easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CCNP Practice Question: The default OSPF hello interval on a broadcast…
What is the default OSPF hello interval on a broadcast multi-access network (e.g., Ethernet)?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between hello and dead intervals, and candidates confuse the 40-second dead interval with the hello interval, or incorrectly recall the NBMA hello interval of 30 seconds.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
10 seconds
On a broadcast multi-access network like Ethernet, OSPF defaults to a hello interval of 10 seconds. This is defined in RFC 2328 and is used to quickly detect neighbor failures while keeping control traffic overhead manageable. The corresponding dead interval is 40 seconds (4 times the hello interval).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
10 seconds
Why this is correct
Correct. The default hello interval on broadcast networks is 10 seconds.
- ✗
30 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 30 seconds is the default for NBMA networks.
- ✗
5 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 5 seconds is not a default OSPF hello interval.
- ✗
40 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 40 seconds is the default dead interval on broadcast networks.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Routing Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Metric | Max Hops | Algorithm | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP v2 | Hop count | 15 | Bellman-Ford | Distance vector |
| OSPF | Cost (bandwidth) | Unlimited | Dijkstra (SPF) | Link state |
| EIGRP | Composite metric | Unlimited | DUAL | Hybrid |
| IS-IS | Cost | Unlimited | Dijkstra | Link state |
| BGP | Policy / attributes | Unlimited | Path vector | Path vector |
RIP's 15-hop limit makes it unsuitable for large networks. OSPF and EIGRP dominate modern enterprise deployments.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 350-401 question from scratch — 1,175 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.