- A
Examine the trace details for exception messages.
Correct. Examining trace details reveals exception messages, stack traces, and error codes for each segment, allowing identification of the exact failure point (e.g., DynamoDB throttling).
- B
Verify that the Lambda function's IAM role has permissions for X-Ray.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Verifying IAM permissions for X-Ray is a prerequisite for sending traces, but since traces are already present, the issue is not about permissions. This action does not help diagnose the errors shown in existing traces.
- C
Check the X-Ray service map for error edges.
Correct. The X-Ray service map shows error edges between services, highlighting which downstream calls (e.g., DynamoDB, SQS) are failing and helping to isolate the problem.
- D
Disable X-Ray sampling to capture all requests.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Disabling sampling is unnecessary because X-Ray captures errors by default regardless of sampling settings; increasing sample volume does not improve diagnostic capability for errors.
- E
Enable CloudFront to cache responses.
Why wrong: Incorrect. CloudFront caching does not affect trace data or error diagnosis in X-Ray; it is unrelated to the issue.
DVA-C02 X-Ray service map Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: x-Ray service map. 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 is using AWS X-Ray to trace a Lambda function that calls DynamoDB and SQS. Some traces show errors. Which THREE actions should the developer take to diagnose the issue?
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
Examine the trace details for exception messages.
To diagnose errors in existing X-Ray traces, the developer should examine trace details (Option A) to see exception messages and stack traces for each segment, and check the service map (Option C) for error edges that indicate which service interactions failed. Option B is about enabling X-Ray permissions, which is a prerequisite for tracing but does not help diagnose errors in traces that are already captured. Option D (disabling sampling) is unnecessary because X-Ray captures errors by default regardless of sampling. Option E (CloudFront caching) is unrelated to trace diagnostics.
Key principle: X-Ray service map
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Examine the trace details for exception messages.
Why this is correct
Correct. Examining trace details reveals exception messages, stack traces, and error codes for each segment, allowing identification of the exact failure point (e.g., DynamoDB throttling).
Related concept
X-Ray service map
- ✗
Verify that the Lambda function's IAM role has permissions for X-Ray.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Verifying IAM permissions for X-Ray is a prerequisite for sending traces, but since traces are already present, the issue is not about permissions. This action does not help diagnose the errors shown in existing traces.
- ✓
Check the X-Ray service map for error edges.
Why this is correct
Correct. The X-Ray service map shows error edges between services, highlighting which downstream calls (e.g., DynamoDB, SQS) are failing and helping to isolate the problem.
Related concept
X-Ray service map
- ✗
Disable X-Ray sampling to capture all requests.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Disabling sampling is unnecessary because X-Ray captures errors by default regardless of sampling settings; increasing sample volume does not improve diagnostic capability for errors.
- ✗
Enable CloudFront to cache responses.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. CloudFront caching does not affect trace data or error diagnosis in X-Ray; it is unrelated to the issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is selecting Option B, thinking that ensuring X-Ray permissions is a diagnostic step. However, missing permissions would prevent traces from being sent at all; since traces are present, the focus should be on analyzing the existing trace data (details and service map) to find error causes.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Incorrect. Verifying IAM permissions for X-Ray is a prerequisite for sending traces, but since traces are already present, the issue is not about permissions. This action does not help diagnose the errors shown in existing traces.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
X-Ray trace details include subsegments for each downstream call (e.g., DynamoDB PutItem, SQS SendMessage), with HTTP status codes, error messages, and duration. Under the hood, X-Ray uses the AWS SDK's instrumentation to automatically capture these subsegments, and the service map aggregates them to show error edges (e.g., red lines between Lambda and DynamoDB). In a real-world scenario, a 400-level error from DynamoDB due to a conditional check failure would appear as an exception in the trace, while a 500-level error from SQS due to throttling would show as a fault.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- X-Ray service map
- Trace segments
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
X-Ray service map
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review x-Ray service map, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Troubleshooting and Optimization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — X-Ray service map.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Examine the trace details for exception messages. — To diagnose errors in existing X-Ray traces, the developer should examine trace details (Option A) to see exception messages and stack traces for each segment, and check the service map (Option C) for error edges that indicate which service interactions failed. Option B is about enabling X-Ray permissions, which is a prerequisite for tracing but does not help diagnose errors in traces that are already captured. Option D (disabling sampling) is unnecessary because X-Ray captures errors by default regardless of sampling. Option E (CloudFront caching) is unrelated to trace diagnostics.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review x-Ray service map, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
X-Ray service map
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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