- A
Enable Redis Cluster Mode and distribute data across multiple shards.
Sharding spreads the load, reducing CPU and network pressure on individual nodes.
- B
Add more EC2 instances as additional replicas to offload reads.
Why wrong: Replicas help with read scaling, but the primary is the bottleneck for writes and CPU. Adding replicas does not reduce primary load.
- C
Configure the application to read from replica nodes.
Why wrong: The bottleneck is on the primary for CPU and network; reads are already distributed to replicas. This does not help the primary.
- D
Upgrade the primary to a c5.2xlarge instance type.
Why wrong: Vertical scaling increases cost and may still hit network bandwidth limits; horizontal scaling is more cost-effective.
- E
Migrate to Amazon ElastiCache for Redis with Cluster Mode enabled.
ElastiCache automates cluster management, provides monitoring, and supports Cluster Mode for horizontal scaling.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 company runs a self-managed Redis cluster on Amazon EC2 for caching. The cluster has one primary and two replicas, each on c5.large instances. The application experiences high latency during peak hours. CloudWatch metrics show that the primary node's CPU utilization is consistently above 80% and the network bandwidth is near the instance limit. The replicas show moderate CPU usage. The team wants to reduce latency without increasing cost significantly. Which combination of actions should the team take? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Enable Redis Cluster Mode and distribute data across multiple shards.
Option A and Option C are correct. Option A: Enabling Cluster Mode allows sharding data across multiple nodes, reducing load on each node. Option C: Using an ElastiCache Redis cluster with Cluster Mode enabled provides managed scaling and reduces the operational burden. Option B is incorrect because it increases cost (more instances) and does not address vertical scaling limits. Option D is incorrect because using larger instances (vertical scaling) increases cost significantly and may still hit network limits. Option E is incorrect because read replicas help with read scaling, but the primary is the bottleneck for writes and CPU.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Enable Redis Cluster Mode and distribute data across multiple shards.
Why this is correct
Sharding spreads the load, reducing CPU and network pressure on individual nodes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Add more EC2 instances as additional replicas to offload reads.
Why it's wrong here
Replicas help with read scaling, but the primary is the bottleneck for writes and CPU. Adding replicas does not reduce primary load.
- ✗
Configure the application to read from replica nodes.
Why it's wrong here
The bottleneck is on the primary for CPU and network; reads are already distributed to replicas. This does not help the primary.
- ✗
Upgrade the primary to a c5.2xlarge instance type.
Why it's wrong here
Vertical scaling increases cost and may still hit network bandwidth limits; horizontal scaling is more cost-effective.
- ✓
Migrate to Amazon ElastiCache for Redis with Cluster Mode enabled.
Why this is correct
ElastiCache automates cluster management, provides monitoring, and supports Cluster Mode for horizontal scaling.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Monitoring and Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable Redis Cluster Mode and distribute data across multiple shards. — Option A and Option C are correct. Option A: Enabling Cluster Mode allows sharding data across multiple nodes, reducing load on each node. Option C: Using an ElastiCache Redis cluster with Cluster Mode enabled provides managed scaling and reduces the operational burden. Option B is incorrect because it increases cost (more instances) and does not address vertical scaling limits. Option D is incorrect because using larger instances (vertical scaling) increases cost significantly and may still hit network limits. Option E is incorrect because read replicas help with read scaling, but the primary is the bottleneck for writes and CPU.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DBS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DBS-C01 exam.
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