easyMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: The default hello interval for OSPFv3 on a…
What is the default hello interval for OSPFv3 on a broadcast network type in Cisco IOS-XE?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the default hello interval for OSPFv3 by making candidates confuse it with OSPFv2 defaults or with the dead interval; the trap here is assuming OSPFv3 uses a different default than OSPFv2 for broadcast networks, when in fact both use 10 seconds.
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
✓
10 seconds
OSPFv3 uses the same default hello interval as OSPFv2 for broadcast and point-to-point network types, which is 10 seconds. This is defined in RFC 5340 and is the default on Cisco IOS-XE for OSPFv3 on broadcast networks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
10 seconds
Why this is correct
OSPFv3 uses a 10-second hello interval on broadcast and point-to-point network types, matching OSPFv2's default. This satisfies the stem's broadcast network constraint, where hellos are sent every 10 seconds; NBMA and point-to-multipoint interfaces instead default to 30 seconds.
- ✗
30 seconds
Why it's wrong here
30 seconds is the OSPFv2 hello interval on NBMA networks, not OSPFv3 broadcast. It is tempting because 30 seconds is a familiar OSPF timer, but OSPFv3 broadcast interfaces send hellos every 10 seconds, matching the dead interval of 40.
- ✗
40 seconds
Why it's wrong here
40 seconds is the dead interval on broadcast and point-to-point OSPFv3 interfaces, not the hello interval. It is tempting because both timers appear together in configuration output, but the hello timer is one quarter of the dead interval, giving 10 seconds.
- ✗
5 seconds
Why it's wrong here
5 seconds is the OSPFv3 hello interval on NBMA and point-to-multipoint network types, not broadcast. It is tempting because 5 seconds is a valid OSPFv3 hello value, but broadcast and point-to-point interfaces use 10 seconds by default.
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.