The correct action is to configure HSR to use delta_datashipping instead of log shipping. This works because delta_datashipping transmits only the changed data blocks since the last synchronization, drastically reducing the payload size per replication cycle compared to full redo logs. In a high latency network environment where latency has jumped from 50 ms to 150 ms, smaller messages mean each round trip completes faster, keeping the DR system within the 30-second RPO despite the same bandwidth. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of HANA replication modes under degraded network conditions—a common trap is assuming you need more bandwidth or a different instance type, but the key is minimizing per-message data. Remember the memory tip: “Delta beats delay”—when latency rises, delta_datashipping trims the data to fit the lag.
PAS-C01 Design of SAP Workloads on AWS Practice Question
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.
A company runs SAP S/4HANA on AWS with a production system in us-east-1 and a disaster recovery (DR) system in us-west-2. The DR system is a standby HANA system using HANA System Replication (HSR) with asynchronous replication. The primary system has a memory of 2 TB and uses x1e.16xlarge instances. The DR system uses identical instance types. Recently, the network latency between the primary and DR sites increased from 50 ms to 150 ms due to a change in the network path. The SAP Basis team notices that the replication lag has increased significantly, and the DR system is now behind by several minutes. The RPO requirement is 30 seconds. The team must resolve the issue without changing the DR site location or the bandwidth. Which action should the team take to meet the RPO?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure HSR to use delta_datashipping instead of log shipping.
Option A is correct because HANA System Replication (HSR) can be configured to use delta_datashipping, which sends only the changed data blocks rather than full redo logs. This reduces the amount of data transferred per replication cycle, making it more resilient to increased network latency. With 150 ms latency, log shipping may fail to meet the 30-second RPO, but delta_datashipping can keep the DR system within the required lag by minimizing per-message payload size.
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.
✓
Configure HSR to use delta_datashipping instead of log shipping.
Why this is correct
Delta_datashipping reduces data transfer and can meet RPO under higher latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the AWS Direct Connect bandwidth between the two regions.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario states no change in bandwidth is allowed.
✗
Use Amazon S3 cross-region replication for the HANA log backups.
Why it's wrong here
This would not provide near-real-time replication.
✗
Change HSR to synchronous replication mode.
Why it's wrong here
Synchronous mode would increase latency impact and may not work with 150ms.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume synchronous replication is the only way to reduce RPO, but they overlook that synchronous mode introduces performance penalties on the primary, and the question's constraint of not changing bandwidth or location forces a protocol-level tuning solution like delta_datashipping.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The scenario states no change in bandwidth is allowed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
HSR delta_datashipping works by tracking changed pages in the primary HANA database and shipping only those pages to the DR system, rather than shipping the entire redo log volume. This reduces network payload size per cycle, making it more efficient over high-latency links. In contrast, log shipping sends full redo log segments, which can be large and cause replication lag to grow exponentially with latency. The trade-off is that delta_datashipping may require more CPU on the primary for change tracking, but it is a proven technique for cross-region DR with high latency.
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.
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
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure HSR to use delta_datashipping instead of log shipping. — Option A is correct because HANA System Replication (HSR) can be configured to use delta_datashipping, which sends only the changed data blocks rather than full redo logs. This reduces the amount of data transferred per replication cycle, making it more resilient to increased network latency. With 150 ms latency, log shipping may fail to meet the 30-second RPO, but delta_datashipping can keep the DR system within the required lag by minimizing per-message payload size.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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