The correct answer is to ensure the BGP hold timer values are consistent on both ends, as a BGP hold timer mismatch in AWS Direct Connect is the most common cause of intermittent session drops and traffic flapping. When the hold timers differ, the router expecting a longer interval will not receive keepalives in time, forcing the session down and triggering route withdrawal. On the ANS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BGP session stability fundamentals—a frequent trap is choosing to increase timers to mask the issue, but that only delays the failure without resolving the root mismatch. AWS supports MD5 authentication and custom timers, but the first check must always be timer consistency. Memory tip: think of it like a heartbeat—if one side expects a pulse every 10 seconds and the other waits 30, the connection will break. Always match your hold timers before tuning anything else.
ANS-C01 Network Management and Operations Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network management and operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company uses AWS Direct Connect to connect its on-premises data center to a VPC. The network team notices that traffic is intermittently dropping and the BGP session between the on-premises router and the AWS Direct Connect virtual interface goes down. Which configuration should be checked first to resolve this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure the BGP hold timer values are consistent on both ends
The BGP hold timer mismatch can cause session flapping. Option B is correct because setting the hold timer to a consistent value (e.g., 30 seconds) on both sides stabilizes the session. Option A is wrong because increasing the BGP timers may mask the issue but doesn't address the root cause. Option C is wrong because AWS allows BGP authentication. Option D is wrong because MD5 authentication is supported.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Ensure the BGP hold timer values are consistent on both ends
Why this is correct
Mismatched hold timers cause session drops.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Increase the BGP keepalive timer on the on-premises router to 90 seconds
Why it's wrong here
This may delay detection but does not fix mismatch.
✗
Disable BGP authentication on the virtual interface
Why it's wrong here
Authentication does not cause flapping.
✗
Enable BGP MD5 authentication on the on-premises router
Why it's wrong here
Adding authentication could cause issues if misconfigured, but not the likely cause.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Network Management and Operations — This question tests Network Management and Operations — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Ensure the BGP hold timer values are consistent on both ends — The BGP hold timer mismatch can cause session flapping. Option B is correct because setting the hold timer to a consistent value (e.g., 30 seconds) on both sides stabilizes the session. Option A is wrong because increasing the BGP timers may mask the issue but doesn't address the root cause. Option C is wrong because AWS allows BGP authentication. Option D is wrong because MD5 authentication is supported.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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This ANS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the ANS-C01 exam.
Question Discussion
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