[cisco-nas] IOS, SPE & modemcap Recommendation

[Chip Old]

After several years away from dealing directly with dialup modem issues I 
have inherited responsibility for an AS5350 that takes incoming modem 
connections over 8 PRI lines.  It has been a long time, so I'm fumbling a 
bit.

Memory: 128 MB
Flash: 32 MB
IOS: 12.2(2)XA5 (as far as anyone here knows it has never been updated)
SPE:  0.7.9.0 (IOS default)
Modemcap: not specified, so I assume it's the default, not nextport

Callers with Lucent-based modems have trouble connecting, and once 
connected have trouble staying connected.  I want to upgrade to more 
recent IOS and SPE to see if it helps our Lucent clients, but there is a 
catch.  We are still using Extended TACACS (not TACACS+).  Our UNIX admin 
is working on replacing it with RADIUS, but I need to address the Lucent 
client problem right now so can't wait for RADIUS to be ready some day.

What is the most recent IOS version that can use Extended TACACS?  As far 
as I can tell it is 12.2, but I want to make sure.

What SPE version is recommended for use with 12.2 (or whatever recent IOS 
still supports Extended TACACS).

Should we switch to the nextport modemcap, stay with default, or create a 
custom one?

Thanks in advance for any and all recommendations.

-- 
Chip Old (Francis E. Old)             E-Mail:  fold at bcpl.net
BCPL Network Administrator            Phone:   410-887-6180
Baltimore County Public Library
320 York Road
Towson, MD 21204-5179  US