easyMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: In OSPF, what is the default hello interval on a…
In OSPF, what is the default hello interval on a point-to-point network type?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 300-410 exam often tests the confusion between hello and dead intervals — candidates must remember that point-to-point and broadcast default to 10/40 seconds, while NBMA and point-to-multipoint default to 30/120 seconds, and that mismatched timers prevent adjacency formation.
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
In OSPF, the default hello interval on a point-to-point network type is 10 seconds, matching the default for broadcast networks. The dead interval is 4 times the hello interval, so 40 seconds on point-to-point. These timers must match between OSPF neighbors on the same segment for adjacency to form.
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
OSPF sends hello packets every 10 seconds on point-to-point and broadcast network types, whereas non-broadcast and point-to-multipoint interfaces use 30 seconds. The 10-second value matches the point-to-point default, with the dead interval at four times that.
- ✗
30 seconds
Why it's wrong here
Thirty seconds is the default hello interval for OSPF on NBMA and point-to-multipoint non-broadcast network types, not point-to-point. It would be correct if the interface were configured as NBMA, where neighbours are not reachable by multicast and hellos are slowed accordingly.
- ✗
5 seconds
Why it's wrong here
5 seconds is not a default; it can be configured manually.
- ✗
40 seconds
Why it's wrong here
A 40-second hello interval is the default for OSPF on Non-Broadcast Multi-Access (NBMA) networks, not point-to-point links. On a point-to-point network, the default hello interval is 10 seconds; the 40-second value fails because OSPF uses a shorter interval to detect neighbour loss faster on direct links. This option tempts candidates who confuse the NBMA default (40 seconds) with the point-to-point default, as both are common OSPF network types but differ in their hello timer specifications.
Visual reference
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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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.