- A
Ensure that the VPC peering is established and that the subnet ranges do not overlap.
Why wrong: While ensuring no overlapping subnets is important, ping indicates that routing is already functional.
- B
Configure Cloud NAT in Project B to enable outbound connections.
Why wrong: Cloud NAT is for outbound traffic to the internet, not for inbound database connections.
- C
Configure custom routes export on the VPC peering connection in the database project (Project A).
Custom route export is not required because the database’s private IP is part of a subnet route, which is automatically exchanged.
- D
Set up a Cloud VPN tunnel between the two projects instead.
Why wrong: A VPN is unnecessary and adds complexity; VPC peering already provides connectivity.
Question 686 of 1,000
Google PCA VPC Peering Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of manage implementation of cloud architecture. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: vPC Peering. 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 organization has two Google Cloud projects: Project A hosts a Compute Engine instance with a MySQL database, and Project B hosts an application that needs to connect to the database. The network team set up VPC peering between the two VPCs. The application cannot connect to the database on port 3306. The database instance has a private IP. The network team has verified that firewall rules in both VPCs allow traffic from Project B's subnets to the database IP on port 3306. Ping from the application instance to the database IP succeeds. What should the architect do to resolve the connectivity issue?
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
✓
Configure custom routes export on the VPC peering connection in the database project (Project A).
Since ping succeeds, routing for ICMP is functional, but TCP on port 3306 fails. This indicates that the issue is not with VPC peering route exchange (which includes subnet routes like the database’s private IP). The problem likely lies with the database not listening on the private IP (e.g., bound to localhost) or a host-level firewall. Option A checks for overlapping subnets, which is a prerequisite and already satisfied. Therefore, option C is not the correct fix.
Key principle: VPC Peering
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 that the VPC peering is established and that the subnet ranges do not overlap.
Why it's wrong here
While ensuring no overlapping subnets is important, ping indicates that routing is already functional.
- ✗
Configure Cloud NAT in Project B to enable outbound connections.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud NAT is for outbound traffic to the internet, not for inbound database connections.
- ✓
Configure custom routes export on the VPC peering connection in the database project (Project A).
Why this is correct
Custom route export is not required because the database’s private IP is part of a subnet route, which is automatically exchanged.
Related concept
VPC Peering
- ✗
Set up a Cloud VPN tunnel between the two projects instead.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN is unnecessary and adds complexity; VPC peering already provides connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistake ICMP reachability for full network connectivity, but routing and firewall rules for ICMP may allow ping while TCP is blocked at the host or application level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VPC peering uses dynamic route exchange via the Google Cloud network fabric. By default, only subnet routes are exchanged; custom static routes (e.g., for specific IP ranges) are not exported unless the 'export custom routes' flag is enabled on the peering connection. This is controlled per peering direction, so in this case, Project A must export its custom routes to Project B. The ping success indicates ICMP is allowed, but TCP port 3306 fails because the return traffic from the database to the application may lack a route, or the application's packets are not being forwarded due to missing route propagation.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- VPC Peering
- Subnet Route
- Custom Route Export
- Database Listening Configuration
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
VPC Peering
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Manage implementation of cloud architecture — This question tests Manage implementation of cloud architecture — VPC Peering.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure custom routes export on the VPC peering connection in the database project (Project A). — Since ping succeeds, routing for ICMP is functional, but TCP on port 3306 fails. This indicates that the issue is not with VPC peering route exchange (which includes subnet routes like the database’s private IP). The problem likely lies with the database not listening on the private IP (e.g., bound to localhost) or a host-level firewall. Option A checks for overlapping subnets, which is a prerequisite and already satisfied. Therefore, option C is not the correct fix.
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review vPC Peering, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
VPC Peering
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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