🛠 First Boot of the Xerxes Nano
Objectives
This tutorial aims to master the physical and electrical integration of the Xerxes Nano, a compact carrier board (120x60 mm) designed for NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super or Turing RK1 modules. Unlike standard boards, the Xerxes Nano requires a fine understanding of thermal management and hybrid power management (USB/PoE). The goal is to ensure a stable boot while leveraging high-performance interfaces like OCuLink or M.2 PCIe Gen 3 without damaging the compute module.
Required Materials
- Xerxes Nano carrier board (half Nano-ITX form factor).
- NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super module (or Turing RK1).
- Power Supply: USB-C source (5V/5A recommended) or compatible 802.3af/at PoE switch.
- Power selection jumper (included with the board).
- Heat sink compatible with the module's height.
- USB-C cable for initial configuration.
- Workstation with serial (UART) connector or network access.
- Precision screwdriver for 1U/1.5U chassis mounting.
Steps
- Inspection and Preparation: Check for damage on the Jetson module connector pins. Ensure the heat sink is compatible with the module height to allow horizontal (1U) or vertical (1.5U) mounting.
- Module Installation: Gently insert the Jetson Orin Nano Super module into the Xerxes Nano connector. Apply even pressure until fully seated. Secure the module with the provided screws to ensure thermal and mechanical contact.
- Power Configuration: Locate the power selection jumper. For standard desktop use, set the jumper to the « USB » position. For rack installations with a PoE switch, set it to « PoE ». Do not power both sources simultaneously unless the electrical schematic explicitly allows it (verification required).
- Peripheral Connection: Connect a USB-C cable to the dedicated port for power and serial console. If using PoE, connect the RJ45 cable to the PoE-compatible Ethernet port. Note that the SFP+ port and OCuLink are not required for the first boot.
- System Access: Open a serial terminal (baud rate 115200) or connect via SSH if a DHCP IP is assigned. You should see the NVIDIA bootloader startup messages.
Verification
The system should display a login prompt after approximately 30 seconds. Check the temperature via sudo nvidia-smi or tegrastats to confirm that active cooling (PWM connector) is accounted for if a fan is connected. Ensure the module is correctly detected (lsusb or lspci) and that no voltage errors appear in system logs (dmesg).
To Go Further
Once the system is stable, explore activating NVMe storage via the M.2 PCIe Gen 3 slot. You can then test the bandwidth of the OCuLink interface by connecting an external GPU, ensuring you respect the Jetson module's power limits.