Using an older Mac as a satellite for older apps

Hi,

I'm forced to use an Intel Mac, since I have to run older, incompatible apps. To be true, I'm running them in a Sierra virtual machine under Parallels, on a Mac running in Monterey.

But I want (I pretend I need) a newer Silicon Mac. This can't be done without breaking the compatibility. Parallels can't run Intel apps on a Silicon processor.

I wonder if I could build a system like this:

• The new Silicon Mac as the main machine. Monitor, keyboard and network router are attached here.
• An older Intel mac as a satellite machine. Connected to the network via Gigabit Ethernet. Screen Sharing enabled. Always left in sleep.

When I need the older, incompatible Intel apps, I can run the Screen Sharing app on the Silicon Mac, wait for the Intel Mac to wake, and run the Intel-compatible app from there.

In the window of the shared Intel Mac I'll open a network folder, with the data residing in my main Silicon Mac. I'll work with the app on the satellite Intel Mac, and the data in the main Silicon Mac.

I've often worked with a satellite Mac in a room and the main Mac in another, but both the app and data where in the remote main Mac. Connection via PowerLine, not brilliant. This time both Macs will the in the same room, connected to the same router, with nothing breaking the Gigabit Ethernet connection.

Can it work? Will the data transfer be fast and reliable enough to work comfortably with the app in a computer and the data in the other?

Paolo