Introduction
A Jetson module is a computing system, based on the Jetson architecture, packaged in a plug-in unit (a module). NVIDIA offers a variety of Jetson modules with different capabilities and price points.
Jetson modules run Linux with NVIDIA® Tegra® Linux Driver Package (L4T), which provides the Linux kernel, bootloader, NVIDIA drivers, flashing utilities, sample filesystem, and more for the Jetson platform.
Jetson Modules and Developer Kits
A Jetson module plugged into the corresponding reference carrier board constitutes a complete computing system, including processors, memory, and peripheral connections.
A Jetson developer kit is a software development system that includes a Jetson module, reference carrier board, power supply software, and documentation. NVIDIA offers a Jetson developer kit for each currently available Jetson module. Jetson developer kits are not intended for production use.
NVIDIA also offers Jetson modules separately from Jetson developer kits. These Jetson modules are intended for production use with carrier boards designed or procured for your end product. You can deploy software to a Jetson module that you have developed on the corresponding Jetson developer kit.
Software for Jetson Modules and Developer Kits
NVIDIA JetPack SDK is a comprehensive resource for building AI applications with Jetson modules and L4T. It includes OS images for Jetson products, software libraries, APIs, sample aplications, developer tools, and documentation.
Use NVIDIA SDK Manager to install L4T and the JetPack SDK. For instructions, see the Jetson Developer Kit User Guide for your Jetson developer kit. Alternatively, see this document’s Quick Start Guide to flash your Jetson module with bootloader and file system only, excluding other JetPack components. For information about moving a completed application from a Jetson developer kit to a Jetson module on a suitable carrier board, see the
Platform Adaptation and Bring-Up Guide for your chosen Jetson module.
You can customize L4T software to fit the needs of your project. This Development Guide and the Platform Adaptation and Bring-Up Guide contain the information you need to optimize your use of the complete Jetson product feature set while porting L4T to a new platform.
Devices Supported By This Development Guide
The NVIDIA Tegra Linux Driver Package Development Guide covers use of L4T with any of the modules and reference carrier boards described in this table.
Type of module | Module name & part number * | Develop software with reference carrier board & module |
Jetson Nano™ | Jetson Nano (P3448-0000) | Jetson Nano board (P3448) with Jetson Nano module (P3448-0000) |
Jetson Nano (P3448-0020) |
Jetson AGX Xavier™ | Jetson AGX Xavier (P2888) | Jetson AGX Xavier board (P2822) with Jetson AGX Xavier module (P2888) |
Jetson AGX Xavier 8GB (P2888-0006) |
Jetson™ TX2 series | Jetson TX2 4GB (P3489-0080) | Jetson TX1/TX2 board (P2597) with Jetson TX2 module (P3310) |
Jetson TX2 (P3310) |
Jetson TX2i (P3489) |
Jetson™ TX1 | Jetson TX1 (P2180) | Jetson TX1/TX2 board (P2597) with Jetson TX1 module (P2180) |
* For a complete list of part numbers, see the FAQ What Are the Part Numbers for Jetson Products? |
For more information about the various Jetson modules and development kits, see the
Jetson Developer Site and the
Jetson FAQ.
How Development Guide Topics Identify Devices
If a Development Guide topic does not concern all supported Jetson devices, its heading or subheading specifies its scope. Here are some examples of such headings:
• Jetson TX2 Series Software Features
• Power Management for Jetson Nano Devices
Some examples of subheadings:
• Applies to: Jetson AGX Xavier devices only
• Applies to: Jetson TX2 series devices only
The scope of “Jetson TX2 series” is all variants of Jetson TX2.
The scope of “Jetson TX2” is Jetson TX2 only (not Jetson TX2 4GB or Jetson TX2i). Jetson TX2 is sometimes denoted “the original Jetson TX2” to emphasize that it does not include TX2 4GB or TX2i.
