The answer is to change the eviction policy to allkeys-lru. This is correct because when the default noeviction policy is in place, Redis refuses to write new data once memory is full, causing every new request to miss the cache and hit the database directly. By switching to allkeys-lru, Redis automatically evicts the least recently used keys across the entire keyspace, freeing memory for new entries and directly reducing the ElastiCache Redis cache miss rate. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of memory management versus scaling: adding nodes or increasing memory only delays the problem, while the eviction policy is the root fix. A common trap is confusing noeviction with a safety feature—it actually causes cache misses. Memory tip: think “allkeys-lru = least recently used gets the boot” to remember it evicts stale data first.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and 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 company is using Amazon ElastiCache for Redis as a caching layer for a web application. The application team reports that cache miss rates have increased significantly, causing higher database load. The Redis cluster has two nodes (one primary, one replica) with the default eviction policy of noeviction. Which action should the database specialist recommend to reduce cache misses?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the eviction policy to allkeys-lru to allow Redis to evict less recently used keys.
Option B is correct because changing the eviction policy to allkeys-lru allows Redis to evict less frequently used keys when memory is full, reducing cache misses. Option A is wrong because adding more nodes does not solve the eviction issue if the policy prevents eviction. Option C is wrong because increasing the memory of existing nodes only delays the problem. Option D is wrong because enabling persistence does not help with memory management.
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.
✗
Increase the memory of existing nodes to accommodate more keys.
Why it's wrong here
If the eviction policy is noeviction, increasing memory only postpones the issue.
✓
Change the eviction policy to allkeys-lru to allow Redis to evict less recently used keys.
Why this is correct
allkeys-lru evicts keys based on LRU, reducing cache misses.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable AOF persistence to improve cache durability.
Why it's wrong here
Persistence does not affect cache misses.
✗
Add more read replicas to distribute the cache load.
Why it's wrong here
Replicas are for read scaling, not for increasing cache capacity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the eviction policy to allkeys-lru to allow Redis to evict less recently used keys. — Option B is correct because changing the eviction policy to allkeys-lru allows Redis to evict less frequently used keys when memory is full, reducing cache misses. Option A is wrong because adding more nodes does not solve the eviction issue if the policy prevents eviction. Option C is wrong because increasing the memory of existing nodes only delays the problem. Option D is wrong because enabling persistence does not help with memory management.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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