Google ACE Deploying and Implementing a Cloud Solution Practice Question
An organization needs to deploy a regional Cloud SQL MySQL instance with 4 vCPUs and 15 GB of memory. The instance should be highly available within a single region. Which gcloud command should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
ACE often tests the distinction between ZONAL and REGIONAL availability — candidates assume 'highly available' is the default and forget the explicit `--availability-type=REGIONAL` flag.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
gcloud sql instances create my-instance --tier=db-n1-standard-4 --region=us-central1 --database-version=MYSQL_8_0 --root-password=password123 --availability-type=REGIONAL
A regional (highly available) Cloud SQL instance requires the `--availability-type=REGIONAL` flag, which provisions a standby in a different zone within the same region and enables automatic failover. Option A includes this flag along with the correct tier, region, database version, and root password, making it the only command that satisfies all stated requirements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
gcloud sql instances create my-instance --tier=db-n1-standard-4 --region=us-central1 --database-version=MYSQL_8_0 --root-password=password123 --availability-type=REGIONAL
Why this is correct
The REGIONAL availability type provisions a standby instance in a second zone within the same region, satisfying the high-availability constraint. The db-n1-standard-4 tier supplies exactly 4 vCPUs and 15 GB memory, matching the required sizing.
- ✗
gcloud sql instances create my-instance --tier=db-n1-highmem-4 --region=us-central1 --database-version=MYSQL_8_0
Why it's wrong here
The db-n1-highmem-4 tier provides 4 vCPUs but 26 GB of memory, not the required 15 GB. High availability also needs the --availability-type=REGIONAL flag, which this command omits. The db-n1-highmem-4 tier would be chosen when a memory-intensive workload genuinely requires that larger RAM allocation.
- ✗
gcloud sql instances create my-instance --tier=db-n1-standard-4 --region=us-central1 --database-version=MYSQL_8_0 --root-password=password123
Why it's wrong here
Adds database-version and root-password flags but still omits --availability-type=REGIONAL, so the instance remains zonal and fails the HA requirement. It is tempting because the tier, region and MySQL 8.0 settings all look complete, yet none of them configure the regional failover the scenario demands.
- ✗
gcloud sql instances create my-instance --tier=db-n1-standard-4 --region=us-central1
Why it's wrong here
Omits --availability-type=REGIONAL, so Cloud SQL provisions a zonal instance, failing the single-region HA requirement. The tier and region flags are otherwise correct, making this tempting: db-n1-standard-4 matches the 4 vCPU/15 GB specification, and the command is valid for a non-HA deployment.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
GCP Database Services
Key term
Region
A region is a distinct geographic location where a cloud provider operates multiple data centers that are connected by low-latency networks and provide cloud services.
Key term
Cloud SQL
Cloud SQL is a fully managed relational database service that lets you set up, maintain, and scale SQL databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server) in the cloud without managing the underlying infrastructure.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Google Cloud exam blueprint
This ACE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the ACE exam.