms include confusion regarding the output of the fuse burning process and uncertainty about whether the errors logged during this process are critical.

The issue arises during the setup phase, specifically when users are trying to create a hash for the fuse file using tegrasign_v3.py and running the command:

sudo ./odmfuse.sh --test -X fuseTest2.xml -i 0x23 jetson-orin-nano-devkit > fuselog2.txt

Relevant hardware specifications include the Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit running Jetson Linux version 35.5.0. Users have reported varying levels of success in understanding the log outputs generated during this process, with some seeking clarification on how to proceed based on these logs.

The frequency of this issue appears to be moderate, with multiple users discussing similar concerns in the forum. The impact on user experience is significant, as successful secure boot implementation is crucial for security features in their applications.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: If there are issues with the hardware itself, such as faulty components, it could lead to problems during the fuse burning process.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: Bugs in the Jetson Linux BSP or conflicts with other installed software may result in unexpected behavior during secure boot configuration.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrectly set parameters in the XML configuration file or errors in creating the public key hash can lead to issues when executing fuse commands.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers may affect functionality, particularly if they relate to security features.

• Environmental Factors: External conditions such as power supply instability may impact operations, especially during critical processes like fuse burning.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Mistakes in following procedures or misunderstanding documentation can lead to errors during setup.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Diagnosing the Problem:

   • Review the contents of fuselog2.txt for any error messages or warnings.
   • Check for discrepancies between expected and actual values in your XML configuration file.

2. Gathering System Information:

   • Use terminal commands to check system status:

     dmesg | grep error
     

   • Verify current software versions:

     cat /etc/nv_tegra_release
     

3. Isolating the Issue:

   • Test with a different XML configuration file to see if errors persist.
   • If possible, try using another Jetson Orin Nano Dev Kit to rule out hardware issues.

4. Potential Fixes:

   • Ensure that you are using an updated version of tegrasign_v3.py and other related scripts.
   • Follow recommended procedures from Nvidia documentation regarding fuse burning and image flashing.
   • For image flashing, determine which script to use based on your target:
     • Use flash.sh for internal eMMC targets.
     • Use l4t_initrd_flash.sh for external storage.

5. Recommended Approach:

   • If multiple users have reported success with a particular approach, prioritize that method. For example, following guidance from Topic 263458 regarding fuse burning steps has been noted as helpful by other users.

6. Documentation and Updates:

   • Regularly check Nvidia’s official documentation for updates on secure boot procedures and troubleshooting guides.
   • Consider downloading any available firmware upgrades that may address known issues.

7. Best Practices:

   • Always back up current configurations before making changes.
   • Maintain a stable power supply during critical operations like fuse burning.
   • Document any changes made for future reference.

8. Unresolved Aspects:

   • Further investigation may be needed into specific error codes logged in fuselog2.txt that users find ambiguous.
   • Clarification on selecting between flash.sh and l4t_initrd_flash.sh based on specific use cases remains an area for further exploration.