- A
EIGRP will send hello packets every 15 seconds and wait 45 seconds before declaring a neighbor down.
The hello interval is set to 15 seconds, and hold time to 45 seconds.
- B
EIGRP will send hello packets every 45 seconds and wait 15 seconds.
Why wrong: The hello interval is 15 seconds, not 45.
- C
EIGRP will use the default hello interval of 5 seconds and hold time of 15 seconds.
Why wrong: Explicit configuration overrides defaults.
- D
EIGRP will not form neighbor adjacencies because the hold time is not a multiple of the hello interval.
Why wrong: There is no such requirement; hold time can be any value.
Question 1,431 of 2,152
Configuring EIGRP Hello Interval and Hold Time
This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of eigrp troubleshooting. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Examine the following EIGRP configuration on Router R6:
interface GigabitEthernet0/2 ip hello-interval eigrp 100 15 ip hold-time eigrp 100 45
What is the effect of these commands?
Quick Answer
The answer is that EIGRP will send hello packets every 15 seconds and wait 45 seconds before declaring a neighbor down on that interface. This is correct because the `ip hello-interval eigrp 100 15` command overrides the default hello timer (typically 5 or 60 seconds depending on bandwidth), while `ip hold-time eigrp 100 45` sets the hold timer to 45 seconds for autonomous system 100. On the Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 exam, this configuration tests your understanding that the hold time is not automatically adjusted when you change the hello interval—it must be set explicitly, or it remains at its default value. A common trap is assuming the hold time scales proportionally; here, it is manually set to three times the hello interval, but that ratio is not enforced by the router. For the exam, remember the memory tip: “Hello sets the beat, hold sets the wait—change one, check the other.”
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
✓
EIGRP will send hello packets every 15 seconds and wait 45 seconds before declaring a neighbor down.
The commands set a non-default hello interval of 15 seconds and a hold time of 45 seconds for EIGRP AS 100 on GigabitEthernet0/2. EIGRP uses the hello interval to determine how often it sends hello packets, and the hold time is the duration the router waits without receiving a hello before declaring the neighbor down. Option A correctly describes this behavior.
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.
- ✓
EIGRP will send hello packets every 15 seconds and wait 45 seconds before declaring a neighbor down.
Why this is correct
The hello interval is set to 15 seconds, and hold time to 45 seconds.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
EIGRP will send hello packets every 45 seconds and wait 15 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
The hello interval is 15 seconds, not 45.
- ✗
EIGRP will use the default hello interval of 5 seconds and hold time of 15 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
Explicit configuration overrides defaults.
- ✗
EIGRP will not form neighbor adjacencies because the hold time is not a multiple of the hello interval.
Why it's wrong here
There is no such requirement; hold time can be any value.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the hold time must be a multiple of the hello interval (e.g., 3x), but Cisco does not enforce this mathematically—only that the hold time is greater than the hello interval to avoid premature neighbor loss.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
EIGRP uses a reliable transport protocol (RTP) for hello packets, and the hold time is a per-neighbor timer that resets each time a hello is received. If the hold time expires, the neighbor is declared dead, triggering route recomputation. In real-world scenarios, increasing the hello interval (e.g., to 15 seconds) is common on slow or congested links to reduce control-plane overhead, but the hold time must be set to at least three times the hello interval (as a best practice) to avoid false neighbor loss due to jitter or transient delays.
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: EIGRP will send hello packets every 15 seconds and wait 45 seconds before declaring a neighbor down. — The commands set a non-default hello interval of 15 seconds and a hold time of 45 seconds for EIGRP AS 100 on GigabitEthernet0/2. EIGRP uses the hello interval to determine how often it sends hello packets, and the hold time is the duration the router waits without receiving a hello before declaring the neighbor down. Option A correctly describes this behavior.
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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