Quick Answer
The answer is 10 seconds. This is the default OMP hello interval between a vEdge router and a vSmart controller in Cisco SD-WAN, as defined by the Overlay Management Protocol (OMP). OMP uses these periodic hello messages to maintain adjacency and detect control-plane failures, with a corresponding dead interval of 60 seconds—six times the hello interval—meaning if three consecutive hellos are missed, the session is considered down. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this fact often appears in questions about SD-WAN control-plane timers, and a common trap is confusing OMP’s 10-second hello with BGP’s 60-second default or with the OMP dead interval itself. Remember that OMP is a lightweight, TCP-based protocol designed for fast convergence in the overlay, so its hello interval is short. A useful memory tip: think “OMP = Overlay Management Protocol, 10 seconds to keep the overlay alive,” and note that the dead interval is simply 6 times that, or 60 seconds.
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of sd-wan architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
In Cisco SD-WAN, what is the default OMP hello interval (in seconds) between a vEdge router and a vSmart controller?
10 seconds
The default OMP hello interval is 10 seconds.
30 seconds
Why wrong: 30 seconds is not the default OMP hello interval; it is the default for some routing protocols like EIGRP.
60 seconds
Why wrong: 60 seconds is not correct; OMP uses a shorter hello interval for faster convergence.
5 seconds
Why wrong: 5 seconds is not the default; OMP defaults to 10 seconds.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
10 seconds
The default OMP hello interval between a vEdge router and a vSmart controller in Cisco SD-WAN is 10 seconds. OMP (Overlay Management Protocol) uses these periodic hello messages to maintain adjacency and detect failures, with a default dead interval of 60 seconds (6 times the hello interval).
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
10 seconds
Why this is correct
The default OMP hello interval is 10 seconds.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
30 seconds
Why it's wrong here
30 seconds is not the default OMP hello interval; it is the default for some routing protocols like EIGRP.
60 seconds
Why it's wrong here
60 seconds is not correct; OMP uses a shorter hello interval for faster convergence.
5 seconds
Why it's wrong here
5 seconds is not the default; OMP defaults to 10 seconds.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the OMP hello interval (10 seconds) and the OMP dead interval (60 seconds), and candidates frequently confuse the two or mistakenly apply BGP or OSPF default timers to OMP.
Detailed technical explanation
OMP operates over DTLS/TLS tunnels and uses a three-way handshake for adjacency establishment, with the hello interval configurable under the 'omp' configuration mode using the 'hello-interval' command. In large-scale SD-WAN deployments, adjusting the hello interval can impact convergence time and control-plane overhead, especially when hundreds of vEdge routers peer with a vSmart controller.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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FAQ
SD-WAN Architecture — This question tests SD-WAN Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 10 seconds — The default OMP hello interval between a vEdge router and a vSmart controller in Cisco SD-WAN is 10 seconds. OMP (Overlay Management Protocol) uses these periodic hello messages to maintain adjacency and detect failures, with a default dead interval of 60 seconds (6 times the hello interval).
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-401 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 350-401 exam.
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