- A
Enable connection draining on the target group.
Why wrong: Connection draining ensures ongoing requests complete before an instance is deregistered; it does not improve load distribution.
- B
Replace all instances with the same instance type.
Using the same instance type eliminates capacity differences, allowing round-robin to distribute evenly.
- C
Change the ALB routing algorithm from round robin to least outstanding requests.
Least outstanding requests algorithm accounts for differences in instance sizes by sending new requests to instances with fewer pending requests.
- D
Enable sticky sessions (session affinity) on the target group.
Why wrong: Sticky sessions tie a user to a specific instance, which can lead to uneven distribution.
- E
Increase the deregistration delay (connection draining) on the target group to 300 seconds.
Why wrong: Increasing deregistration delay only extends the period for in-flight requests; it does not balance load.
SAP-C02 Least Outstanding Requests (LOR) Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: least Outstanding Requests (LOR). 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 web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application experiences high request latency during peak traffic. A solutions architect discovers that the ALB is not distributing traffic evenly across the instances. The instances have different sizes (t3.large and t3.xlarge). Which TWO actions should the solutions architect take to improve load distribution?
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
Replace all instances with the same instance type.
The correct answers are B and C. Option B: Using the same instance type ensures uniform capacity, so round-robin routing distributes traffic evenly. Option C: Changing the routing algorithm to least outstanding requests (LOR) distributes traffic based on pending requests, naturally giving more traffic to larger instances (t3.xlarge) and balancing load despite size differences. Option A (connection draining) helps with graceful deregistration but does not improve distribution. Option D (sticky sessions) worsens distribution by pinning users. Option E (increasing deregistration delay) does not affect distribution.
Key principle: Least Outstanding Requests (LOR)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable connection draining on the target group.
Why it's wrong here
Connection draining ensures ongoing requests complete before an instance is deregistered; it does not improve load distribution.
- ✓
Replace all instances with the same instance type.
Why this is correct
Using the same instance type eliminates capacity differences, allowing round-robin to distribute evenly.
Related concept
Least Outstanding Requests (LOR)
- ✓
Change the ALB routing algorithm from round robin to least outstanding requests.
Why this is correct
Least outstanding requests algorithm accounts for differences in instance sizes by sending new requests to instances with fewer pending requests.
Related concept
Least Outstanding Requests (LOR)
- ✗
Enable sticky sessions (session affinity) on the target group.
Why it's wrong here
Sticky sessions tie a user to a specific instance, which can lead to uneven distribution.
- ✗
Increase the deregistration delay (connection draining) on the target group to 300 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing deregistration delay only extends the period for in-flight requests; it does not balance load.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistake connection draining for a load-distribution mechanism. It only handles in-flight requests during deregistration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Least Outstanding Requests (LOR)
- Connection Draining
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
Least Outstanding Requests (LOR)
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. Least Outstanding Requests (LOR) 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.
Review least Outstanding Requests (LOR), then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Least Outstanding Requests (LOR).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace all instances with the same instance type. — The correct answers are B and C. Option B: Using the same instance type ensures uniform capacity, so round-robin routing distributes traffic evenly. Option C: Changing the routing algorithm to least outstanding requests (LOR) distributes traffic based on pending requests, naturally giving more traffic to larger instances (t3.xlarge) and balancing load despite size differences. Option A (connection draining) helps with graceful deregistration but does not improve distribution. Option D (sticky sessions) worsens distribution by pinning users. Option E (increasing deregistration delay) does not affect distribution.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review least Outstanding Requests (LOR), then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Least Outstanding Requests (LOR)
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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