- A
OSPF authentication
Why wrong: Authentication secures OSPF but does not improve convergence.
- B
OSPF Fast Hello
Fast Hello allows sub-second hello intervals for faster failure detection.
- C
OSPF stub area
Why wrong: Stub areas reduce LSDB size but do not directly speed convergence.
- D
OSPF route summarization
Why wrong: Summarization reduces routing table size but not convergence time.
Question 318 of 1,000
350-601 Network Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of network. 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.
A network engineer is configuring OSPF on a Nexus switch. To ensure fast convergence in case of a link failure, which OSPF feature should be enabled?
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
✓
OSPF Fast Hello
OSPF Fast Hello (B) is the correct feature to enable for fast convergence on a Nexus switch because it reduces the dead interval to less than one second by sending Hello packets at sub-second intervals (e.g., every 333 ms for a 1-second dead interval). This allows OSPF neighbors to detect a link failure much faster than the default 40-second dead interval on broadcast networks, triggering quicker SPF recalculation and route convergence.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
OSPF authentication
Why it's wrong here
Authentication secures OSPF but does not improve convergence.
- ✓
OSPF Fast Hello
Why this is correct
Fast Hello allows sub-second hello intervals for faster failure detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
OSPF stub area
Why it's wrong here
Stub areas reduce LSDB size but do not directly speed convergence.
- ✗
OSPF route summarization
Why it's wrong here
Summarization reduces routing table size but not convergence time.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between features that improve convergence speed (like Fast Hello or BFD) versus features that improve scalability or security (like stub areas, summarization, or authentication), leading candidates to mistakenly choose options that optimize the OSPF database rather than accelerate failure detection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OSPF Fast Hello works by configuring the ip ospf dead-interval minimal hello-multiplier 3 command on Cisco Nexus, which sets the dead interval to 1 second and sends Hello packets every 333 ms (1/3 second). This is defined in RFC 3623 and is particularly useful in virtualized or high-availability environments where sub-second failover is required, such as in data center spine-leaf topologies using OSPF as the underlay routing protocol.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-601 question test?
Network — This question tests Network — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: OSPF Fast Hello — OSPF Fast Hello (B) is the correct feature to enable for fast convergence on a Nexus switch because it reduces the dead interval to less than one second by sending Hello packets at sub-second intervals (e.g., every 333 ms for a 1-second dead interval). This allows OSPF neighbors to detect a link failure much faster than the default 40-second dead interval on broadcast networks, triggering quicker SPF recalculation and route convergence.
What should I do if I get this 350-601 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 350-601 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 350-601 exam.
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