mediumMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: The default EIGRP hold time multiplier relative…
What is the default EIGRP hold time multiplier relative to the hello interval?
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
✓
Hold time is three times the hello interval
By default, EIGRP sets the hold time to three times the hello interval. This ensures that a few missed hellos do not immediately cause neighbor loss.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Hold time equals hello interval
Why it's wrong here
EIGRP hold time defaults to three times the hello interval, not one times. A hold time equal to the hello interval would tear down adjacencies after a single missed hello; the multiplier exists so neighbours tolerate transient packet loss before declaring a peer down.
- ✗
Hold time is twice the hello interval
Why it's wrong here
EIGRP's default hold time is three times the hello interval, not twice. The 3x multiplier lets a neighbour miss two consecutive hellos before the adjacency drops; twice would expire after only one missed hello on slow links.
- ✓
Hold time is three times the hello interval
Why this is correct
EIGRP derives hold time from the hello interval by a fixed multiplier of three, so a 5-second hello yields a 15-second hold time. This default ratio governs how long a router waits before declaring a neighbour down.
- ✗
Hold time is four times the hello interval
Why it's wrong here
EIGRP's hold time is three times the hello interval by default, not four. The multiplier of four belongs to OSPF's dead interval, so recalling that value here produces the wrong answer; the correct figure is derived from EIGRP's own hello/hold relationship.
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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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.