The author configured a MacBook Pro to function as a secondary workstation and server alongside a Windows PC. The Windows machine runs on an Intel i5-13400F with an RTX 3060, while the MacBook Pro features an Intel Core i9 and Radeon Pro 5500M. Both devices operate on a local network with distinct VPN configurations.
Initial network connectivity issues occurred when AmneziaVPN was active on both machines, causing the Windows PC to lose access to the local network due to the Kill Switch feature. The author resolved this by implementing split tunneling on Windows, specifically excluding the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet from the VPN routing to maintain local SMB access.
To enable multi-user functionality, the author created a separate macOS account named 'Serverok' for automated tasks and remote management. While SMB access to this specific user folder encountered authentication conflicts with existing Windows credentials, the author successfully established remote access using SSH and SFTP.
Performance testing via SFTP showed a file transfer speed of approximately 56.1 MB/s for a 30 MB file. This setup allows the Windows PC to execute scripts and manage files on the MacBook Pro remotely while both devices maintain active VPN connections and individual Kill Switch protections.
