- A
Take a snapshot, restore as a new instance with the upgraded engine version, and redirect traffic.
Why wrong: Restoring from snapshot takes time and incurs downtime; also, snapshot restore is not a version upgrade path.
- B
Initiate a major version upgrade directly on the Multi-AZ instance; the upgrade will be applied during the next maintenance window with minimal downtime.
Why wrong: This incurs downtime during the upgrade; not minimal.
- C
Modify the DB instance to disable Multi-AZ, perform the upgrade, then re-enable Multi-AZ.
Why wrong: Disabling Multi-AZ causes downtime; upgrade also causes downtime.
- D
Create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string.
This approach reduces downtime because the upgrade is done on the replica while the original primary remains active.
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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.
A company runs a critical PostgreSQL database on Amazon RDS Multi-AZ. They need to perform a major version upgrade (e.g., from 12 to 13) with minimal downtime. Which approach should they take?
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
Create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string.
Option D is correct because it leverages Amazon RDS read replicas to perform a major version upgrade with minimal downtime. By creating a read replica, upgrading it to PostgreSQL 13, and then promoting it to a new primary, you avoid any downtime on the original primary during the upgrade process. The promotion is a fast operation, and traffic is redirected by updating the connection string, resulting in only a brief interruption.
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.
- ✗
Take a snapshot, restore as a new instance with the upgraded engine version, and redirect traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring from snapshot takes time and incurs downtime; also, snapshot restore is not a version upgrade path.
- ✗
Initiate a major version upgrade directly on the Multi-AZ instance; the upgrade will be applied during the next maintenance window with minimal downtime.
Why it's wrong here
This incurs downtime during the upgrade; not minimal.
- ✗
Modify the DB instance to disable Multi-AZ, perform the upgrade, then re-enable Multi-AZ.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling Multi-AZ causes downtime; upgrade also causes downtime.
- ✓
Create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string.
Why this is correct
This approach reduces downtime because the upgrade is done on the replica while the original primary remains active.
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 often assume a direct upgrade on a Multi-AZ instance (Option B) is the simplest and least disruptive method, but they overlook the fact that major version upgrades require a reboot and can cause significant downtime, whereas the read replica promotion method is designed specifically for minimizing downtime in such scenarios.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When you create a read replica of an RDS for PostgreSQL instance, it uses asynchronous replication based on PostgreSQL's streaming replication protocol. Performing a major version upgrade on the replica is possible because the replica can be upgraded independently, and once promoted, it becomes a standalone DB instance with the new engine version. The promotion process is typically fast (seconds to minutes), and you can then update your application's connection string to point to the new primary, achieving near-zero downtime.
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 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string. — Option D is correct because it leverages Amazon RDS read replicas to perform a major version upgrade with minimal downtime. By creating a read replica, upgrading it to PostgreSQL 13, and then promoting it to a new primary, you avoid any downtime on the original primary during the upgrade process. The promotion is a fast operation, and traffic is redirected by updating the connection string, resulting in only a brief interruption.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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