🛸 Initial Setup using SDK Manager

The NVIDIA® Jetson Orin Nano™ Developer Kit is a perfect kit to start your journey of local generative AI evaluation and development.

This guide explains the alternative method for setting up Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit by flashing both the latest firmware (QSPI image) and the latest JetPack all at once, using a host x86 PC.

Check your toolbox

The following item is needed or highly desired for flashing your Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit using your host PC.

If you don't have them, check the default microSD-only setup instruction or you want to arrange them first then return to this guide once they are available.

flowchart LR
    A(start) --> B{Want to ditch microSD<br>and only use NVMe SSD?}
    B --[YES] --> S[🛸 SDK Manager method]
    B --[No] --> C{Have x86 PC running<br> Ubuntu 22.04/20.04?}
    C --[YES] --> S
    C --[No] --> U[🚀 microSD-only method]

    style S stroke-width:3px, fill:#f3e9f2,stroke:#b544c4
    style U stroke-width:3px, fill:#d2e9e5,stroke:#0e7a71

Overall flow (SDK Manager method)

flowchart
    A(start) --> B[0️⃣ Install SDK Manager]
    B --> C[1️⃣ Connect Target Hardware] 
    C --> D[2️⃣ Select Software Components to Install]
    D --> E[3️⃣ Download on Host PC]
    E --> F[4️⃣ Flash]
    F --> G[5️⃣ Boot and initial setup]
    G --> P(👍 Start developing on JetPack 6.2) 

0️⃣ Install SDK Manager

On your Ubuntu 22.04 / 20.04 PC, open a terminal and execute the following command.

Select the tab that matches your Ubuntu version.

wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2204/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -y install sdkmanager

wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2004/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -y install sdkmanager

Then launch SDK Manager with the following command.

sdkmanager

SDK Manager launched and the login completed.

1️⃣ Connect the Target Hardware

Once SDK Manager is launched, connect your Jetson developer kit to your Ubuntu PC and power it on in Forced Recovery mode.

1. Connect your Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit to your PC with a USB cable.
   Note that the USB cable goes into the USB-C port of the carrier board of the developer kit.

2. While shorting pin 9 and pin 10 of J14 header located below the Jetson module using a jumper pin, insert the DC power supply plug into the DC jack of the carrier board to power it on.

   

   You can use a paper clip like a photo below as well.

   

3. Select " Jetson Orin Nano [8GB developer kit version] " and hit " OK "

   

4. Uncheck " Host Machine " and it should now look like this

   

5. Click " Continue " button to proceed to the next step.

2️⃣ Select Software Components to Install]

1. Leave the only " Jetson Linux " component checked, and uncheck everything.

   

2. Remember to also check " I accept the terms and conditions of the license agreements ".

3. Click " Continue " button to proceed to the next step.

4. It will prompt for the sudo command password.

   

3️⃣ Download on Host PC

1. It will start downloading the "BSP" package and "RootFS" package.

   

2. Once downloads are complete, it will untar the package and start generating the images to flash in the background.

   

3. Once images are ready, SDK it will open the prompt for flashing.

   

4️⃣ Flash

1. On the flashing prompt, select " Runtime " for "OEM Configuration".

   

2. On the flashing prompt, select " NVMe " if you want to flash Jetson Linux (BSP) to NVMe SSD.

   

3. Click "Flash" and the prompt popup will change like this.

   

4. Flash progress.

   Details Terminals

   

   

5. Flash successfully completes.

   Details Terminals

   

   

5️⃣ Boot and Initial Setup

1. If still plugged, remove the jumper from header (that was used to put it in Forced Recovery mode)

2. Connect the DisplayPort cable or adapter and USB keyboard and mouse to Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, or hook up the USB to TTL Serial cable.

3. Unplug the power supply and put back in to power cycle.

4. Jetson should now boot into the Jetson Linux (BSP) of your selected JetPack version from the storage of your choice.

5. Complete the initial software setup ( oem-config )

Switch to MAXN SUPER mode

Note that the default power mode on JetPack 6.2 on Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit is 25W .
To switch to the MAXN SUPER mode and unlock the unregulated performance, follow below steps:

1. Click on the current power mode ( 25W ) by clicking the NVIDIA icon on the right side of the Ubuntu desktop’s top bar.
2. Select Power mode from the menu.
3. Choose MAXN SUPER to enable maximum performance.

🎊 Congratulations!
Your Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit is set up with JetPack 6.2 image and you are ready to develop on JetPack 6.2.

Next step

Check this page for "SSD" (if you flashed on microSD) and/or "Docker" set up.