Quick Answer
The correct answer is 60 seconds. In BGP, the default keepalive timer is set to 60 seconds as defined in RFC 4271, meaning a BGP speaker sends a Keepalive message to its peer every 60 seconds to confirm the session is still alive. This timer is directly tied to the hold timer, which defaults to 180 seconds—three times the keepalive interval—and if no Keepalive or update is received within that hold time, the session is torn down. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this concept often appears in questions about BGP session stability or troubleshooting neighbor flapping, with a common trap being that the hold timer is not configurable independently of the keepalive timer (it must be at least three times the keepalive). A useful memory tip: think of the 60-second keepalive as a heartbeat every minute, and the 180-second hold as a three-minute countdown to session death.
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of device access control. 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 BGP, what is the default value of the keepalive timer?
30 seconds
Why wrong: 30 seconds is not the default BGP keepalive timer; it is one-third of the default hold timer of 90 seconds, but the standard default is 60 seconds.
60 seconds
Correct. The default BGP keepalive timer is 60 seconds.
90 seconds
Why wrong: 90 seconds is not a default BGP timer; the default hold timer is 180 seconds.
180 seconds
Why wrong: 180 seconds is the default hold timer, not the keepalive timer.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
60 seconds
In BGP, the default keepalive timer is 60 seconds, as specified in RFC 4271. This timer determines how often a BGP speaker sends Keepalive messages to its peer to maintain the session. The hold timer, which is three times the keepalive interval (default 180 seconds), triggers session teardown if no Keepalive or update is received within that period.
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.
30 seconds
Why it's wrong here
30 seconds is not the default BGP keepalive timer; it is one-third of the default hold timer of 90 seconds, but the standard default is 60 seconds.
60 seconds
Why this is correct
Correct. The default BGP keepalive timer is 60 seconds.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
90 seconds
Why it's wrong here
90 seconds is not a default BGP timer; the default hold timer is 180 seconds.
180 seconds
Why it's wrong here
180 seconds is the default hold timer, not the keepalive timer.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the keepalive timer (60 seconds) and the hold timer (180 seconds), and candidates frequently confuse the two or misremember the default as 30 seconds due to familiarity with other routing protocols like EIGRP.
Detailed technical explanation
The keepalive timer is derived from the negotiated hold timer; by default, it is set to one-third of the hold timer (180 seconds / 3 = 60 seconds). This relationship ensures that at least three Keepalive messages can be missed before the hold timer expires, providing tolerance for transient network issues. In practice, you can modify these timers with the `timers bgp <keepalive> <hold>` command under the BGP router configuration, but the default values remain 60 and 180 seconds respectively.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 300-410 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Device Access Control — This question tests Device Access Control — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 60 seconds — In BGP, the default keepalive timer is 60 seconds, as specified in RFC 4271. This timer determines how often a BGP speaker sends Keepalive messages to its peer to maintain the session. The hold timer, which is three times the keepalive interval (default 180 seconds), triggers session teardown if no Keepalive or update is received within that period.
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
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