Custom Jetson Orin Nano Carrier Board design to integrate multiple PCIe cards

Robotics & Edge Computing Jetson Systems Jetson Orin Nano
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Hi Team,
We are designing a custom Jetson Orin Nano Carrier Board, for which we want to integrate multiple PCIe based peripheral cards.
Clarification Statement:
Each Peripherals card which we want to integrate are PCIe Gen 3 (x1) M.2 connector type. Total 3 different cards. Please let me know the feasibility options or share me the recommended solutions.

Thank you,

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*** Please note that this reply is generated by LLM automatically ***

Based on the provided context, I’ll address your question regarding the feasibility of integrating multiple PCIe-based peripheral cards on a custom Jetson Orin Nano Carrier Board.

The Jetson Orin Nano Series supports PCIe, and since you’re planning to integrate PCIe Gen 3 x1 M2 connector-type cards, we can explore the feasibility options.

Feasibility Options:

  1. PCIe Endpoint Mode: The Jetson Orin Nano Series supports PCIe Endpoint Mode, which allows the module to act as a PCIe endpoint device. This means you can connect multiple PCIe-based peripheral cards to the Jetson Orin Nano module. However, you’ll need to ensure that the PCIe lanes are properly configured and allocated for each peripheral card.
  2. PCIe Switching: Another option is to use a PCIe switch, which can allow multiple PCIe devices to share a single PCIe lane. This can help you connect multiple peripheral cards to the Jetson Orin Nano module while minimizing the number of PCIe lanes required.
  3. PCIe Bridge: A PCIe bridge can also be used to connect multiple PCIe devices to the Jetson Orin Nano module. This can help you connect multiple peripheral cards to the module while providing a separate PCIe lane for each device.

Recommended Solutions:

Based on your requirement of integrating three different PCIe-based peripheral cards, I recommend using a combination of PCIe Endpoint Mode and PCIe switching. This will allow you to connect multiple peripheral cards to the Jetson Orin Nano module while minimizing the number of PCIe lanes required.

Here’s a possible solution:

  • Use the Jetson Orin Nano module’s PCIe Endpoint Mode to connect one or two peripheral cards directly to the module.
  • Use a PCIe switch to connect the remaining peripheral cards to the Jetson Orin Nano module. This will allow you to share a single PCIe lane among multiple devices.

Additional Considerations:

When designing your custom Jetson Orin Nano Carrier Board, make sure to consider the following:

  • Ensure that the PCIe lanes are properly configured and allocated for each peripheral card.
  • Verify that the PCIe switch or bridge is compatible with the Jetson Orin Nano module and the peripheral cards.
  • Consider the power requirements for each peripheral card and ensure that the carrier board can provide sufficient power.
  • Ensure that the carrier board design meets the necessary thermal and mechanical requirements for the Jetson Orin Nano module and the peripheral cards.

Comparison with Other Jetson Modules:

Compared to other Jetson modules, the Jetson Orin Nano Series has a more limited number of PCIe lanes available. However, the PCIe Endpoint Mode and PCIe switching capabilities make it possible to connect multiple PCIe-based peripheral cards to the module.

In comparison, the Jetson AGX Orin Series has more PCIe lanes available, which may make it easier to connect multiple peripheral cards without the need for PCIe switching. However, the Jetson AGX Orin Series is a more powerful and larger module, which may not be suitable for all applications.

In summary, integrating multiple PCIe-based peripheral cards on a custom Jetson Orin Nano Carrier Board is feasible using a combination of PCIe Endpoint Mode and PCIe switching. However, careful consideration must be given to the design and configuration of the carrier board to ensure that the peripheral cards are properly connected and powered.

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Let’s say that we want to connect a 1 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe card, and also a NVMe SSD. What is the feasibility?

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Orin Nano can support two x1, one x2, and one up to x4 or x8 for a total of four PCIe interfaces. Please refer to Jetson Orin NX Series and Orin Nano Series Design Guide for the supported mappings.