- A
gcloud logging read 'resource.type=gce_instance AND jsonPayload.egress_bytes'
gcloud logging read with the specified filter queries Cloud Logging for egress bytes logs from Compute Engine instances, making it the correct choice.
- B
gcloud compute instances list --format='value(networkInterfaces[0].networkIP)'
Why wrong: gcloud compute instances list only shows the network IP of instances, not egress traffic.
- C
gcloud compute instances get-serial-port-output
Why wrong: gcloud compute instances get-serial-port-output displays serial console output, not network traffic.
- D
gcloud monitoring metrics list
Why wrong: gcloud monitoring metrics list lists available metric descriptors but does not retrieve actual traffic data.
Question 169 of 1,000
Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Google PCA Cloud Logging Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of managing implementation and ensuring solution and operations reliability. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. A key principle to apply: cloud Logging. 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.
An application running on Compute Engine is experiencing increased latency. You suspect a network bottleneck due to high egress traffic. Which gcloud command can you use to quickly check the network egress traffic for a specific VM instance?
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 logging read 'resource.type=gce_instance AND jsonPayload.egress_bytes'
The correct answer is A. The gcloud logging read command allows you to query Cloud Logging for specific log entries. For a Compute Engine instance, the resource type is gce_instance. You can filter for egress bytes by using the query 'resource.type=gce_instance AND jsonPayload.egress_bytes'. This will return log entries containing egress bytes information, assuming your VM is configured to send these logs (e.g., via the monitoring agent or VPC flow logs). This is the quickest way among the given options to check network egress traffic for a specific VM using a native gcloud command. Option B is incorrect: gcloud compute instances list only displays the network IP of instances, not egress traffic metrics. Option C is incorrect: gcloud compute instances get-serial-port-output shows the serial console output, which does not include network traffic data. Option D is incorrect: gcloud monitoring metrics list just lists available metrics but does not retrieve the actual traffic data for a specific instance. To get the data you would need to use gcloud monitoring metric descriptors or gcloud monitoring dashboards, but the command as given does not return traffic. Thus, A is the best choice.
Key principle: Cloud Logging
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 logging read 'resource.type=gce_instance AND jsonPayload.egress_bytes'
Why this is correct
gcloud logging read with the specified filter queries Cloud Logging for egress bytes logs from Compute Engine instances, making it the correct choice.
Related concept
Cloud Logging
- ✗
gcloud compute instances list --format='value(networkInterfaces[0].networkIP)'
Why it's wrong here
gcloud compute instances list only shows the network IP of instances, not egress traffic.
- ✗
gcloud compute instances get-serial-port-output
Why it's wrong here
gcloud compute instances get-serial-port-output displays serial console output, not network traffic.
- ✗
gcloud monitoring metrics list
Why it's wrong here
gcloud monitoring metrics list lists available metric descriptors but does not retrieve actual traffic data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Students may think that Cloud Monitoring is the only way to view metrics, but Cloud Logging can also be used to query specific data like egress bytes if logs are collected. They might also incorrectly choose D because monitoring sounds relevant, but the command 'gcloud monitoring metrics list' only lists metric descriptors, not actual data.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
gcloud compute instances list only shows the network IP of instances, not egress traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Cloud Logging
- gcloud logging read
- Egress bytes
- Compute Engine logs
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
Cloud Logging
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cloud Logging, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — This question tests Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — Cloud Logging.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: gcloud logging read 'resource.type=gce_instance AND jsonPayload.egress_bytes' — The correct answer is A. The gcloud logging read command allows you to query Cloud Logging for specific log entries. For a Compute Engine instance, the resource type is gce_instance. You can filter for egress bytes by using the query 'resource.type=gce_instance AND jsonPayload.egress_bytes'. This will return log entries containing egress bytes information, assuming your VM is configured to send these logs (e.g., via the monitoring agent or VPC flow logs). This is the quickest way among the given options to check network egress traffic for a specific VM using a native gcloud command. Option B is incorrect: gcloud compute instances list only displays the network IP of instances, not egress traffic metrics. Option C is incorrect: gcloud compute instances get-serial-port-output shows the serial console output, which does not include network traffic data. Option D is incorrect: gcloud monitoring metrics list just lists available metrics but does not retrieve the actual traffic data for a specific instance. To get the data you would need to use gcloud monitoring metric descriptors or gcloud monitoring dashboards, but the command as given does not return traffic. Thus, A is the best choice.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review cloud Logging, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Cloud Logging
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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