- A
HANA System Replication is not configured correctly for automatic failover.
Why wrong: The scenario states HSR is configured; the issue is more likely with application connectivity.
- B
The SAP application servers are configured with the hostname of the primary HANA instance, which did not update after failover.
Application servers need to have a virtual hostname or use a DNS name that updates to the new primary.
- C
The Amazon EFS file system is not available in the secondary Availability Zone.
Why wrong: EFS is a regional service accessible from all AZs in the region.
- D
The security group of the application servers does not allow outbound traffic to the secondary HANA instance.
Why wrong: Security groups can be updated automatically, but this is less likely if proper design is in place.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the SAP application servers are configured with the hostname of the original primary HANA instance, which does not update after failover. This is because SAP NetWeaver connects to the database using a fixed hostname or virtual IP address; after HANA System Replication (HSR) failover, the secondary becomes the primary but retains its own hostname unless a dynamic resolution mechanism like Amazon Route 53 or an Elastic IP is in place. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the HSR failover connection issue and the critical distinction between physical hostnames and virtual hostnames in high-availability architectures. A common trap is assuming that HSR automatically updates connection strings, but it does not—the application layer must be decoupled from the database hostname. Memory tip: think “HSR flips the server, not the name”—always use a virtual hostname for SAP database connections.
PAS-C01 Design of SAP Workloads on AWS Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of design of sap workloads on aws. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 designing a high-availability architecture for SAP NetWeaver on AWS. The architecture includes two application server instances in different Availability Zones, a shared file system using Amazon EFS, and a database using SAP HANA with HANA System Replication (HSR). During a failover test, the application servers cannot connect to the database after the HANA secondary becomes the primary. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
The SAP application servers are configured with the hostname of the primary HANA instance, which did not update after failover.
In SAP NetWeaver, application servers connect to the database using a fixed hostname or virtual IP address. After HANA System Replication (HSR) failover, the secondary becomes the primary but retains its own hostname unless a virtual hostname (e.g., using Amazon Route 53 or Elastic IP) is configured to automatically update. If the application servers are hardcoded with the original primary's hostname, they cannot resolve or reach the new primary, causing connection failure.
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.
- ✗
HANA System Replication is not configured correctly for automatic failover.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario states HSR is configured; the issue is more likely with application connectivity.
- ✓
The SAP application servers are configured with the hostname of the primary HANA instance, which did not update after failover.
Why this is correct
Application servers need to have a virtual hostname or use a DNS name that updates to the new primary.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The Amazon EFS file system is not available in the secondary Availability Zone.
Why it's wrong here
EFS is a regional service accessible from all AZs in the region.
- ✗
The security group of the application servers does not allow outbound traffic to the secondary HANA instance.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups can be updated automatically, but this is less likely if proper design is in place.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume HSR automatic failover (Option A) is the root cause, but the real issue is the lack of a virtual hostname or DNS update mechanism, which is a common misconfiguration in SAP on AWS architectures.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The scenario states HSR is configured; the issue is more likely with application connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SAP HANA HSR replicates data asynchronously or synchronously, and failover can be manual or automatic via pacemaker. The critical point is that SAP NetWeaver uses the database hostname from the SAP profile (e.g., `SAPDBHOST`), which must point to a virtual hostname that is updated after failover. On AWS, this is often achieved using a Route 53 DNS record with a low TTL or an Elastic IP reassignment, but if not configured, the application servers will attempt to connect to the old primary's IP, which is no longer serving the database.
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.
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
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PAS-C01 question test?
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The SAP application servers are configured with the hostname of the primary HANA instance, which did not update after failover. — In SAP NetWeaver, application servers connect to the database using a fixed hostname or virtual IP address. After HANA System Replication (HSR) failover, the secondary becomes the primary but retains its own hostname unless a virtual hostname (e.g., using Amazon Route 53 or Elastic IP) is configured to automatically update. If the application servers are hardcoded with the original primary's hostname, they cannot resolve or reach the new primary, causing connection failure.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely", "primary". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This PAS-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 PAS-C01 exam.
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