The answer is Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP, which is the correct choice for SAP transport file storage because it delivers a fully managed, POSIX-compliant file system that supports the NFS, SMB, and iSCSI protocols required by SAP transport directories. This service provides high availability across multiple Availability Zones with automatic failover and scalable throughput, directly addressing the need for a highly available and scalable shared storage solution. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to differentiate between FSx for ONTAP and other file services like EFS or FSx for Windows File Server, which lack the multi-protocol support and POSIX compliance critical for SAP transports. A common trap is choosing Amazon EFS because it is also POSIX-compliant, but EFS does not support the iSCSI protocol or the same level of integration with SAP’s transport management system. Memory tip: think “ONTAP for SAP transport” — ONTAP handles the three protocols (NFS, SMB, iSCSI) that SAP demands.
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. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 on AWS with a shared storage solution for transport files. They need a highly available, scalable, and POSIX-compliant file system. Which AWS storage service should they use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP provides a fully managed, POSIX-compliant shared file system that supports the NFS, SMB, and iSCSI protocols required by SAP transport directories. It offers high availability across multiple Availability Zones, automatic failover, and scalable throughput, making it the correct choice for SAP transport files on AWS.
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.
✗
Amazon Elastic File System (EFS)
Why it's wrong here
EFS is POSIX-compliant but may not be the best choice for SAP transport given performance requirements; FSx is recommended.
✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage and does not provide POSIX compliance required for SAP transport files.
✓
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
Why this is correct
FSx for NetApp ONTAP provides POSIX-compliant, highly available, and scalable file storage ideal for SAP transport files.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) with Multi-Attach enabled
Why it's wrong here
EBS Multi-Attach has limited scalability and is not ideal for shared transport files.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume Amazon EFS is the default POSIX-compliant file system for all Linux workloads, but they overlook that SAP transport files specifically require the advanced NetApp ONTAP features (like iSCSI support and enterprise storage replication) that FSx for ONTAP provides, which EFS cannot offer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
FSx for NetApp ONTAP leverages the NetApp ONTAP file system, which uses a WAFL (Write Anywhere File Layout) architecture to provide snapshots, cloning, and efficient storage replication. For SAP transport files, the system typically mounts the transport directory via NFSv3 or NFSv4, and FSx for ONTAP supports both, along with the ability to create separate volumes for different SAP systems (e.g., /usr/sap/trans) with dedicated performance characteristics. In real-world scenarios, SAP Basis administrators often use the 'tp' tool to manage transport requests, which relies on POSIX-compliant file locking and consistent metadata—requirements that FSx for ONTAP fulfills through its distributed file system design.
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: Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP — Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP provides a fully managed, POSIX-compliant shared file system that supports the NFS, SMB, and iSCSI protocols required by SAP transport directories. It offers high availability across multiple Availability Zones, automatic failover, and scalable throughput, making it the correct choice for SAP transport files on AWS.
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.
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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