A compute workload uses temporary scratch space for intermediate results (reproducible), and it can tolerate data loss if the instance is terminated. The workload benefits from very high local I/O throughput. Which storage option is the best fit for the scratch data?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Distractor review
Amazon EBS General Purpose (gp3) volumes to persist intermediate results across reboots.
EBS is durable across reboots, which is unnecessary cost and doesn’t maximize local scratch throughput.
Distractor review
Amazon EFS for a shared file system between multiple instances.
EFS is for shared, durable storage and typically adds network latency compared with local scratch needs.
Best answer
Instance store for local temporary files that can be lost when the instance stops.
Instance store is designed for temporary high-performance local storage and is acceptable when loss is tolerable.
Distractor review
Amazon S3 for scratch data so it is always durable and accessible from anywhere.
S3 is durable but not optimized for the lowest-latency scratch I/O pattern inside a single compute node.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 2
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Question 5
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Instance store for local temporary files that can be lost when the instance stops. — For temporary scratch space where intermediate data is reproducible and the application can tolerate data loss on instance termination, instance store is usually the best fit. Instance store provides high-performance local I/O and avoids paying for durable storage requirements you don’t need. Because the data doesn’t need to survive failures, you can write intermediates to local disks and rebuild if necessary. EBS and EFS are better choices when durability and persistence are required, which contradicts the stated tolerance. Why others are wrong: A uses durable EBS, which increases cost and doesn’t align with the need for local scratch performance. B chooses EFS, which is managed shared storage optimized for file sharing, typically not the fastest option for ephemeral single-instance scratch. D uses S3, which introduces additional network hops and is not ideal for high-frequency temporary I/O inside compute instances.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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