PAS-C01 EFS Performance Modes Practice Question
An SAP system uses a shared file system mounted via EFS from multiple EC2 instances. The operations team notices that the file system is not performing well during peak loads. What is the most effective way to improve throughput without changing the application?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse throughput modes or believe Provisioned Throughput is the only way to improve performance, but changing from General Purpose to Max I/O can significantly enhance throughput for parallel access patterns.
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
✓
Change the EFS performance mode from General Purpose to Max I/O
Changing the EFS performance mode from General Purpose to Max I/O increases throughput for parallel workloads, improving performance without modifying the application. Option A (Provisioned Throughput) provides consistent throughput but does not change performance mode. Option B (EBS Multi-Attach) is not suitable for high-throughput shared file systems due to limited concurrent access and throughput constraints. Option C (FSx for Lustre) is designed for HPC and not typically aligned with SAP shared storage requirements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable Provisioned Throughput on the EFS file system
Why it's wrong here
Provisioned Throughput ensures consistent throughput but does not change the performance mode; it may not achieve the needed boost without also switching to Max I/O.
- ✗
Replace EFS with an EBS Multi-Attach volume
Why it's wrong here
EBS Multi-Attach supports limited concurrent writes and has lower aggregate throughput than EFS Max I/O, making it unsuitable for this scenario.
- ✗
Migrate the file system to Amazon FSx for Lustre
Why it's wrong here
Amazon FSx for Lustre is optimized for high-performance computing workloads, not typically used for SAP shared file systems requiring NFS compatibility.
- ✓
Change the EFS performance mode from General Purpose to Max I/O
Why this is correct
Changing to Max I/O performance mode increases throughput for parallel workloads, directly addressing the performance issue without altering the application.
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