The correct action is to modify the EBS volume to increase its size while the instance is running, then extend the filesystem. This works because Amazon EBS supports live volume modifications, allowing you to increase volume size, adjust IOPS, or change volume type without detaching the volume or stopping the EC2 instance. For SAP systems, this is critical because /usr/sap must remain available to avoid application disruption. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of EBS elasticity and the specific steps required to increase EBS volume size for SAP without downtime. A common trap is confusing snapshots with live resizing—snapshots are for backup, not immediate space relief. Remember the two-step rule: first modify the volume in the AWS console or CLI, then extend the filesystem from within the OS using commands like xfs_growfs or resize2fs. A handy mnemonic is “Modify then Extend, no downtime to spend.”
PAS-C01 Operations and Maintenance Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of operations and maintenance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 is running on an EC2 instance with an attached EBS volume for /usr/sap. The operations team notices that the volume is almost full. Which action should be taken to increase the available space without downtime?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Modify the EBS volume to increase its size while the instance is running, then extend the filesystem.
You can increase the size of an EBS volume while the instance is running, then extend the filesystem. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because snapshots are for backup, not immediate space increase. Option C is wrong because reducing the volume size is not supported. Option D is wrong because creating a new volume and copying data requires downtime.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Modify the EBS volume to increase its size while the instance is running, then extend the filesystem.
Why this is correct
EBS volumes can be increased online, and the filesystem can be extended without downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reduce the size of the volume by modifying the volume configuration.
Why it's wrong here
EBS volume size cannot be reduced.
✗
Create a new larger EBS volume, attach it to the instance, and copy the data.
Why it's wrong here
Copying data while the system is running may cause inconsistencies.
✗
Create a snapshot of the volume and use it to create a larger volume, then attach and mount.
Why it's wrong here
This causes downtime during the migration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Operations and Maintenance — This question tests Operations and Maintenance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Modify the EBS volume to increase its size while the instance is running, then extend the filesystem. — You can increase the size of an EBS volume while the instance is running, then extend the filesystem. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because snapshots are for backup, not immediate space increase. Option C is wrong because reducing the volume size is not supported. Option D is wrong because creating a new volume and copying data requires downtime.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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