🛠 Deploying a High-Performance Edge AI Node on Xerxes Nano

Xerxes Nano Carrier Board for Jetson Orin Nano Super and Turing RK1 Modules · avance · Configurez un nœud de calcul distribué combinant stockage NVMe rapide et connectivité réseau à faible latence sur la carte Xerxes Nano.

Objectives

This advanced tutorial aims to configure the Xerxes Nano board as an autonomous Edge computing node. We will leverage NVMe storage for AI models, use the SFP+ cage for a dedicated fiber link, and enable PoE power for 1U rack installation without separate power cabling.

Required Hardware

Xerxes Nano board with Jetson Orin Nano Super or Turing RK1 module.
NVMe M.2 SSD (2230 or 2280 form factor depending on internal adapter).
SFP+ optical module (10G) and appropriate fiber cable.
PoE+ compatible network switch.
USB-C cable for initial configuration.
Screwdriver and mounting screws for rack installation.

Steps

Hardware Preparation: Insert the M.2 SSD into the slot located under the compute module. Secure the SFP+ optical module in the designated cage. Ensure the power selection jumper is set to "PoE".
System Installation: Connect the board via USB-C and flash the OS (Ubuntu JetPack or standard Linux) onto the NVMe SSD. Once complete, disconnect USB.
Network Configuration: Connect the fiber cable to the SFP+ port. On the system, identify the network interface (e.g., eth1) and configure a static IP or DHCP via Netplan or NetworkManager. Verify the link with ip link show.
Rack Mounting: Install the board horizontally in a 1U chassis or vertically in 1.5U. Connect the fiber cable to the PoE switch.
Storage Optimization: Mount the NVMe filesystem with noatime options to reduce wear. Configure a cache directory for AI models on this fast storage.
Thermal Management: Connect the fan to the PWM connector. Adjust the fan curve via nvidia-smi or system tools to maintain optimal temperature under load.

Verification

Run lsblk to confirm the NVMe SSD is detected and mounted. Test network bandwidth with iperf3 between the node and a remote server. Verify that the system boots correctly without USB power, solely via the PoE cable.

Code examples for this board

xerxes-nano-gpio-led-blink-python.py Python
xerxes-nano-i2c-sensor-read.py Python
xerxes-nano-poe-network-check.sh Bash
xerxes-nano-m2-storage-benchmark.sh Bash
xerxes-nano-oculink-gpu-detect.sh Bash
jetson-orin-poe-ethernet-monitor-6.ino Bash

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