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BSP Image Initialization

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Efficiently prepare Jetson BSP images for development.

by nvidia2.8k stars on nvidia/skills
Updated Aug 7, 2026
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Free · Opens the source repo

What BSP Image Initialization does

The BSP Image Initialization skill is designed to streamline the process of preparing Jetson Linux and sample-root filesystem tarballs for NVIDIA Jetson devices. This skill automates the extraction of these tarballs and the application of necessary binaries using the apply_binaries.sh script, tailored for the active target's GPU stack. It ensures that the required bsp_image metadata is correctly recorded in the active profile, facilitating seamless integration with downstream skills and workflows.

When invoked, the skill checks for the existence of an active profile and the necessary tarballs. It intelligently determines the appropriate paths and versions, prompting the user only when necessary. If a valid bsp_image.root_path exists, it will utilize that without further input. Otherwise, it allows the user to specify an override path while ensuring that any existing files are not overwritten without explicit consent. This careful approach minimizes the risk of data loss and ensures that the development environment remains stable.

The skill is particularly useful for developers working with NVIDIA Jetson platforms who need to initialize their BSP images efficiently. By automating the extraction and application processes, it saves time and reduces the potential for human error. The skill is designed to be used after the jetson-init-target skill, making it a crucial step in the setup of Jetson development environments.

The skill does have limitations, such as not downloading tarballs and only writing the bsp_image block to the profile. Users must ensure they have the necessary tarballs staged and accessible. However, its focused functionality makes it an essential tool for developers looking to streamline their Jetson development workflows.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to extract and initialize a BSP image for Jetson development, especially when setting up a new target profile.

When not to use it

This skill is not suitable if you require downloading tarballs or if you are working outside the Jetson Linux environment.

What you can build with it

Setting Up a New Jetson Device

Use this skill to efficiently initialize the BSP image when configuring a new Jetson device for development.

Updating an Existing BSP Image

Invoke this skill to update the BSP image in your active profile without risking data loss from overwriting existing files.

Integrating with Other Skills

Utilize this skill as part of a larger workflow where downstream skills require access to the initialized BSP image.

How to install BSP Image Initialization

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add nvidia/skills/jetson-init-image --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by nvidia

Initialize BSP Image

Output is only bsp_image: in the active profile: derived version plus root_path only when overriding <workspace>/Image.

When to invoke

  • The user asks to extract, prepare, or initialize the BSP image.
  • A downstream skill reports missing <bsp_image.root_path>/Linux_for_Tegra/.
  • The active profile has no bsp_image: block yet.

Procedure

Resolve target and image path

Resolve the active profile per ../../context/target-platform-contract.md. Refuse if there is no active profile or reference_devkit: is missing.

<workspace> is the parent of the active profile's target-platform/ directory. <bsp_image.root_path> defaults to <workspace>/Image.

Profile stateAction
bsp_image.root_path existsUse it without prompting.
bsp_image: exists without root_pathUse <workspace>/Image.
No bsp_image: blockAsk once: Enter for default, or absolute override path.

For an override, validate that the closest existing parent is writable. Omit root_path when the default is used.

Determine GPU stack

Use the shared GPU-driver invariant from ../../context/target-platform-contract.md. Derive the expected stack from reference_devkit.module.id and the catalogue:

Chip familyModule IDsStackapply_binaries.sh flag
T234 / Orinp3701, p3767nvgpunone
T264 and later / Thor+p3834OpenRM--openrm

Refuse unknown module IDs. The --openrm flag is only valid on BSP releases that ship the OpenRM stack; if the active BSP doesn't expose the flag, omit it regardless of what the target wants.

Reuse or extract

If <bsp_image.root_path>/Linux_for_Tegra/ already exists:

  1. Do not extract over it unless the user explicitly requested re-extraction and accepted the overwrite risk.

  2. Derive the on-disk version from Linux_for_Tegra/nv_tegra_release. Ask before replacing a different recorded bsp_image.version.

  3. Verify the installed GPU stack against the platform-derived expectation when possible. Detection precedence (first probe that yields a definitive answer wins):

    1. Linux_for_Tegra/rootfs/etc/nv_tegra_release carries an INSTALL_TYPE= token on BSP releases that expose it (newer lines). Read and compare directly.
    2. Otherwise, find Linux_for_Tegra -name nvgpu.ko: present → nvgpu, absent → OpenRM.
    3. If the chip family has only ever shipped one stack (e.g. T234 / Orin is always nvgpu in current BSPs), fall back to the catalogue-derived expectation without disk probing.

If the installed stack conflicts with the active target, refuse and ask the user to re-extract with the correct stack or fix the target profile. Otherwise skip extraction and update the profile.

Locate tarballs

When extraction is needed, search:

  1. <bsp_image.root_path>/
  2. <workspace>/
  3. current working directory

Prompt for absolute paths for anything missing. Required filenames:

  • Jetson_Linux_R<ver>_aarch64.tbz2
  • Tegra_Linux_Sample-Root-Filesystem_R<ver>_aarch64.tbz2

Both filenames must contain the same R<ver> token. Refuse mismatches and record <ver> as bsp_image.version. Do not download tarballs.

Extract and apply binaries

Use absolute tarball paths; they may live outside <bsp_image.root_path>.

ROOT="<bsp_image.root_path>"
BSP_TARBALL="<absolute path to Jetson_Linux_R<ver>_aarch64.tbz2>"
ROOTFS_TARBALL="<absolute path to Tegra_Linux_Sample-Root-Filesystem_R<ver>_aarch64.tbz2>"

mkdir -p "$ROOT"
tar xjf "$BSP_TARBALL" -C "$ROOT"
sudo tar xpjf "$ROOTFS_TARBALL" -C "$ROOT/Linux_for_Tegra/rootfs"

cd "$ROOT/Linux_for_Tegra"
if [ "$GPU_STACK" = "openrm" ]; then
  sudo ./apply_binaries.sh --openrm
else
  sudo ./apply_binaries.sh
fi

Set GPU_STACK from the "Determine GPU stack" step above. Abort on the first failing command and surface the failed command.

Update the active profile

Persist the resolved BSP image metadata in the active target profile so later skills can find the BSP without re-prompting. Preserve existing blocks, comments, and quoted SKU values; use a round-tripping YAML writer such as ruamel.yaml.

bsp_image:
  root_path: <absolute override path>  # omit for <workspace>/Image
  version: "<derived version>"

Rules:

  • Same version and same root path: no rewrite.
  • Different version: ask before updating.
  • Different recorded root_path: refuse automatic rewrite.
  • Always quote version.

Finish

Report the image path, extracted vs reused state, GPU stack, derived version, and profile update status. Then suggest /jetson-init-source.

Purpose

Materialize Linux_for_Tegra/ on disk by extracting the right Jetson Linux + sample-rootfs tarballs and running apply_binaries.sh with the GPU-stack flag derived from the active target (nvgpu for T234, OpenRM for T264+). Then commit the derived BSP version into the profile's bsp_image: block.

Prerequisites

  • Active target profile resolved per ../../context/target-platform-contract.md.
  • Jetson Linux BSP tarball and matching sample-rootfs tarball staged on disk (e.g. by /jetson-download-bsp or hand-placed).
  • Write access to the workspace Image/ root (or the override bsp_image.root_path).
  • sudo available for apply_binaries.sh.

Limitations

  • Writes only the bsp_image: block; source tree, documents, and carrier profile are owned by sibling skills.
  • Refuses to overwrite an existing Linux_for_Tegra/ without explicit user direction.
  • Does not download tarballs; rely on /jetson-download-bsp or hand-stage the inputs.

Troubleshooting

  • apply_binaries.sh exits non-zero — re-read its console output; most failures are missing sudo, missing rootfs tarball, or wrong GPU stack flag for the SoC generation.
  • nv_tegra_release absent after extract — extraction stopped early; verify tarball integrity and rerun.
  • Recorded version disagrees with the tarball filename — the tarball was renamed; trust the value parsed from Linux_for_Tegra/nv_tegra_release over filenames.
  • Different recorded root_path already in profile — refuse and ask the user to confirm before overwriting.

References

Frequently asked questions about BSP Image Initialization

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