pfsense on laptop?

[mxnerd]

ESXi is really freaking awesome, you will learn a lot from it.

You can install Windows 64bit OS on 2950 and run BIOS 2.7 update within Windows

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=16RCK

 

[MrBill10]

I tried loading the eval version of Server 2003 x64 but that turned out to be a time waster. But apparently I don't follow instructions well...

Loaded an .img file of DOS 6.22, added the Bios update and burned a CD in 1.44 emulation mode. Booted the 2950, came up on DOS but couldn't find the Bios updater. Thought about it for a bit, re-burned the CD with the updater filename shortened to <8 characters, re-booted and the box came up this time with an R: drive available (which may or may not have been there the first time I tried...) Yep; done deal. Now running the v2.7 Bios firmware.

And life is good.