- A
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to replicate data to the new instance.
Why wrong: AWS DMS does not natively support SAP HANA as a source for ongoing replication; also, it requires additional setup and does not avoid data reload.
- B
Perform a full HANA database backup and restore to the new instance.
Why wrong: Full backup and restore requires significant time for backup transfer and restore, increasing downtime and requiring data reload.
- C
Stop the instance, change the instance type, and start the instance.
Why wrong: Stopping the instance and changing the type is not possible when moving to a different instance family (e.g., from r5 to x1e) that supports more memory; the option only works within the same family.
- D
Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume, launch a new instance with the desired type, and attach the snapshot.
Creating an EBS snapshot of the root volume and launching a new instance with the desired memory-optimized type preserves all HANA data without any database-level export/import, minimizing downtime.
How to Migrate SAP HANA to a Larger Instance Type with Minimal Downtime
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of design of sap workloads on aws. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: eBS Snapshot. 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 has a large SAP HANA database running on an r5.8xlarge instance. They are planning to migrate to a new instance type that supports more memory for future growth. Which migration approach minimizes downtime and requires no data reload?
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
Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume, launch a new instance with the desired type, and attach the snapshot.
Option D is correct because it provides a migration path that minimizes downtime and avoids a full data reload. By creating an EBS snapshot of the root volume (which contains the HANA data and configuration), you capture the entire state. Launching a new instance of the desired larger type and attaching that snapshot as the root volume preserves the data without needing to perform a HANA backup/restore. This approach incurs only the downtime required to create the snapshot and launch the new instance, which is typically less than a full database backup and restore. Options A and B require data replication or backup/restore, which are more time-consuming. Option C involves stopping the instance and changing the instance type, but this may not be possible if the current instance type is at the maximum memory for its family; additionally, simply changing the instance type does not guarantee that the new instance supports more memory if the underlying hardware limits it. Option D provides a clean way to move to a different instance family with higher memory capacity.
Key principle: EBS Snapshot
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to replicate data to the new instance.
Why it's wrong here
AWS DMS does not natively support SAP HANA as a source for ongoing replication; also, it requires additional setup and does not avoid data reload.
- ✗
Perform a full HANA database backup and restore to the new instance.
Why it's wrong here
Full backup and restore requires significant time for backup transfer and restore, increasing downtime and requiring data reload.
- ✗
Stop the instance, change the instance type, and start the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Stopping the instance and changing the type is not possible when moving to a different instance family (e.g., from r5 to x1e) that supports more memory; the option only works within the same family.
- ✓
Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume, launch a new instance with the desired type, and attach the snapshot.
Why this is correct
Creating an EBS snapshot of the root volume and launching a new instance with the desired memory-optimized type preserves all HANA data without any database-level export/import, minimizing downtime.
Related concept
EBS Snapshot
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may think simply stopping the instance and changing the instance type (Option C) is the most direct approach, but that only allows changes within the same instance family (e.g., r5.8xlarge to r5.24xlarge) and may not provide the required memory increase if migrating to a different family (e.g., u-6tb1). The correct approach (Option D) uses an EBS snapshot and new instance launch to enable cross-family migration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When you stop an EC2 instance, you can change its instance type (e.g., from r5.8xlarge to x1e.4xlarge) as long as the new type is compatible with the existing EBS volumes and virtualization type. The instance's root EBS volume and any attached data volumes remain intact, so SAP HANA data is preserved without any backup or restore. This method works because HANA stores its data on persistent block storage (EBS), and the instance type change only affects compute and memory resources, not the underlying storage.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- EBS Snapshot
- Instance Type Migration
- SAP HANA Data Preservation
TExam Day Tips
- 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
EBS Snapshot
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. EBS Snapshot 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.
Review eBS Snapshot, then practise related PAS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PAS-C01 question test?
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — EBS Snapshot.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume, launch a new instance with the desired type, and attach the snapshot. — Option D is correct because it provides a migration path that minimizes downtime and avoids a full data reload. By creating an EBS snapshot of the root volume (which contains the HANA data and configuration), you capture the entire state. Launching a new instance of the desired larger type and attaching that snapshot as the root volume preserves the data without needing to perform a HANA backup/restore. This approach incurs only the downtime required to create the snapshot and launch the new instance, which is typically less than a full database backup and restore. Options A and B require data replication or backup/restore, which are more time-consuming. Option C involves stopping the instance and changing the instance type, but this may not be possible if the current instance type is at the maximum memory for its family; additionally, simply changing the instance type does not guarantee that the new instance supports more memory if the underlying hardware limits it. Option D provides a clean way to move to a different instance family with higher memory capacity.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Review eBS Snapshot, then practise related PAS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
EBS Snapshot
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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