mediumMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: In BGP, what is the default value of the…
In BGP, what is the default value of the keepalive timer?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
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.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
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
The BGP keepalive timer defaults to 60 seconds, with the hold timer at 180 seconds; 30 seconds is not a Cisco default. It is tempting because 30 seconds is a familiar interval elsewhere in networking, and it would be correct if the question asked about the default BGP connect-retry or scan timer.
- ✓
60 seconds
Why this is correct
BGP's default keepalive timer is 60 seconds, with a default hold timer of 180 seconds — three times the keepalive interval. This satisfies the stem's request for the default keepalive value, as defined in RFC 4271. Neighbours exchange keepalives at this interval to confirm the session remains active.
- ✗
90 seconds
Why it's wrong here
90 seconds is three times the correct keepalive interval, matching the default hold timer divided by two rather than by three. It is tempting because the 3:1 ratio between hold and keepalive timers makes intermediate multiples look plausible when recalling the defaults from memory.
- ✗
180 seconds
Why it's wrong here
180 seconds is the BGP hold timer default, not the keepalive interval. The hold timer governs how long a session survives without receiving a KEEPALIVE or UPDATE before being torn down; it is tempting because both timers are negotiated in the OPEN message and are frequently confused in configuration output.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.