I have successfully used an 8088 with 640k to set up a network file server using the dos networking software. The only problem is with all the TSR programs in memory there isn’t enough memory left to run other programs while using it as a server.
The odd behavior I seen was when I tried to view the shares with XP or a newer OS was the fact that I could see the computer on the network but it would not let me see what shares were available on the DOS file server. Even though I could map one of the DOS shares as a network drive on the XP machine and use it. It just would not let me browse the shares without mapping. And the file name truncation appeared to be automatic when copying stuff from XP over to the dos server.
With a win 3.11 file server I can see and browse the shares on XP without mapping them. Filename truncation is also automatic when moving files from xp to 3.11. I haven’t tried viewing win 3.11 shares on WIN 7 yet so I don’t know what that would do..
I also know that you can view/map XP shares with win 3.11 and dos clients. Haven’t tried viewing win 7 shares with 3.11 or dos yet.
One thing I like doing when setting up a temporary server on a network that I strictly intend on using myself is setting it’s protocol to netbeui. Security through obscurity. No one else on the network will have the protocol installed. Packet snuffers will not show the traffic. I can move about the building while I work on stuff with my portable computer dumping data back to the temporary server and no one will notice a thing even if they are looking. And most switches will forward non routable protocols to all ports so I don’t have problems with wired connectivity. And the router will not dump it to the net.
The only problem is I can’t use wireless connectivity when using netbeui. It has to be a wired network connection at the work locations..
My main problem is that I do not have any more CGA, EGA, or HGA monitors anymore. I know I can put together an interface if I have to to change the TTL video signal levels to a more current VGA standard, but I need to order some 2N2222A transistors and standard carbon-film resistors to implement the change in video levels. Thankfully I still have some of the old ISA vidcards also stored away or it would be even more of a burden.
Network cards are another problem, since some are so old that the old DOS drivers are unlocatable at the moment. I might have some 3COM 3C905C ISA cards possibly that I can set up, however. The main stumbling block is that all modern network routers no longer have the old BNC connectors and only come with the RJ45 ports instead. Have to look and see if I have some older models put away instead, although I would be leery of using them for any sustained length of time.
Your networking difficulties are one of the reasons I stuck with the 98SE OS: it supports the USB standard, so other peripherals can be connected with only minor difficulties. Generic drivers are our friends. W95bOSR2 only had partial support, and that was always Plug 'N Pray from what I recall working with it. DOS 5.0, and WFW 3.11 still work quite well for quite a few things, and you would be surprised at how well a ripple counter, shift register and serial-to-parallel interface with a higher default bus speed work when you have reconfigured the system for more speed.
Other older OS's are also quite handy to use -did you know that Red hat 5.0 requires 8MB minimum of memory on a 386 for a useable GUI, but only 4 megs for a CLI? I am using it now on a machine that is one of several hooked up to a central server. It runs its own OS and transfers the text files to the main server out of the cluster for uploads and downloads. Really, for texting you only need the CLI -and an 8MHz machine has absolutely no problems with that. Think of a Beowolf cluster for comparison: the main machine is busily processing its Computer Aided Mechanical Stress analysis on some designs while I type away on this lowly x86 for posting and only transmit the finished text file for uploading to FR when I am done. Gotta love the simplicity, struth!
Hmmm. I seem to recall something... an EMM386 Memory Expansion Board (actual name could be off a bit) for the ISA bus that was quite popular back then. Dunno if it would work on an 8088 machine, though. Perhaps on a custom dual-cpu 8088 or 8086 board, but you would probably have to customize the instruction set if you went that route.