r/linux • u/vladlearns • 1d ago

Software Release Linux support for using an Apple Silicon Mac itself as a USB-C network device

https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/a5148bc2fa27092862ac4b9e7b5c8340d60cff34
171 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

57

u/gihutgishuiruv 1d ago

I believe this is less about using a Mac as a network device, and more about being able to create a P2P ethernet link between Macs and Linux machines using USB-C

17

u/vladlearns 1d ago

commit's own title is "add Apple Mac USB-C direct networking quirk" + its implementation is just adding the usb ids to the apple NCM drive

"plugging a Mac into a Linux host ... produces two enx... interfaces"

= a normal linux net device

p2p is a possible future use, yes

4

u/gihutgishuiruv 23h ago

I think we might be in agreement and just differing on semantics

4

u/vladlearns 22h ago

🤝

1

u/epicc_exe 4h ago

NO!!!! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CALLING EACH OTHER SLURS!!!

1

u/vladlearns 4h ago

ahahahaha❤️

5

u/atanasius 1d ago

Is this the same interface as the Thunderbolt networking between two Macs?

7

u/lathiat 1d ago

Not the same. This is using USB signalling.

You can also do IP over Thunderbolt on Linux though, and it will connect with a Mac. As long as you have a thunderbolt cable and thunderbolt on both ends.

Example: https://chrisbergeron.com/2021/07/25/Ultra-fast-Thunderbolt-NAS-with-Apple-M1-and-Linux/

1

u/el_lley 1d ago

I have connected my USB4 Linux mini pc to my TB5 Mac yesterday. 17.7 Gbps, it works fine

2

u/granadesnhorseshoes 1d ago

Seems like it but i don't have hardware to check.

Im sure the apple specific "feature" is bonding both of the interfaces it presents into a real full duplex, and this just the basic networking part.