I’m currently working on flashing a Jetson devkit that includes an encrypted partition. However, in some cases, our application may corrupt the root filesystem, rendering the board unbootable. In such scenarios, we need to re-flash the device to recover it.
The challenge is that during the flashing process, the encrypted partition also gets erased, resulting in loss of critical data. I’m looking for a way to retain the encrypted partition during a re-flash.
Would it be feasible to use two different XML configuration files—one that includes the encrypted partition and one that omits it—to selectively flash only the necessary partitions without affecting the encrypted one?
If so, could you please advise:
How can I identify the part-id of the encrypted partition to ensure it is excluded from flashing?
What would be the correct approach to mount or access the partition after flashing to verify its integrity?
Your guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
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To address your question, I’ll break down the process into steps and provide a comprehensive answer.
Background: You’re working with a Jetson AGX Orin devkit that has an encrypted partition. In case the root filesystem gets corrupted, you need to reflash the device to recover it. However, during the flashing process, the encrypted partition gets erased, resulting in loss of critical data.
Goal: You want to find a way to selectively flash only the necessary partitions without affecting the encrypted one.
Approach: Using two different XML configuration files, one that includes the encrypted partition and one that omits it, is a feasible approach. This method allows you to selectively flash only the necessary partitions.
Identifying the encrypted partition: To exclude the encrypted partition from flashing, you need to identify its location and configuration. You can use the flash_l4t_t234_nvme_rootfs_enc.xml configuration file as a reference, which is specifically designed for flashing images onto Jetson devices with disk encryption.
Steps to achieve selective flashing:
Create two XML configuration files:
One file (e.g., flash_all.xml) that includes the encrypted partition and all other necessary partitions.
Another file (e.g., flash_without_encrypted.xml) that omits the encrypted partition.
Modify the flash_without_encrypted.xml file:
Remove the encrypted partition from the configuration file.
Ensure that the other necessary partitions are still included.
Use the l4t_initrd_flash.sh script:
Flash the device using the flash_without_encrypted.xml file.
This will update the necessary partitions without affecting the encrypted one.
Verify the integrity of the encrypted partition:
After flashing, mount or access the encrypted partition to verify its integrity.
You can use the flash_l4t_t234_nvme_rootfs_enc.xml file as a reference to ensure that the encrypted partition is properly configured.
Comparison with other approaches:
Using a single XML configuration file: You could modify the single XML file to exclude the encrypted partition. However, this approach may lead to errors or inconsistencies if not done correctly.
Using a different flashing tool: Other flashing tools, like flash.sh, may not provide the same level of flexibility as l4t_initrd_flash.sh in terms of selective flashing.
Additional considerations:
Secure Boot: Ensure that Secure Boot is properly configured to prevent unauthorized access to the encrypted partition.
fTPM Provisioning: If you’re using fTPM (Firmware Trusted Platform Module) provisioning, ensure that it’s properly configured to secure the encrypted partition.
In conclusion, using two different XML configuration files to selectively flash only the necessary partitions without affecting the encrypted one is a feasible approach. By following the steps outlined above and considering the additional factors, you should be able to achieve your goal and ensure the integrity of the encrypted partition.
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may I know what’s the board authorization types, for instance, did you enable bootloader secureboot (i.e. PKC, or SBKPKC)?
or.. you’ve only have disk encryption (i.e. ROOTFS_ENC) enabled?
you may see-also developer guide, Flashing a Specific Partition.
however, the crucial item is why your application will corrupt rootfs, you should also debug into your application for the root cause.