The answer is that the production HSR connection fails because the target EC2 instance resides in a different AWS account without VPC peering or a Transit Gateway to enable cross-account network connectivity. SAP HANA System Replication relies on direct TCP/IP communication between source and target instances over port 30101, and when the instances span separate AWS accounts, their VPCs are isolated by default. Without a VPC peering connection or Transit Gateway to route traffic between the accounts, the HSR handshake times out, even if security groups and NACLs appear correctly configured. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that cross-account HSR connectivity requires explicit network bridging, not just port-level rules—a common trap is assuming that allowing inbound traffic on the correct port is sufficient. Remember the mnemonic: “Peering or Transit, or HSR won’t visit.”
PAS-C01 Migration Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of migration. 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 large enterprise is migrating its SAP S/4HANA system to AWS. The system includes a production SAP HANA database (4 TB) and a development SAP HANA database (1 TB). The migration strategy is to use SAP HANA System Replication (HSR) for both databases to EC2 instances in the same AWS region. The company has a compliance requirement that the production database must be in a different AWS account than the development database. The network between on-premises and AWS uses AWS Direct Connect with 10 Gbps bandwidth. During the test migration, the HSR replication for the development database works, but the production database fails to establish replication. The error log shows: "HSR connection timed out." The security groups and network ACLs for the production target EC2 instance allow inbound traffic on port 30101 from the on-premises source IP. What is the most likely cause of the failure?
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.
The production target EC2 instance is in a different AWS account, and there is no VPC peering or Transit Gateway between the accounts to allow connectivity.
Cross-account communication needs VPC peering or Transit Gateway.
B
The production source HANA instance is not configured to replicate to a different AWS account.
Why wrong: HSR can replicate across accounts if networking allows.
C
The production target EC2 instance is using the wrong port for HSR.
Why wrong: Port 30101 is correct for HSR.
D
The security group on the production target EC2 instance does not allow inbound traffic on port 443.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The production target EC2 instance is in a different AWS account, and there is no VPC peering or Transit Gateway between the accounts to allow connectivity.
HSR requires communication between the source and target HANA instances. If the target is in a different account, VPC peering or Transit Gateway is needed for cross-account connectivity. Option A is correct because cross-account communication requires VPC peering or Transit Gateway. Option B is wrong because the port is correct. Option C is wrong because HSR does not use port 443. Option D is wrong because the source is on-premises, not in another AWS account.
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.
✓
The production target EC2 instance is in a different AWS account, and there is no VPC peering or Transit Gateway between the accounts to allow connectivity.
Why this is correct
Cross-account communication needs VPC peering or Transit Gateway.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The production source HANA instance is not configured to replicate to a different AWS account.
Why it's wrong here
HSR can replicate across accounts if networking allows.
✗
The production target EC2 instance is using the wrong port for HSR.
Why it's wrong here
Port 30101 is correct for HSR.
✗
The security group on the production target EC2 instance does not allow inbound traffic on port 443.
Why it's wrong here
HSR uses port 30101, not 443.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
Migration — This question tests Migration — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The production target EC2 instance is in a different AWS account, and there is no VPC peering or Transit Gateway between the accounts to allow connectivity. — HSR requires communication between the source and target HANA instances. If the target is in a different account, VPC peering or Transit Gateway is needed for cross-account connectivity. Option A is correct because cross-account communication requires VPC peering or Transit Gateway. Option B is wrong because the port is correct. Option C is wrong because HSR does not use port 443. Option D is wrong because the source is on-premises, not in another AWS account.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". 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?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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