300-410 Layer 3 Technologies Practice Question
A network administrator is troubleshooting an EIGRP named mode configuration on a Cisco IOS XE router. The router is not forming an adjacency with a neighbor. The administrator verifies that the AS number is 100, the K-values are default, and authentication is not configured. Which command should be used to verify the EIGRP hello and hold timers on the interface?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse neighbor status commands with interface parameter commands; the detail keyword on the interfaces command is what reveals timers.
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
✓
show ip eigrp interfaces detail
To verify EIGRP hello and hold timers on an interface, the show ip eigrp interfaces detail command is used. It provides per-interface EIGRP parameters, including hello interval and hold time. Other commands like show ip eigrp neighbors detail focus on neighbor state, while show ip protocols gives a global view. The topology table shows routes, not timers. Therefore, the interfaces detail command is the correct choice for troubleshooting timer mismatches.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
show ip eigrp neighbors detail
Why it's wrong here
This command displays detailed information about EIGRP neighbors, including uptime, sequence numbers, and retransmission statistics, but it does not show the configured hello and hold timers on the interface. While it can indicate if a neighbor is flapping, it does not directly reveal the timer values. To see timers, you need to look at interface-specific EIGRP configuration.
- ✓
show ip eigrp interfaces detail
Why this is correct
The show ip eigrp interfaces detail command displays detailed EIGRP information for each interface, including the hello interval and hold time. This is the correct command to verify the timers, as mismatched timers are a common cause of adjacency failures. It also shows other parameters like split horizon and authentication, making it a comprehensive troubleshooting tool for EIGRP interface settings.
- ✗
show ip protocols
Why it's wrong here
The show ip protocols command provides a summary of all routing protocols configured on the router, including EIGRP AS number, K-values, and maximum path, but it does not display per-interface hello and hold timers. While it can confirm that EIGRP is running, it lacks the granular interface details needed to troubleshoot timer mismatches. It is more useful for a high-level overview.
- ✗
show ip eigrp topology
Why it's wrong here
This command displays the EIGRP topology table, including feasible successors and reported distances, but it does not show interface timers. It is used to verify routing information and path selection, not adjacency formation parameters. Timer mismatches would not be visible here, so it is not the right tool for this troubleshooting scenario.
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.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.