This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of eigrp. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
What is the default hold time multiplier for EIGRP?
3
Correct. The hold time is typically three times the hello interval, so the multiplier is 3.
4
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default multiplier is 3, not 4.
5
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default multiplier is 3.
10
Why wrong: Incorrect. The default multiplier is 3.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
3
The default hold time multiplier for EIGRP is 3. This multiplier is applied to the hello interval to calculate the hold time (hold time = hello interval × multiplier). By default, EIGRP uses a hello interval of 5 seconds on most interfaces (or 60 seconds on low-speed NBMA interfaces), so the default hold time is 15 seconds (5 × 3) or 180 seconds (60 × 3).
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
3
Why this is correct
Correct. The hold time is typically three times the hello interval, so the multiplier is 3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
4
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The default multiplier is 3, not 4.
5
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The default multiplier is 3.
10
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The default multiplier is 3.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the default hold time multiplier (3) versus the default hold time (15 seconds), causing candidates to confuse the multiplier with the actual hold time value or to mistakenly recall the default hello interval (5 seconds) as the multiplier.
Detailed technical explanation
The hold time multiplier is configured under the EIGRP router process using the 'timers active-time' command or per-interface with 'ip hold-time eigrp'. The default multiplier of 3 ensures that a neighbor is declared dead after missing three consecutive hello packets, balancing fast convergence with tolerance for transient packet loss. In real-world scenarios, adjusting this multiplier can help stabilize EIGRP adjacencies over lossy links without changing the hello interval.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
EIGRP — This question tests EIGRP — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 3 — The default hold time multiplier for EIGRP is 3. This multiplier is applied to the hello interval to calculate the hold time (hold time = hello interval × multiplier). By default, EIGRP uses a hello interval of 5 seconds on most interfaces (or 60 seconds on low-speed NBMA interfaces), so the default hold time is 15 seconds (5 × 3) or 180 seconds (60 × 3).
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.
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