- A
Add distribution keys to the tables to improve data distribution.
Why wrong: Adding distribution keys improves data distribution across slices but does not increase available memory per node. Disk spill is caused by insufficient memory, not poor data distribution.
- B
Enable concurrency scaling to offload queries to additional clusters.
Why wrong: Concurrency scaling offloads queries to additional clusters to handle concurrency, but it does not increase memory for individual queries. Disk spill due to memory is not resolved by concurrency scaling.
- C
Increase the number of nodes to three to distribute the workload.
Why wrong: Increasing the number of nodes adds more total cluster memory, but per-node memory remains the same (dc2.large). Disk spill happens when a query exceeds the memory of a single node; adding nodes does not fix per-node memory shortage.
- D
Upgrade the cluster to a node type with more memory, such as ra3.xlplus.
Upgrading to ra3.xlplus nodes increases memory per node (from ~15 GB to ~32 GB), directly reducing the likelihood of disk spill for memory-intensive queries, thus improving query performance.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
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.
A company is using Amazon Redshift for data warehousing. The data engineering team notices that queries are taking longer than expected. The cluster has two nodes of type dc2.large. The database specialist checks the system tables and finds that many queries are using the disk for temporary storage. Which action should the specialist take to improve query performance?
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
Upgrade the cluster to a node type with more memory, such as ra3.xlplus.
The correct answer is D. Disk spill to temporary storage indicates insufficient memory per node. Upgrading from dc2.large (∼15 GB RAM) to ra3.xlplus (∼32 GB RAM) doubles per-node memory, reducing disk spill and improving query performance. Option A is incorrect because distribution keys improve data distribution, not memory. Option B is incorrect because concurrency scaling manages concurrent queries, not per-query memory. Option C is incorrect because adding a node increases total cluster memory but per-node memory stays the same; disk spill occurs per node, so the problem persists.
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.
- ✗
Add distribution keys to the tables to improve data distribution.
Why it's wrong here
Adding distribution keys improves data distribution across slices but does not increase available memory per node. Disk spill is caused by insufficient memory, not poor data distribution.
- ✗
Enable concurrency scaling to offload queries to additional clusters.
Why it's wrong here
Concurrency scaling offloads queries to additional clusters to handle concurrency, but it does not increase memory for individual queries. Disk spill due to memory is not resolved by concurrency scaling.
- ✗
Increase the number of nodes to three to distribute the workload.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the number of nodes adds more total cluster memory, but per-node memory remains the same (dc2.large). Disk spill happens when a query exceeds the memory of a single node; adding nodes does not fix per-node memory shortage.
- ✓
Upgrade the cluster to a node type with more memory, such as ra3.xlplus.
Why this is correct
Upgrading to ra3.xlplus nodes increases memory per node (from ~15 GB to ~32 GB), directly reducing the likelihood of disk spill for memory-intensive queries, thus improving query performance.
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.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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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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: Upgrade the cluster to a node type with more memory, such as ra3.xlplus. — The correct answer is D. Disk spill to temporary storage indicates insufficient memory per node. Upgrading from dc2.large (∼15 GB RAM) to ra3.xlplus (∼32 GB RAM) doubles per-node memory, reducing disk spill and improving query performance. Option A is incorrect because distribution keys improve data distribution, not memory. Option B is incorrect because concurrency scaling manages concurrent queries, not per-query memory. Option C is incorrect because adding a node increases total cluster memory but per-node memory stays the same; disk spill occurs per node, so the problem persists.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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