The answer is that the HANA backup process requires more memory than available, making insufficient memory allocation for backup the most likely cause. When an SAP HANA backup fails with 'Cannot allocate memory' on AWS, the error stems from the backup operation’s need for additional memory to handle compression and buffering during a file-system backup, which can exceed the available RAM on an r5.2xlarge instance with 64 GB. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of how HANA backup memory consumption differs from storage or network issues—a common trap is confusing EBS volume size or swap space with memory constraints. Remember that backup memory errors are about process allocation, not disk or bandwidth. Memory tip: think "Backup Buffers Blow Budget"—the backup’s buffering and compression demands can push memory over the limit, so always check HANA’s backup memory parameters before scaling storage.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
SAP HANA backup log:
2023-06-01 01:00:00 - Backup started
2023-06-01 01:05:00 - Error: 'Cannot allocate memory' during backup of /hana/data
2023-06-01 01:05:30 - Backup failed
Refer to the exhibit. An SAP HANA database backup fails with 'Cannot allocate memory'. The EC2 instance type is r5.2xlarge with 64 GB RAM. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
SAP HANA backup log:
2023-06-01 01:00:00 - Backup started
2023-06-01 01:05:00 - Error: 'Cannot allocate memory' during backup of /hana/data
2023-06-01 01:05:30 - Backup failed
A
The HANA backup process requires more memory than available
Backup operations can require significant memory; insufficient allocation leads to this error.
B
The instance does not have enough swap space
Why wrong: Swap space is disk, not memory; the error is memory allocation.
C
The EBS volume is too small for the backup
Why wrong: Volume size affects storage, not memory allocation.
D
The network bandwidth to the backup target is insufficient
Why wrong: Network bandwidth does not cause memory errors.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The HANA backup process requires more memory than available
Option D is correct because HANA backup to file system uses memory for compression and buffering; insufficient memory allocation for backup can cause this error. Option A is incorrect because EBS volume size does not directly cause memory allocation errors. Option B is incorrect because swap space is for memory overflow, not primary cause. Option C is incorrect because network bandwidth does not cause memory errors.
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.
✓
The HANA backup process requires more memory than available
Why this is correct
Backup operations can require significant memory; insufficient allocation leads to this error.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The instance does not have enough swap space
Why it's wrong here
Swap space is disk, not memory; the error is memory allocation.
✗
The EBS volume is too small for the backup
Why it's wrong here
Volume size affects storage, not memory allocation.
✗
The network bandwidth to the backup target is insufficient
Why it's wrong here
Network bandwidth does not cause memory errors.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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: The HANA backup process requires more memory than available — Option D is correct because HANA backup to file system uses memory for compression and buffering; insufficient memory allocation for backup can cause this error. Option A is incorrect because EBS volume size does not directly cause memory allocation errors. Option B is incorrect because swap space is for memory overflow, not primary cause. Option C is incorrect because network bandwidth does not cause memory errors.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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