Quick Answer
The answer is FreeableMemory and SwapUsage. These two metrics are the primary indicators of an RDS Oracle memory leak because FreeableMemory tracks the amount of available RAM on the instance, and a steady decline in this value signals that memory is being consumed without being released. Simultaneously, SwapUsage measures how much virtual memory on disk the operating system is using; when physical memory runs low, the OS begins swapping data to disk, which is a classic symptom of memory pressure caused by a leak. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish memory-specific metrics from unrelated performance counters—common traps include choosing CPUUtilization or DatabaseConnections, which do not directly reveal memory exhaustion. A quick memory tip: think “Freeable falls, Swap climbs—memory leak in the times.”
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which TWO metrics should be monitored to detect a memory leak in an RDS for Oracle instance? (Choose 2.)
SwapUsage
Increasing swap usage indicates the OS is paging memory to disk, sign of memory pressure.
FreeableMemory
Decreasing free memory can indicate a leak.
DatabaseConnections
Why wrong: Number of connections does not directly reflect memory usage.
CPUUtilization
Why wrong: High CPU may accompany memory leak but is not a direct indicator.
ReadIOPS
Why wrong: ReadIOPS measures I/O operations, not memory.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SwapUsage
Options A and D are correct because FreeableMemory shows available memory, and SwapUsage indicates when the OS uses swap due to memory pressure, both signs of a memory leak. Option B is wrong because DatabaseConnections does not directly indicate memory leak. Option C is wrong because ReadIOPS relates to I/O, not memory. Option E is wrong because CPUUtilization may be high but not specific to memory leak.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
SwapUsage
Why this is correct
Increasing swap usage indicates the OS is paging memory to disk, sign of memory pressure.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
FreeableMemory
Why this is correct
Decreasing free memory can indicate a leak.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
DatabaseConnections
Why it's wrong here
Number of connections does not directly reflect memory usage.
CPUUtilization
Why it's wrong here
High CPU may accompany memory leak but is not a direct indicator.
ReadIOPS
Why it's wrong here
ReadIOPS measures I/O operations, not memory.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
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. ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement. 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
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: SwapUsage — Options A and D are correct because FreeableMemory shows available memory, and SwapUsage indicates when the OS uses swap due to memory pressure, both signs of a memory leak. Option B is wrong because DatabaseConnections does not directly indicate memory leak. Option C is wrong because ReadIOPS relates to I/O, not memory. Option E is wrong because CPUUtilization may be high but not specific to memory leak.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO metrics should be monitored together to detect a memory leak in an Amazon RDS for Oracle DB instance? (Choose TWO.)
mediumWhy A: Options A and D are correct because FreeableMemory shows available memory, and SwapUsage indicates swapping, which occurs when memory is exhausted. Option B (NetworkThroughput) is not memory-related. Option C (ReadIOPS) is I/O-related. Option E (DatabaseConnections) is connection-related.
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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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