Kernel boot fail

Robotics & Edge Computing Jetson & Embedded Systems Jetson AGX Orin
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I just tried to change some configs and then recompiled the linux kernel on jetson. Unfortunately, when I rebooted, I found the keyboard and mouse are out of control(I cannot insert passwords to log in), Is there any way to fix it?

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

It seems like you’ve encountered an issue with your Jetson AGX Orin after recompiling the Linux kernel. The symptoms you’ve described, such as the keyboard and mouse being unresponsive, suggest that there might be a problem with the kernel configuration or the compilation process.

Here are a few potential solutions to help you recover from this situation:

  1. Revert to the previous kernel configuration: If you have a backup of your previous kernel configuration, you can try reverting to it. This might help you identify if the issue is related to a specific configuration change you made.

  2. Recompile the kernel with default configurations: Try recompiling the kernel with the default configurations. This will help you determine if the issue is related to a specific configuration change you made or if it’s a more general problem with the kernel compilation process.

  3. Use a serial console: If you have a serial console connected to your Jetson AGX Orin, you can try using it to access the system and troubleshoot the issue. This will allow you to bypass the keyboard and mouse and interact with the system directly.

  4. Use a USB drive to boot the system: You can try booting the system from a USB drive with a known good kernel. This will help you determine if the issue is related to the kernel on the Jetson AGX Orin or if it’s a hardware problem.

  5. Reflash the Jetson AGX Orin: If none of the above steps work, you might need to reflash the Jetson AGX Orin with a known good image. This will restore the system to its original state and allow you to start again from a known good configuration.

In terms of comparing the different Jetson models, the process for recovering from a kernel compilation issue is generally the same across all models. However, the specific steps and tools used might vary depending on the model and the version of the kernel you’re using.

Here’s a comparison of the recovery process for different Jetson models:

  • Jetson AGX Orin: The recovery process for the Jetson AGX Orin is similar to the one described above. You can use a serial console or a USB drive to boot the system and troubleshoot the issue.
  • Jetson Xavier NX Series: The recovery process for the Jetson Xavier NX Series is similar to the one described above. You can use a serial console or a USB drive to boot the system and troubleshoot the issue.
  • Jetson AGX Xavier Series: The recovery process for the Jetson AGX Xavier Series is similar to the one described above. You can use a serial console or a USB drive to boot the system and troubleshoot the issue.

In general, the key to recovering from a kernel compilation issue is to have a good understanding of the kernel configuration and compilation process, as well as the tools and techniques used to troubleshoot and recover from such issues.

Here’s an example of how you might use the flash.sh command to reflash the Jetson AGX Orin:

$ sudo ./flash.sh -u <pkc_keyfile> [-v <sbk_keyfile>] <target_config> internal

This command will reflash the Jetson AGX Orin with a known good image and restore the system to its original state.

Note that the specific command and options used might vary depending on the model and version of the Jetson you’re using, as well as the version of the kernel you’re trying to recover from.

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Hi @ruizhengz,

Could you please answer these questions so we can better understand the context?

  1. Are you using the Jetson AGX Orin Developer Kit?

  2. Which version of JetPack are you using?

  3. Could you share a .patch file with the changes you applied?

  4. What are you trying to achieve with the changes mentioned above?

Jose Morera
Embedded Software Engineer at RidgeRun
Contact us: support@ridgerun.com
Developers wiki: https://developer.ridgerun.com
Website: www.ridgerun.com

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  1. Yes, I’m using jetson AGX Orin Developer Kit
  2. 5.15.148-tegra
  3. How to get .patch file? Right now I cannot log into my jetson because i cannot insert my password
  4. I tried to turn on the CONFIG_NETFILTER_NETLINK_QUEUE, therefore I need to recompile the kernel.
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Regarding point 3, I assume you downloaded the kernel sources on your host computer, modified them, and then flashed the Jetson AGX Orin Developer Kit with the modified kernel. What I’d like to see is what changes you made to the kernel sources on your host computer.

The .patch file compares the original version with the modified one and shows the differences. If you’re working in a Git repository, you can generate the .patch file with the following command:

git diff > changes.patch

You don’t need to access the Jetson board to do this.

Jose Morera
Embedded Software Engineer at RidgeRun
Contact us: support@ridgerun.com
Developers wiki: https://developer.ridgerun.com
Website: www.ridgerun.com

7

Understand, but I did not use the cross compilation. I directly downloaded the source code on my jetson board and compiled it. It seems that the only thing I can do with my board is to flash it？By the way, I change the kernel through the .config file in the kernel compilation output directory. Do I need to give it to you?

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As a good practice, I recommend downloading, modifying, and compiling the kernel sources on your host computer, preferably using Ubuntu.

Here are the official instructions for modifying the kernel from your host computer: Kernel Customization.

You can choose to either flash the Jetson completely or replace specific files. In the second case, make sure that the Jetson was initially flashed with the same kernel version you are modifying on the host.

If you can share all the steps you are following (including the files you modified and what changes you made in those files), that would be great.

Jose Morera
Embedded Software Engineer at RidgeRun
Contact us: support@ridgerun.com
Developers wiki: https://developer.ridgerun.com
Website: www.ridgerun.com

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Thanks, I’m following the instructions from R36.4 official tutorial and trying to cross compile the kernel. What I do not understand is that how to flash from my own ubuntu PC jetson? I usually use the SDKmanager to install the whole system. But I do not know how to flash my customized kernel.

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It depends on the changes you’re making, you can replace only the files of interest. For example, when we develop a driver and modify the kernel sources, we replace the Image file, the DTB, and the modules directory. In fact, the guide I shared with you suggests something similar. Just make sure that the version installed with SDK Manager matches the version of the sources you’re modifying.

Jose Morera
Embedded Software Engineer at RidgeRun
Contact us: support@ridgerun.com
Developers wiki: https://developer.ridgerun.com
Website: www.ridgerun.com

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