L4T

Linux for Tegra (L4T) is the official Linux-based software distribution from NVIDIA for Tegra system-on-chip devices, most notably the Jetson line of embedded modules. L4T provides the complete software stack required to boot, run, and develop on Tegra hardware, including a Linux kernel, bootloader, a Linux-based root filesystem, and NVIDIA-specific drivers and libraries. The distribution is delivered as a board support package (BSP) and serves as the base image used by NVIDIA’s JetPack development tools.

L4T is closely tied to NVIDIA's JetPack software suite; releases are synchronized with JetPack and are typically built around a particular Ubuntu userland release and kernel version. Firmware, drivers for Tegra GPUs and multimedia engines, and CUDA tooling are included, enabling AI, vision, and high-performance computing workloads on Jetson devices. L4T-supported devices include the Jetson family, such as Jetson Nano, TX1/TX2, Xavier NX, AGX Xavier, and Orin-based modules.

Deployment and updates are usually performed via the NVIDIA SDK Manager, which flashes L4T images onto devices and installs the corresponding CUDA and toolkit components. Once installed, devices run a Debian/Ubuntu-based user space and can receive software updates through normal Ubuntu package management, in combination with NVIDIA repositories for CUDA and drivers.

Key components are the kernel and system software, NVIDIA device drivers, CUDA libraries, and the Jetson-specific userland. L4T focuses on stability for embedded deployment and is maintained by NVIDIA with documentation and long-term support cycles for supported hardware.

See also: JetPack, Jetson, CUDA, Tegra.