Google PCA Manage implementation of cloud architecture Practice Question
An organization is running a stateful workload on Compute Engine with a single persistent disk. They want to migrate to a regional persistent disk for higher availability. The disk is 500 GB and currently 80% full. They need zero downtime during the migration. What is the recommended approach?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that you can change a disk's type in-place using a resize or update command, but the only supported way to switch from zonal to regional is to create a new disk from a snapshot or image.
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
✓
Create a snapshot of the disk, then create a new regional persistent disk from that snapshot, and attach it to the instance.
Creating a snapshot of the existing persistent disk and then creating a new regional persistent disk from that snapshot allows you to attach the new disk to the instance with zero downtime. The snapshot captures the disk state at a point in time, and the regional disk is created asynchronously; once available, you can detach the original disk and attach the regional disk without stopping the instance, as Compute Engine supports live disk attachment/detachment.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Attach a new regional disk to the instance and use RAID 1 mirroring.
Why it's wrong here
Regional disks cannot be attached to a zonal instance; the instance must be regional as well.
- ✓
Create a snapshot of the disk, then create a new regional persistent disk from that snapshot, and attach it to the instance.
Why this is correct
This is the recommended migration path; snapshot creation is the only downtime window.
- ✗
Use rsync to copy data to a new regional disk while the instance is running.
Why it's wrong here
rsync requires consistent state; for an active disk, this could cause data inconsistency and downtime.
- ✗
Use gcloud compute disks resize to change the disk type to regional.
Why it's wrong here
Disk resize does not change disk type from zonal to regional.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Google Cloud Resource Hierarchy and Organization
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
Key term
Snapshot
A snapshot is a point-in-time copy of a system's data or state, used for backup, recovery, or testing without disrupting the original.
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