mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
How to Read the Output of show ip eigrp neighbors
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1:
R1# show ip eigrp neighbors
EIGRP-IPv4 Neighbors for AS(100) H Address Interface Hold Uptime SRTT RTO Q Seq (sec) (ms) Cnt Num 0 10.1.1.2 Gi0/0 13 00:12:34 12 200 0 45 1 10.2.2.2 Gi0/1 12 00:10:20 15 200 0 32 2 10.3.3.2 Gi0/2 14 00:08:15 18 200 0 28 3 10.4.4.2 Gi0/3 13 00:06:10 20 200 0 22
Based on this output, which statement is correct?
Quick Answer
The answer is that all four EIGRP neighbors are in the established state and exchanging routes. This is correct because the output of show ip eigrp neighbors displays only neighbors that have successfully completed the neighbor adjacency process, and the key indicators here are the Q Cnt column showing zero for all entries, meaning no packets are queued waiting to be sent, combined with low SRTT and RTO values that reflect stable, bidirectional communication. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this command tests your ability to interpret EIGRP neighbor health and convergence; a common trap is assuming that a neighbor with a high SRTT or a non-zero Q Cnt is still fully operational, when in fact those values indicate congestion or retransmission issues. A useful memory tip is to remember that a zero in the Q Cnt column means “quiet and stable,” while any non-zero value signals a problem that could lead to a neighbor reset.
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that a low uptime automatically indicates flapping, but in reality, uptime only shows how long the adjacency has been established, and without evidence of repeated resets or high sequence number gaps, it is not diagnostic of instability.
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
✓
All four EIGRP neighbors are in the established state and exchanging routes.
All four neighbors show a Q Cnt of 0, which indicates no packets are queued for retransmission, and the Hold timers are within the default 15-second range, confirming that hello packets are being received regularly. The SRTT values are low (12-20 ms), and the RTO is consistent at 200 ms, which together with the established neighbor states (indicated by the 'H' column showing adjacency indices) confirms that all neighbors have successfully formed an adjacency and are exchanging routes in the EIGRP AS 100.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
All four EIGRP neighbors are in the established state and exchanging routes.
Why this is correct
All neighbors show a hold time, uptime, SRTT, RTO, and Q Cnt of 0, indicating a stable adjacency.
- ✗
Neighbor 10.4.4.2 has a high SRTT of 20 ms, indicating a slow link.
Why it's wrong here
An SRTT of 20 ms is normal and not considered high for EIGRP.
- ✗
The Q Cnt of 0 means that there are 0 packets queued for retransmission, but this could indicate a problem.
Why it's wrong here
A Q Cnt of 0 is normal and indicates no retransmissions are pending.
- ✗
The neighbor on Gi0/3 has the lowest uptime, so it may be flapping.
Why it's wrong here
An uptime of 6 minutes is not necessarily indicative of flapping; it could be a recent addition.
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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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 300-410
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network engineer runs the following command on Router R1: R1# show ip eigrp neighbors detail EIGRP-IPv4 Neighbors for AS(100) H Address Interface Hold Uptime SRTT RTO Q Seq (sec) (ms) Cnt Num 0 10.1.1.2 Gi0/0 13 00:12:34 12 200 0 45 Version 12.0/2.0, Retrans: 0, Retries: 0, Restarts: 0 Topology ids from peer: 0 Passive interface: No Hello interval: 5 Hold time: 15 Based on this output, what is the problem?
hard- ✓ A.The neighbor is operating normally with no issues.
- B.The interface is configured as passive, preventing neighbor formation.
- C.The neighbor has a high number of retransmissions.
- D.The hold time of 15 seconds is too short and may cause flapping.
Why A: The output shows a fully established EIGRP neighbor adjacency with no errors. The 'Passive interface: No' confirms the interface is not configured as passive, the retransmission count is 0, and the hold time of 15 seconds is the default for a 5-second hello interval on high-speed interfaces. All metrics (SRTT, RTO, Q count, Seq Num) indicate stable operation, so there is no problem.
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.