PTP on Jeston Orin NX

Robotics & Edge Computing Jetson Systems Jetson Orin NX
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My question is regarding PTP support in the Linux Kernel for Jetson Orin NX. I have read many posts that reiterate that hardware PTP support is not present on the SOM and therefore it is not supported by the Kernel.

However , if I add a NIC with PTP capabilities, e.g. an Intel i226 based M.2 card , will the hardware PTP be supported by Kernel natively or will i need to recompile the kernel and activate some extra settings through Kernel Config.

Is it totally impossibly to enable hardware PTP on Orin NX?

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

The question is about the support for Precision Time Protocol (PTP) in the Linux Kernel for Jetson Orin NX. Specifically, it asks whether adding a Network Interface Card (NIC) with PTP capabilities, such as an Intel i226-based M2 card, would enable hardware PTP support in the kernel.

Firstly, it’s essential to understand that the Jetson Orin NX module itself does not have native hardware PTP support. This is a limitation of the System-on-Module (SOM) design.

However, adding a NIC with PTP capabilities, such as the Intel i226-based M2 card, can potentially enable hardware PTP support. The Linux kernel does support PTP, and it’s possible to configure it to work with external PTP-capable devices.

In this case, the kernel might support the Intel i226-based M2 card’s PTP capabilities without requiring a custom kernel recompilation. The kernel’s PTP support is typically provided through the ptp module, which can be loaded dynamically.

To enable hardware PTP support, you might need to:

  1. Ensure the Intel i226-based M2 card is properly installed and recognized by the kernel.
  2. Load the ptp module, if it’s not already loaded.
  3. Configure the PTP settings using the ptp command-line tool or through the kernel’s sysfs interface.

However, it’s crucial to note that the kernel’s PTP support might require specific configuration and settings to work correctly with the Intel i226-based M2 card. You might need to consult the kernel documentation, Intel’s documentation, and the Jetson Orin NX documentation to ensure proper configuration.

In summary, while the Jetson Orin NX module itself does not have native hardware PTP support, adding a NIC with PTP capabilities, such as the Intel i226-based M2 card, can potentially enable hardware PTP support in the kernel. You might need to configure the kernel’s PTP settings and ensure proper installation and recognition of the NIC.

Comparison with other Jetson modules:

  • Jetson AGX Orin: Similar to the Jetson Orin NX, the AGX Orin module does not have native hardware PTP support. However, it’s possible to add a PTP-capable NIC and configure the kernel to support PTP.
  • Jetson Xavier NX: The Xavier NX module has a different design and might have different PTP support capabilities. It’s essential to consult the Xavier NX documentation to determine its PTP support capabilities.

In conclusion, while the Jetson Orin NX module has limitations regarding native hardware PTP support, adding a PTP-capable NIC and configuring the kernel can potentially enable hardware PTP support.

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1 Like
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Sorry that we don’t support PTP on Orin NX.

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Kayccc

Im using a Connecttech Hadron board, and ive added an off the shelf M2 NIC , Intel i210 AT. The IGB module is being loaded and hardware ptp timestamping is available. is there anyway i can now generate a PPS or GPIO based output from jetson thats syncronized to the PTP0 clock?

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Could you try to configure nvidia,pps_op_ctrl = <1>; in device tree to check if it could help for your case?
Please also share the full dmesg and device tree for further check.