The correct answer is to check if the EC2 instance is EBS-optimized and has sufficient network bandwidth. This is because even though the attached EBS volume is provisioned as an io1 type with 10,000 IOPS, the instance itself must support and have EBS optimization enabled to deliver that throughput; without it, the dedicated network connection between the instance and EBS is throttled, causing the database to report low IOPS despite the volume’s specifications. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that EBS-optimized instances dedicate bandwidth specifically for EBS I/O, and a common trap is to focus on volume type or size rather than the instance’s configuration. Remember the memory tip: “IOPS on the volume means nothing if the instance cannot deliver the throughput.”
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. An SAP HANA administrator runs the command to check the attached volume. The volume is attached to an instance but the database is reporting low IOPS. What should the administrator check next?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check if the EC2 instance is EBS-optimized and has sufficient network bandwidth.
Option D is correct because the volume is io1 with 10,000 IOPS, but the instance may not have EBS-optimized enabled, limiting throughput. Option A is wrong because the volume type is io1, not gp2. Option B is wrong because the volume size (500 GB) does not directly affect IOPS. Option C is wrong because NVMe driver is for instance store volumes, not EBS.
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.
✗
Check if the volume size is sufficient; increase to 1 TB.
Why it's wrong here
Volume size does not limit provisioned IOPS for io1 volumes.
✓
Check if the EC2 instance is EBS-optimized and has sufficient network bandwidth.
Why this is correct
If the instance is not EBS-optimized, it cannot deliver the provisioned IOPS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Check if the volume type should be changed to gp2 for better burst performance.
Why it's wrong here
The volume is already io1, which provides provisioned IOPS; gp2 may not improve performance.
✗
Check if the instance is using the NVMe driver for the EBS volume.
Why it's wrong here
NVMe drivers are used for instance store volumes, not EBS.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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.
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check if the EC2 instance is EBS-optimized and has sufficient network bandwidth. — Option D is correct because the volume is io1 with 10,000 IOPS, but the instance may not have EBS-optimized enabled, limiting throughput. Option A is wrong because the volume type is io1, not gp2. Option B is wrong because the volume size (500 GB) does not directly affect IOPS. Option C is wrong because NVMe driver is for instance store volumes, not EBS.
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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Question Discussion
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