easyMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: The default timeout value (in milliseconds) for…
What is the default timeout value (in milliseconds) for an IP SLA operation?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse IP SLA's default timeout (5000 ms) with its default frequency (60 s) or with the threshold value, causing candidates to select 1000 ms or 60000 ms.
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
✓
5000 ms
The default timeout for an IP SLA operation in Cisco IOS is 5000 milliseconds (5 seconds). This value applies to the operation's response wait time before the probe is considered failed, and it is configurable via the 'timeout' command under ip sla configuration. Knowing this default matters when tuning SLA probes for latency-sensitive monitoring.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
5000 ms
Why this is correct
Cisco IP SLA operations default to a 5000 ms timeout, the interval the router waits for a response before declaring the probe timed out. This applies unless overridden with the timeout command under the ip sla configuration.
- ✗
1000 ms
Why it's wrong here
1000 ms is not the IP SLA default timeout; it is shorter than the built-in value. It might be set manually for aggressive latency detection, but the default timeout for an IP SLA operation is 5000 ms.
- ✗
10000 ms
Why it's wrong here
Cisco IP SLA's default timeout is 5000 ms, not 10000 ms; the timeout defines how long the operation waits for a response before declaring it failed. 10000 ms is tempting because it matches the default frequency of 60 seconds divided by six, or common polling intervals, but it would be correct only if the question asked for a doubled or custom-configured timeout.
- ✗
60000 ms
Why it's wrong here
60000 ms is not the IP SLA default; it is far longer than the operation's built-in timeout. It could be configured deliberately for slow links, but the question asks for the default value, which is 5000 ms.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Device Management and Network Monitoring (SNMP, Syslog, NetFlow)
Key term
IP SLA for Path Control
IP SLA for Path Control is a Cisco technology that uses active network measurements to dynamically influence routing decisions and redirect traffic along a preferred path when network conditions change.
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Variation 1. What is the default timeout value (in milliseconds) for an IP SLA operation?
medium- A.1000 ms
- ✓ B.5000 ms
- C.10000 ms
- D.60000 ms
Why B: The default timeout for an IP SLA operation is 5000 milliseconds (5 seconds). This value is used when the operation does not receive a response within the expected time, marking the operation as failed. It is a key parameter in IP SLA configuration, often adjusted for specific network conditions.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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.