Quick Answer
The answer is that the EBS-optimized instance is not providing enough bandwidth for the database workload. This is correct because EBS-optimized instances dedicate a specific amount of network capacity exclusively for EBS traffic, and during peak load, the SAP HANA database’s I/O demands can exceed that dedicated bandwidth, leading to network I/O throttling. This throttling causes packet drops and intermittent connectivity between SAP application servers and the HANA database, even when security groups and ACLs are correctly configured. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how EBS bandwidth allocation directly impacts SAP HANA connectivity under stress, often tripping up candidates who focus solely on network ACLs or security groups. A common trap is assuming that connectivity issues always stem from firewall rules, but the real bottleneck is the instance’s dedicated EBS bandwidth ceiling. Memory tip: think “EBS throttle = HANA bottle” to recall that peak load can choke the dedicated pipe.
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.
An SAP system on AWS is experiencing intermittent connectivity issues between the SAP application servers and the HANA database server. The network team confirms that the VPC network ACLs and security groups allow all required traffic. However, the issue occurs only during peak load. 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.
The TCP segmentation offload (TSO) is causing packet drops.
Why wrong: TSO is beneficial.
The EBS-optimized instance is not providing enough bandwidth for the database workload.
EBS bandwidth can bottleneck network performance.
The Elastic Network Adapter (ENA) is not enabled on the instance.
Why wrong: ENA improves performance.
The instance is using IPv6 addresses for communication.
Why wrong: IPv6 is not a common cause.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The EBS-optimized instance is not providing enough bandwidth for the database workload.
Option B is correct because EBS-optimized instances provide dedicated bandwidth for EBS traffic, and during peak load, the database workload may exceed the available EBS bandwidth, causing network I/O throttling and intermittent connectivity. This manifests as packet drops or timeouts between SAP application servers and the HANA database, even though security groups and ACLs are correctly configured.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The TCP segmentation offload (TSO) is causing packet drops.
Why it's wrong here
TSO is beneficial.
The EBS-optimized instance is not providing enough bandwidth for the database workload.
Why this is correct
EBS bandwidth can bottleneck network performance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The Elastic Network Adapter (ENA) is not enabled on the instance.
Why it's wrong here
ENA improves performance.
The instance is using IPv6 addresses for communication.
Why it's wrong here
IPv6 is not a common cause.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume network ACLs or security groups are misconfigured, but the issue is actually a resource contention problem at the EBS bandwidth level, which only manifests under peak load.
Detailed technical explanation
EBS-optimized instances use a dedicated network path for EBS traffic, separate from data network traffic. When the EBS bandwidth limit is reached (e.g., 4,750 Mbps for r5.24xlarge), the instance queues I/O requests, leading to increased latency and potential timeouts for HANA database queries. This is especially critical for SAP HANA, which relies on low-latency, high-throughput storage I/O for its columnar data processing.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The EBS-optimized instance is not providing enough bandwidth for the database workload. — Option B is correct because EBS-optimized instances provide dedicated bandwidth for EBS traffic, and during peak load, the database workload may exceed the available EBS bandwidth, causing network I/O throttling and intermittent connectivity. This manifests as packet drops or timeouts between SAP application servers and the HANA database, even though security groups and ACLs are correctly configured.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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