The correct answer is that the MySQL database transaction log needs to be backed up to free space. This error occurs because MySQL’s transaction log—typically the binary log or InnoDB redo log—has reached its maximum capacity due to a missing or failed log backup process; when the log is full, MySQL blocks further write operations, causing the AWS Glue ETL job to fail with the 'LOG_BACKUP' error. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between Glue-side misconfigurations (like insufficient IAM permissions or connection timeouts) and underlying database maintenance issues, a common trap where candidates mistakenly adjust Glue retries or memory settings instead of addressing the database’s log management. Remember the mnemonic: "Logs left unbacked, writes get sacked"—if the transaction log isn’t backed up and truncated, your Glue job will hit a full-stop error, so always check the database’s backup policy first.
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. 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 data engineer is troubleshooting a nightly AWS Glue ETL job that reads from an Amazon RDS for MySQL table and writes to an Amazon S3 bucket in Parquet format. The job runs successfully most days, but occasionally fails with the error 'ERROR: An error occurred while calling o67.pyWriteDynamicFrame. The transaction log for the database is full due to 'LOG_BACKUP'.' What is the MOST likely cause of this error?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The MySQL database transaction log needs to be backed up to free space.
The error message 'The transaction log for the database is full due to 'LOG_BACKUP'' indicates that the MySQL database's transaction log has reached its maximum size because it has not been backed up and truncated. In MySQL, the transaction log (often the InnoDB redo log or binary log) must be backed up periodically to free space; otherwise, write operations fail. This is a database-side issue, not a Glue or permissions problem, so the correct action is to back up the transaction log to release space.
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 MySQL database has reached its maximum number of concurrent connections.
Why it's wrong here
The error message specifically mentions transaction log, not connection limits.
✗
The AWS Glue job does not have sufficient permissions to write to the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
The error is about the source database transaction log, not S3 write permissions.
✗
The AWS Glue job is configured with an incorrect 'writeDynamicFrame' method.
Why it's wrong here
The error is not related to the method call but to the source database condition.
✓
The MySQL database transaction log needs to be backed up to free space.
Why this is correct
The error 'LOG_BACKUP' indicates that the transaction log is full and requires a backup to truncate it.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a database-side resource exhaustion error (transaction log full) with a permissions or configuration issue in AWS Glue, leading them to incorrectly select options related to Glue permissions or method syntax.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In MySQL, the binary log (used for replication and point-in-time recovery) grows until it is explicitly purged via 'PURGE BINARY LOGS' or a backup operation. AWS Glue ETL jobs using JDBC connections read from MySQL tables, and if the binary log fills up, the database blocks further write operations (including reads that generate log entries) until space is freed. This is a common issue in environments where binary log retention is set too high or backups are infrequent.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The MySQL database transaction log needs to be backed up to free space. — The error message 'The transaction log for the database is full due to 'LOG_BACKUP'' indicates that the MySQL database's transaction log has reached its maximum size because it has not been backed up and truncated. In MySQL, the transaction log (often the InnoDB redo log or binary log) must be backed up periodically to free space; otherwise, write operations fail. This is a database-side issue, not a Glue or permissions problem, so the correct action is to back up the transaction log to release space.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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