mediumMultiple Choice
350-401 Practice Question: Interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip address…
interface GigabitEthernet0/0 ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0 ip ospf network point-to-point ip ospf hello-interval 10
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router ospf 1 network 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
What is the effect of this configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that changing the hello interval alone affects DR/BDR election, or that the point-to-point network type still uses a 30-second hello interval like NBMA, when in fact point-to-point suppresses DR/BDR and uses a 10-second hello interval by default.
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
✓
OSPF will use a 10-second hello interval and suppress DR/BDR election.
The `ip ospf network point-to-point` command changes the OSPF network type on the interface to point-to-point, which suppresses the DR/BDR election process because point-to-point links have only two neighbors. The `ip ospf hello-interval 10` command overrides the default hello interval for point-to-point networks (which is 10 seconds by default anyway, but explicitly setting it ensures consistency). Thus, OSPF uses a 10-second hello interval and does not elect a DR/BDR.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
OSPF will use a 10-second hello interval and suppress DR/BDR election.
Why this is correct
This is the correct behavior. The `point-to-point` OSPF network type is designed for links that connect exactly two routers, such as serial interfaces using PPP or HDLC. By definition, it eliminates DR/BDR election because there is no need to reduce adjacency flooding on a two-router segment, and it uses the default 10-second hello interval (with a 40-second dead interval). Configuring `ip ospf network point-to-point` is redundant when the interface already defaults to this type, but it is often used to explicitly override an interface's default OSPF network type on platforms like Ethernet or Frame Relay.
- ✗
OSPF will use a 30-second hello interval and elect a DR/BDR.
Why it's wrong here
Twice over. A 30-second hello interval is characteristic of NBMA (Non-Broadcast Multi-Access) OSPF networks, not point-to-point, and NBMA networks do elect a DR/BDR because they support multiple attached routers. On a point-to-point link, the hello interval remains fixed at 10 seconds, and the point-to-point network type suppresses DR/BDR election entirely. Treating point-to-point as a 30-second DR/BDR-capable segment would either cause OSPF adjacency to fail due to hello/dead timer mismatch or, if timers are manually changed, still incorrectly introduce DR/BDR overhead that the topology does not require.
- ✗
OSPF will use a 10-second hello interval but still elect a DR/BDR.
Why it's wrong here
This option captures the correct hello interval but fails on the DR/BDR aspect. Point-to-point OSPF uses a default 10-second hello interval, so that half of the statement is accurate. However, the point-to-point network type completely disables DR/BDR election because a point-to-point link can only have exactly two OSPF neighbors, making the DR/BDR mechanism unnecessary—multipoint segments like broadcast or NBMA need DR/BDR to reduce LSDB flooding and adjacency count. DR/BDR election only occurs on multi-access networks, so a point-to-point link with a 10-second hello interval will never elect a DR or BDR.
- ✗
OSPF will use a 30-second hello interval and suppress DR/BDR election.
Why it's wrong here
This option has the suppression part right but the timer wrong. Point-to-point OSPF does suppress DR/BDR election, as the two-router topology makes DR/BDR roles meaningless. But the default hello interval for point-to-point (and broadcast) OSPF is 10 seconds, not 30 seconds; a 30-second hello interval is associated with NBMA or point-to-multipoint non-broadcast network types. If the question intended a point-to-point link, the hello interval must be 10 seconds, so this option incorrectly imports a hello timer from a different OSPF network type while keeping the correct DR/BDR behavior.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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