The answer is to run 'dig' or 'nslookup' from a client to verify the domain resolves to the correct IP and to ensure the Route 53 alias record points to the Application Load Balancer's DNS name. This is correct because DNS resolution for a custom domain pointing to an Application Load Balancer relies on a Route 53 alias record that must target the ALB's regional DNS endpoint—such as my-alb-1234567890.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com—rather than an IP address, since ALB IPs can change. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this tests your ability to troubleshoot DNS misconfigurations, often presented as a scenario where a custom domain fails to load despite the ALB being healthy. A common trap is assuming an A record with a static IP will work, but ALBs require alias records for proper integration. Memory tip: "Alias to ALB, not IP"—always verify the target in Route 53 is the ALB's DNS name, not a fixed address.
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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 SysOps administrator is troubleshooting DNS resolution issues for a custom domain used by an Application Load Balancer. Which TWO steps should the administrator take to diagnose the issue? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Verify that the Route 53 alias record points to the ALB's DNS name
Option B is correct because a Route 53 alias record must point to the ALB's DNS name (e.g., my-alb-1234567890.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com) to properly route traffic to the load balancer. If the alias record is misconfigured or points to an incorrect resource, DNS resolution will fail or resolve to an unintended IP, causing the custom domain not to work.
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.
✗
Ensure the VPC's CIDR block does not overlap with the ALB's IP range
Unhealthy targets cause 503 errors, not DNS issues.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse DNS resolution issues with network connectivity or load balancer health, leading them to select security group or target group checks instead of focusing on the DNS configuration itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When using Route 53 alias records with an ALB, the DNS resolution returns the ALB's IP addresses directly (via A records) rather than a CNAME, which allows the record to exist at the zone apex. Running 'dig' or 'nslookup' from a client (Option C) verifies that the domain resolves to the correct ALB IP addresses, confirming that the alias record is properly configured and that no intermediate DNS caching or misrouting is occurring.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify that the Route 53 alias record points to the ALB's DNS name — Option B is correct because a Route 53 alias record must point to the ALB's DNS name (e.g., my-alb-1234567890.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com) to properly route traffic to the load balancer. If the alias record is misconfigured or points to an incorrect resource, DNS resolution will fail or resolve to an unintended IP, causing the custom domain not to work.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 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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