- A
ICMP echo requests and SSH
Why wrong: ICMP and SSH are typically classified as 'normal' or 'management' traffic, not critical.
- B
OSPF hello packets and BGP keepalives
Routing protocol hello and keepalive packets are considered critical for network stability and are assigned to the critical class in CoPP.
- C
Telnet and HTTP
Why wrong: Telnet and HTTP are management protocols, usually classified as 'normal' or 'management'.
- D
NTP and SNMP
Why wrong: NTP and SNMP are important but not as time-sensitive as routing protocol hellos; they are often placed in a lower priority class.
Question 305 of 2,152
Which Protocols Are Classified as Critical in the Default CoPP Policy?
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of control plane policing (copp). Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which control plane protocol packets are classified as 'critical' in the default CoPP policy?
Quick Answer
The answer is OSPF hello packets and BGP keepalives. Cisco’s default Control Plane Policing (CoPP) policy designates these as critical because they are essential for maintaining routing protocol adjacency and network convergence; if these packets are dropped, neighbor relationships fail and the control plane loses visibility of the topology. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this concept tests your understanding of CoPP class maps and policy maps, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must identify which traffic should receive the highest priority to prevent route flapping. A common trap is assuming that all routing protocol traffic—like full OSPF LSAs or BGP updates—is critical, but only the lightweight keepalive and hello packets are classified as such in the default policy; bulk updates fall under normal or management classes. Remember the memory tip: “Keep the hellos alive” — if it’s a periodic, low-bandwidth packet that keeps a neighbor up, it’s critical.
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 hello packets and BGP keepalives
In the default Control Plane Policing (CoPP) policy on Cisco IOS/IOS-XE devices, control plane protocol packets are classified into three categories: critical, normal, and medium. OSPF hello packets and BGP keepalives are classified as 'critical' because they are essential for maintaining neighbor adjacencies and routing protocol convergence; dropping these packets can cause immediate network instability. The default CoPP policy uses class maps to match these protocols and applies a higher priority (e.g., police rate) to ensure they are processed before less critical traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
ICMP echo requests and SSH
- ✓
OSPF hello packets and BGP keepalives
Why this is correct
Routing protocol hello and keepalive packets are considered critical for network stability and are assigned to the critical class in CoPP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Telnet and HTTP
- ✗
NTP and SNMP
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that all management plane protocols (like SSH, Telnet, SNMP) are critical, but the default CoPP policy specifically reserves 'critical' for routing protocol packets that maintain control plane stability, such as OSPF hellos and BGP keepalives.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The default CoPP policy on Cisco routers uses class maps like 'CoPP-Critical' that match on access control lists (ACLs) for specific protocol packets, such as OSPF (IP protocol 89) and BGP (TCP port 179). The 'critical' classification ensures these packets are policed at a higher rate (e.g., 10000 pps) compared to 'normal' (e.g., 1000 pps) or 'medium' (e.g., 4000 pps) classes, preventing denial-of-service (DoS) attacks from disrupting routing adjacencies. In real-world scenarios, misconfiguring CoPP to drop OSPF hello packets can cause OSPF neighbors to go down, leading to routing blackholes, which is why Cisco defaults these as critical.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
Control Plane Policing (CoPP) — This question tests Control Plane Policing (CoPP) — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: OSPF hello packets and BGP keepalives — In the default Control Plane Policing (CoPP) policy on Cisco IOS/IOS-XE devices, control plane protocol packets are classified into three categories: critical, normal, and medium. OSPF hello packets and BGP keepalives are classified as 'critical' because they are essential for maintaining neighbor adjacencies and routing protocol convergence; dropping these packets can cause immediate network instability. The default CoPP policy uses class maps to match these protocols and applies a higher priority (e.g., police rate) to ensure they are processed before less critical traffic.
What should I do if I get this 300-410 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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