- A
Use the gcloud sql instances patch command with --storage-size flag
Correct. The gcloud sql instances patch command can resize storage online.
- B
Enable automatic storage increase and wait for it to trigger
Why wrong: Automatic storage increase is not a real feature; manual resize is required.
- C
Delete and recreate the instance with a larger disk
Why wrong: Unnecessary and causes downtime.
- D
Shut down the instance, increase the disk size, and restart
Why wrong: Downtime is not required; online resize is supported.
Question 179 of 1,000
PCDOE Manage Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of manage database solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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.
A company runs a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance that is nearing its storage limit of 500 GB. The database administrator needs to increase storage capacity online without any downtime. What should they do?
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 the gcloud sql instances patch command with --storage-size flag
Option A is correct because the `gcloud sql instances patch` command with the `--storage-size` flag allows you to increase the storage capacity of a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance online without any downtime. Cloud SQL supports live storage increases by automatically resizing the underlying persistent disk while the instance remains available, so no restart or maintenance window is required.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use the gcloud sql instances patch command with --storage-size flag
Why this is correct
Correct. The gcloud sql instances patch command can resize storage online.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable automatic storage increase and wait for it to trigger
Why it's wrong here
Automatic storage increase is not a real feature; manual resize is required.
- ✗
Delete and recreate the instance with a larger disk
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary and causes downtime.
- ✗
Shut down the instance, increase the disk size, and restart
Why it's wrong here
Downtime is not required; online resize is supported.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google often tests the misconception that storage increases require a restart or downtime, but Cloud SQL supports online storage scaling via the gcloud command, making options that involve shutdown or recreation incorrect.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL uses Compute Engine persistent disks that support live resizing without detaching, allowing storage increases while the database remains operational. The `gcloud sql instances patch` command triggers a disk resize operation that is applied immediately, and the PostgreSQL instance continues to serve queries during the process. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for handling unexpected data growth in production environments where even seconds of downtime can impact SLAs.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Manage Database Solutions — This question tests Manage Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the gcloud sql instances patch command with --storage-size flag — Option A is correct because the `gcloud sql instances patch` command with the `--storage-size` flag allows you to increase the storage capacity of a Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL instance online without any downtime. Cloud SQL supports live storage increases by automatically resizing the underlying persistent disk while the instance remains available, so no restart or maintenance window is required.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.
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