A hacker physically converts a Nintendo Switch gaming console into a functioning USB-C Ethernet network switch.
Key Takeaways
The project’s name is a pun: turning a Nintendo Switch into a network (switching) switch.
USB-C on the Nintendo Switch supports Ethernet via a dongle, enabling wired network connectivity.
Throughput reaches at least 90 Mbps with a 100 Mbps dongle, meaning gigabit hardware could push further.
The build is low-cost and relies on commodity USB-C-to-Ethernet adapters, not custom hardware.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters confirm the Switch USB-C port supports 1 Gbps if paired with the right gigabit dongle and upstream infrastructure, making 90 Mbps a dongle ceiling, not a device ceiling.
A missing vendor name in lsusb output (ID 2357:0601) is a known lsusb table gap, not a hardware anomaly – devicehunt confirms the IDs are legitimate.
Later Switch hardware (OLED model and newer dock) ships with a built-in Ethernet port, making the mod partly obsolete for newer owners.
Notable Comments
@mikestew: “it’s amazing that the pig sings in the first place” – sharp encapsulation of the whole appeal.
@haunter: newer OLED dock has built-in Ethernet, narrowing the practical use case to older hardware.
