Selecting EC2 Instance Type for SAP HANA
A company is migrating a SAP HANA database to AWS. Which THREE factors should be considered when choosing the EC2 instance type for SAP HANA?
Quick Answer
The three factors to consider when selecting an EC2 instance type for SAP HANA are certified instance types, sufficient memory (RAM) for the database, and high network bandwidth for system replication. SAP HANA is an in-memory database, meaning all active data must reside in RAM, so the instance’s memory capacity directly determines database size and performance. Additionally, SAP publishes a specific list of certified EC2 instance types that have been validated for HANA workloads, ensuring compatibility and support. High network bandwidth is critical for SAP HANA system replication, which synchronously or asynchronously copies data between instances for high availability. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that GPU instances are not required for HANA, and while EBS optimization is beneficial, it is not a primary selection factor—the instance type itself dictates EBS support. A common trap is confusing general-purpose compute needs with HANA’s memory-bound architecture. Remember the mnemonic: “Memory, Certification, and Replication—the three pillars of HANA selection.”
⚠ Common exam trap
A common trap is to think that EBS-optimized is a requirement, but it is not; what matters is the instance being certified and having sufficient memory and network bandwidth.
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 instance must be listed in the SAP HANA certified instance list.
Correct options: A, B, E. SAP HANA requires AWS certified instance types (A), enough memory to hold the database in RAM (B), and high network bandwidth for system replication (E). GPU is not required (C). EBS-optimized is not a selection factor; it is a feature that may be enabled on certain instance types but not a primary consideration for choosing the instance type (D).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The instance must be listed in the SAP HANA certified instance list.
Why this is correct
Only certified instances support HANA.
- ✓
The instance must have enough memory (RAM) to hold the entire HANA database.
Why this is correct
HANA is an in-memory database.
- ✗
The instance must have a GPU for accelerated processing.
Why it's wrong here
HANA does not require GPU.
- ✗
The instance must be EBS-optimized by default.
Why it's wrong here
D: The instance must be EBS-optimized by default. This is incorrect because EBS optimization is a feature that can be enabled on many instance types, but it is not a mandatory requirement for SAP HANA. The primary factors are certification, memory, and network bandwidth.
- ✓
The instance must have high network bandwidth for SAP HANA system replication.
Why this is correct
E: The instance must have high network bandwidth for SAP HANA system replication. This is correct because system replication requires reliable, high-throughput network connectivity between the primary and secondary instances.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PAS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is planning to migrate an SAP HANA database to AWS. Which THREE factors should the company consider when selecting an EC2 instance type for the SAP HANA database?
easy- A.The instance type must support burstable performance
- ✓ B.The instance must be EBS-optimized
- C.The instance must be based on the AWS Nitro System
- ✓ D.The instance type must be memory-optimized (e.g., r5, r6i, x1e)
- ✓ E.The instance type must be listed in the SAP Certified Instance Types for SAP HANA
Why B: For SAP HANA on AWS, EC2 instance types must be memory-optimized (e.g., r5, r6i, x1e) and listed in the SAP Certified Instance Types for SAP HANA. Additionally, instances must be EBS-optimized to provide dedicated bandwidth to EBS volumes. Burstable performance (option A) is not suitable for SAP HANA's consistent performance requirements. While the Nitro System (option C) is recommended, it is not a strict requirement.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.