PCDE Practice Question: Manage a solution that can span multiple database technologies
A Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance is running low on disk space. The database size is 500 GB and the current storage is 600 GB. The engineer needs to increase storage to 800 GB without downtime. What should they do?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake in Google exams is to assume that storage changes require downtime. In Cloud SQL, storage can be increased online using the gcloud command, so choosing the shutdown option (A) is incorrect.
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
✓
Use gcloud sql instances patch to increase storage size to 800 GB.
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL supports online storage increases using the `gcloud sql instances patch` command, which resizes the disk without requiring an instance restart or downtime. The storage can be increased up to the maximum allowed for the instance tier, and the change takes effect immediately while the instance remains available.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Shut down the instance, edit the configuration to increase storage, then restart.
Why it's wrong here
Downtime is unnecessary.
- ✓
Use gcloud sql instances patch to increase storage size to 800 GB.
Why this is correct
The patch command can increase storage online without downtime.
- ✗
Create a new instance with 800 GB storage and migrate data using pg_dump.
Why it's wrong here
This involves significant downtime and effort.
- ✗
Enable auto-storage increase and wait for it to happen automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Auto-storage increase is not available for all tiers and may not be immediate.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCDE 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 PCDE exam.