- A
Upgrade the DB instance to db.t3.large.
Why wrong: Instance upgrade improves CPU and memory but does not change storage IOPS baseline.
- B
Increase the gp2 volume size to 200 GB.
Why wrong: While this increases baseline IOPS to 600, it still uses burst credits for any throughput above that. The workload peaks at 600, so it would exactly match baseline, but any future growth could cause issues. Also, cost increases.
- C
Migrate the storage to gp3 with 3000 baseline IOPS.
gp3 provides a consistent baseline of 3000 IOPS (or 3000 if using the default) without burst credits, eliminating the burst balance issue and providing headroom.
- D
Enable Performance Insights to monitor database load.
Why wrong: Performance Insights helps diagnose but does not resolve the storage performance issue.
Quick Answer
The answer is to migrate the storage to gp3 with 3000 baseline IOPS. This is correct because gp2 storage relies on a burst credit system where the BurstBalance metric drops to zero when sustained IOPS exceed the baseline of 300 IOPS for a 100 GB volume, causing performance slowdowns. By switching to gp3, you eliminate the need for burst credits entirely, as gp3 provides a consistent baseline of 3000 IOPS regardless of volume size, directly resolving the gp2 burst balance issues on RDS. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the key difference between gp2’s credit-based model and gp3’s fixed-performance architecture—a common trap is confusing storage performance with instance size or enabling monitoring tools like Performance Insights, which do not affect IOPS. Remember the memory tip: gp2 is a “gas tank” that runs out, while gp3 is a “steady engine” that never stalls.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 PostgreSQL database on an Amazon RDS DB instance (db.t3.medium) with 100 GB of General Purpose SSD (gp2) storage. The database is used by a web application that experiences occasional slowdowns. CloudWatch metrics show that the BurstBalance metric for the storage volume drops to 0% during peak usage and then recovers. The average IOPS during peak is 600, and the baseline IOPS for the volume is 300. The team needs a cost-effective solution to eliminate the performance issues. What should the team do?
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
Migrate the storage to gp3 with 3000 baseline IOPS.
Option B is correct because converting to gp3 provides a consistent baseline of 3000 IOPS (or 3000 if using the default 3000 IOPS, though for 100 GB the baseline is 3000) without burst credits, eliminating the burst balance problem. Option A is incorrect because increasing gp2 volume size to 200 GB increases baseline to 600 IOPS and burst credits, but still relies on credits; the workload may still exceed baseline. Option C is incorrect because increasing instance size does not affect storage performance. Option D is incorrect because enabling Performance Insights does not improve performance.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Upgrade the DB instance to db.t3.large.
Why it's wrong here
Instance upgrade improves CPU and memory but does not change storage IOPS baseline.
- ✗
Increase the gp2 volume size to 200 GB.
Why it's wrong here
While this increases baseline IOPS to 600, it still uses burst credits for any throughput above that. The workload peaks at 600, so it would exactly match baseline, but any future growth could cause issues. Also, cost increases.
- ✓
Migrate the storage to gp3 with 3000 baseline IOPS.
Why this is correct
gp3 provides a consistent baseline of 3000 IOPS (or 3000 if using the default) without burst credits, eliminating the burst balance issue and providing headroom.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Enable Performance Insights to monitor database load.
Why it's wrong here
Performance Insights helps diagnose but does not resolve the storage performance issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Migrate the storage to gp3 with 3000 baseline IOPS. — Option B is correct because converting to gp3 provides a consistent baseline of 3000 IOPS (or 3000 if using the default 3000 IOPS, though for 100 GB the baseline is 3000) without burst credits, eliminating the burst balance problem. Option A is incorrect because increasing gp2 volume size to 200 GB increases baseline to 600 IOPS and burst credits, but still relies on credits; the workload may still exceed baseline. Option C is incorrect because increasing instance size does not affect storage performance. Option D is incorrect because enabling Performance Insights does not improve performance.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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