- A
The neighbor is sending a partial update with five routes, which is typical for a triggered update after a topology change.
Why wrong: The update contains multiple routes, but the label 'update/interval' suggests it is a periodic update, not a triggered one.
- B
The neighbor is sending a full update, which occurs during initial neighbor formation or after a major change.
Why wrong: A full update would contain all routes, but the debug does not indicate it is a full update; 'update/interval' suggests periodic.
- C
The neighbor is sending a periodic update with five routes, which is normal EIGRP behavior.
EIGRP sends periodic updates (every 90 seconds by default) to maintain neighbor state, and this debug shows such an update.
- D
The neighbor is sending an update with incorrect metrics, causing routing issues.
Why wrong: The metrics appear consistent and there is no indication of error.
300-410 EIGRP Troubleshooting Practice Question
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of eigrp troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A network engineer runs the following command to troubleshoot an EIGRP issue:
R1# debug eigrp packets update *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: received packet with opcode = 2 (Update) on GigabitEthernet0/0, src 10.1.2.2 dst 10.1.2.1 *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: Update contains 5 routes, version 145, seq 10 *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: Update update/interval, 10.1.1.0/24 metric 131072 *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: Update update/interval, 10.2.2.0/24 metric 131072 *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: Update update/interval, 10.3.3.0/24 metric 131072 *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: Update update/interval, 10.4.4.0/24 metric 131072 *Mar 1 00:10:15.456: EIGRP: Update update/interval, 10.5.5.0/24 metric 131072
What does this output indicate?
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
The neighbor is sending a periodic update with five routes, which is normal EIGRP behavior.
Option C is correct because EIGRP sends periodic updates every 90 seconds by default (via the 'ip hello-interval eigrp' and related timers), and the debug output shows a received update with five routes, all having the same metric of 131072, which is typical for a periodic update that refreshes the routing table without indicating a topology change. The 'update/interval' keyword in the debug output explicitly indicates this is a periodic update, not a triggered or full update.
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.
- ✗
The neighbor is sending a partial update with five routes, which is typical for a triggered update after a topology change.
Why it's wrong here
The update contains multiple routes, but the label 'update/interval' suggests it is a periodic update, not a triggered one.
- ✗
The neighbor is sending a full update, which occurs during initial neighbor formation or after a major change.
Why it's wrong here
A full update would contain all routes, but the debug does not indicate it is a full update; 'update/interval' suggests periodic.
- ✓
The neighbor is sending a periodic update with five routes, which is normal EIGRP behavior.
Why this is correct
EIGRP sends periodic updates (every 90 seconds by default) to maintain neighbor state, and this debug shows such an update.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The neighbor is sending an update with incorrect metrics, causing routing issues.
Why it's wrong here
The metrics appear consistent and there is no indication of error.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'update/interval' (periodic), 'update/triggered' (partial), and 'update/full' (full) in EIGRP debug output, and the trap here is that candidates assume any update with multiple routes must be a triggered or full update, overlooking the 'update/interval' keyword that clearly identifies it as a periodic update.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EIGRP uses Reliable Transport Protocol (RTP) to send updates, and periodic updates are sent every 90 seconds (default) to maintain neighbor state and refresh routes, even in a stable network. The 'update/interval' keyword in the debug output distinguishes these from triggered updates (which use 'update/triggered') or full updates (which use 'update/full'). The metric 131072 corresponds to a delay of 10 microseconds and bandwidth of 100 Mbps with default K values (K1=1, K3=1, K2=K4=K5=0), which is common for GigabitEthernet interfaces.
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.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 300-410 question test?
EIGRP Troubleshooting — This question tests EIGRP Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The neighbor is sending a periodic update with five routes, which is normal EIGRP behavior. — Option C is correct because EIGRP sends periodic updates every 90 seconds by default (via the 'ip hello-interval eigrp' and related timers), and the debug output shows a received update with five routes, all having the same metric of 131072, which is typical for a periodic update that refreshes the routing table without indicating a topology change. The 'update/interval' keyword in the debug output explicitly indicates this is a periodic update, not a triggered or full update.
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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