How to Connect to NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano UART Console
This guide explains how to connect to the UART serial console of the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit using a TTL-to-USB adapter. This is useful for accessing boot logs, debugging early kernel messages, or interacting with the board when other interfaces are unavailable.
Requirements
- NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit
- TTL-to-USB Serial Adapter (e.g., based on CP2102, CH340, or FT232)
- Jumper wires (Female-to-Female)
- A host computer running Linux or macOS
- Serial terminal software: screen or minicom
NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano UART Pinout and Wiring
Connect the TTL-to-USB adapter to the 40-pin GPIO header of the Jetson Orin Nano as follows:
| Pin Number | Signal | Description | TTL Adapter Wire |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | UART_TX | Transmit from Jetson | Connect to RXD on adapter |
| 10 | UART_RX | Receive into Jetson | Connect to TXD on adapter |
| 14 | GND | Ground | Connect to GND on adapter |
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Connect Hardware
- Power off the Jetson Orin Nano.
- Connect jumper wires as described in the table above.
- Plug the TTL-to-USB adapter into your computer.
2. Identify the Serial Device
On your host machine, run:
ls /dev/ttyUSB*
You should see something like /dev/ttyUSB0. This is the serial device you'll use.
Using screen
Install screen
sudo apt update sudo apt install screen
Start Serial Console
Replace /dev/ttyUSB0 with your actual device:
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
To exit screen, press:
Ctrl + A, then K, then press Y to confirm
Using minicom
Install minicom
sudo apt update sudo apt install minicom
Configure minicom
First, run:
sudo minicom -s
Navigate to **Serial port setup** and set:
- **Serial device**: `/dev/ttyUSB0`
- **Bps/Par/Bits**: `115200 8N1`
- **Hardware Flow Control**: **No**
- **Software Flow Control**: **No**
Save settings and exit.
Start Serial Console
After configuration:
sudo minicom
To exit minicom, press:
Ctrl + A, then X
Boot Log Output
Once connected, power on the Jetson Orin Nano. You should see U-Boot and Linux boot messages in your terminal window. This console can be used to log in if graphical access is unavailable.
Troubleshooting
- Make sure your TTL-to-USB adapter is recognized by the OS (dmesg | grep ttyUSB)
- Verify correct TX/RX wiring (cross them)
- Use only one terminal program at a time (minicom or screen)
- Ensure baud rate is set to 115200
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