- A
NetworkBytesIn
Why wrong: NetworkBytesIn measures the amount of network traffic received by the node, which is not directly related to memory pressure.
- B
ReplicationLag
Why wrong: ReplicationLag indicates the delay in replication between the primary and replica nodes. Since this cluster is single-node, there are no replicas, so this metric does not apply.
- C
CPUUtilization
Why wrong: CPUUtilization shows the percentage of CPU usage, which can cause latency but is not a direct indicator of memory pressure.
- D
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage shows the percentage of the node's memory used. High usage can lead to memory pressure, causing latency due to evictions or swap.
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 developer notices that an Amazon ElastiCache for Redis cluster is experiencing high latency. The cluster uses a single node. Which CloudWatch metric should be reviewed first to determine if the issue is due to memory pressure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage
The correct metric to check for memory pressure is DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage. This metric shows the percentage of the node's available memory that is in use, and when high it can lead to latency due to evictions or swap usage. NetworkBytesIn measures network traffic, not memory. ReplicationLag is relevant only for clusters with replicas, and CPUUtilization indicates CPU load, not memory pressure.
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.
- ✗
NetworkBytesIn
Why it's wrong here
NetworkBytesIn measures the amount of network traffic received by the node, which is not directly related to memory pressure.
- ✗
ReplicationLag
Why it's wrong here
ReplicationLag indicates the delay in replication between the primary and replica nodes. Since this cluster is single-node, there are no replicas, so this metric does not apply.
- ✗
CPUUtilization
Why it's wrong here
CPUUtilization shows the percentage of CPU usage, which can cause latency but is not a direct indicator of memory pressure.
- ✓
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage
Why this is correct
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage shows the percentage of the node's memory used. High usage can lead to memory pressure, causing latency due to evictions or swap.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" 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
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
CPUUtilization shows the percentage of CPU usage, which can cause latency but is not a direct indicator of memory pressure.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage — The correct metric to check for memory pressure is DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage. This metric shows the percentage of the node's available memory that is in use, and when high it can lead to latency due to evictions or swap usage. NetworkBytesIn measures network traffic, not memory. ReplicationLag is relevant only for clusters with replicas, and CPUUtilization indicates CPU load, not memory pressure.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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