hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
300-410 Practice Question: An EIGRP network is experiencing frequent…
An EIGRP network is experiencing frequent stuck-in-active (SIA) events. Router R1 shows: 'show ip eigrp topology' includes routes in active state for several minutes. R1's configuration: router eigrp 100 timers active-time 3. R2, a neighbor, is reachable but has a large number of routes. What is the root cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that the default active-time timer is always sufficient, but the trap here is that candidates may overlook the need to increase the timer when the network has a large number of routes or high latency, leading to frequent SIA events.
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
✓
The active-time timer is set too low (3 minutes), causing queries to time out before R2 can reply.
The 'timers active-time 3' command sets the active-time timer to 3 minutes, which is the default value. In a network where R2 has a large number of routes, the query and reply process can take longer than 3 minutes, causing R1 to declare the route as stuck-in-active (SIA) and reset the neighbor relationship. This is a common misconfiguration where the active-time timer is not increased to accommodate slow query propagation or large route tables.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The active-time timer is set too low (3 minutes), causing queries to time out before R2 can reply.
Why this is correct
The default active-time is 3 minutes. If R2 has many routes, it may take longer to process queries, leading to SIA.
- ✗
R2 has a stuck-in-active condition due to a routing loop.
Why it's wrong here
The issue is the timer, not a loop.
- ✗
R1 has a misconfigured distribute-list that blocks query replies from R2.
Why it's wrong here
No distribute-list is mentioned.
- ✗
The network has a high latency link that delays query propagation.
Why it's wrong here
While latency can contribute, the primary issue is the timer setting.
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.