easyMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: The default active flow timeout value in Cisco…
What is the default active flow timeout value in Cisco IOS Flexible NetFlow?
⚠ Common exam trap
300-410 often tests the distinction between the active timeout default (1800 s) and the inactive timeout default (15 s), and candidates frequently swap them or pick the legacy NetFlow value of 300 s.
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
✓
1800 seconds
Cisco IOS Flexible NetFlow uses a default active timeout of 1800 seconds (30 minutes), after which an active flow entry is exported even if traffic is still ongoing. This ensures long-lived flows are periodically reported rather than held indefinitely. The inactive timeout default is 15 seconds.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
60 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Flexible NetFlow's default active timeout is 30 minutes (1800 seconds), not 60 seconds. The 60-second value tempts because it resembles NetFlow v5's default active timeout, but that legacy version's timer does not carry over to Flexible NetFlow's cache configuration.
- ✓
1800 seconds
Why this is correct
Cisco IOS Flexible NetFlow uses a default active timeout of 1800 seconds, flushing long-lived flows every 30 minutes. Inactive timeout defaults to 15 seconds. This value applies unless overridden with the cache timeout active command.
- ✗
300 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Cisco IOS Flexible NetFlow uses a 30-minute active timeout by default, not 300 seconds; 300 seconds is a common inactive timeout value. It is tempting because 300 seconds appears frequently in NetFlow documentation, and would be correct for the inactive timer, but the active flow timeout defaults to 1800 seconds.
- ✗
30 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Flexible NetFlow's default active timeout is 30 minutes, not 30 seconds; inactive timeout defaults to 15 seconds. The 30-second figure tempts because it matches the inactive timer, and short active timers suit high-granularity traffic analysis, but the default remains 1800 seconds.
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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
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