The answer is to create multiple EBS io1 volumes and stripe them using RAID 0 at the OS level. This resolves the I/O bottleneck by distributing the Oracle database workload across several volumes, which increases I/O parallelism and dramatically reduces the Average Queue Length and read latency spikes observed in CloudWatch. For the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that a single EBS volume, even with high IOPS, can saturate its throughput limits under heavy SAP batch processing, whereas RAID 0 striping spreads the load and leverages the full performance of the EC2 instance’s EBS bandwidth. A common trap is assuming that simply increasing IOPS on the existing volume or switching to gp3 will fix the queue depth issue, but the real bottleneck is the lack of parallel data paths. Memory tip: think “RAID 0 for I/O zero wait time”—striping splits the queue across multiple spindles, cutting latency.
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. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 runs its SAP ERP system on AWS with an Oracle database on an EC2 instance. The system is used by thousands of users globally. Recently, the database has been experiencing slow query performance, especially during end-of-month processing. The administrator notices that the database instance is an r5.8xlarge with 32 vCPUs and 256 GB of memory, running on a single EBS io1 volume with 20,000 IOPS for the data files. The administrator has already optimized the SQL queries and increased the SGA size. However, performance remains poor. The Amazon CloudWatch metrics show that the EBS volume's Average Queue Length is consistently above 10 and the read latency spikes to over 100 ms during peak times. The CPU utilization is around 70%. Which action should the administrator take to resolve the I/O bottleneck?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create multiple EBS io1 volumes and stripe them using RAID 0 at the OS level.
Option D is correct because distributing the Oracle data files across multiple EBS volumes with RAID 0 increases I/O parallelism and reduces queue length. Option A is wrong because increasing IOPS on a single volume may not help if the volume is already at its throughput limit. Option B is wrong because switching to gp3 may not provide enough IOPS for the workload. Option C is wrong because increasing instance size does not directly improve EBS performance; the bottleneck is at the storage layer.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Change the volume type to gp3 and increase the baseline IOPS.
Why it's wrong here
gp3 may still not provide enough parallelism.
✓
Create multiple EBS io1 volumes and stripe them using RAID 0 at the OS level.
Why this is correct
RAID 0 increases I/O parallelism and reduces queue length.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Increase the IOPS of the existing io1 volume to 40,000.
Why it's wrong here
Single volume still has queue length issues; throughput limit may be reached.
✗
Upgrade the EC2 instance to an r5.12xlarge with more network bandwidth.
Why it's wrong here
CPU is not the bottleneck.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PAS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create multiple EBS io1 volumes and stripe them using RAID 0 at the OS level. — Option D is correct because distributing the Oracle data files across multiple EBS volumes with RAID 0 increases I/O parallelism and reduces queue length. Option A is wrong because increasing IOPS on a single volume may not help if the volume is already at its throughput limit. Option B is wrong because switching to gp3 may not provide enough IOPS for the workload. Option C is wrong because increasing instance size does not directly improve EBS performance; the bottleneck is at the storage layer.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PAS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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