- A
Use gcloud bigtable clusters update with the --storage-type flag.
Why wrong: There is no such flag; storage type is immutable.
- B
Modify the cluster settings and change the storage type to SSD.
Why wrong: Storage type cannot be changed on an existing cluster; it's immutable after creation.
- C
Export the data to Cloud Storage, create a new SSD cluster, and import the data.
Why wrong: While this could work, it is more complex and time-consuming than using replication. Replication is the recommended method.
- D
Create a new cluster with SSD, replicate data to it, then delete the old cluster.
This is the correct approach. You must create a new cluster with the desired storage type and then migrate.
Question 142 of 1,000
PCDOE Manage Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of manage database solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 uses Bigtable and wants to change the storage type from HDD to SSD to improve read performance. What must the engineer do to implement this change?
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 new cluster with SSD, replicate data to it, then delete the old cluster.
Bigtable does not support in-place conversion of a cluster's storage type from HDD to SSD. The correct approach is to create a new cluster with SSD storage, configure replication to replicate data from the existing HDD cluster to the new SSD cluster, and then delete the old HDD cluster. This ensures zero downtime and data consistency during the migration.
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 gcloud bigtable clusters update with the --storage-type flag.
Why it's wrong here
There is no such flag; storage type is immutable.
- ✗
Modify the cluster settings and change the storage type to SSD.
Why it's wrong here
Storage type cannot be changed on an existing cluster; it's immutable after creation.
- ✗
Export the data to Cloud Storage, create a new SSD cluster, and import the data.
Why it's wrong here
While this could work, it is more complex and time-consuming than using replication. Replication is the recommended method.
- ✓
Create a new cluster with SSD, replicate data to it, then delete the old cluster.
Why this is correct
This is the correct approach. You must create a new cluster with the desired storage type and then migrate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud exams often test the misconception that you can update storage type via a command or UI setting, when in fact Bigtable treats storage type as an immutable cluster property requiring a new cluster and replication-based migration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Bigtable clusters are provisioned with a specific storage type (HDD or SSD) that cannot be altered. Replication between clusters uses the same underlying Bigtable replication protocol, which asynchronously copies write-ahead log entries to the replica cluster, ensuring eventual consistency. In a real-world scenario, you would first create the SSD cluster in the same instance, wait for replication to catch up, then perform a planned cutover by directing traffic to the new cluster before deleting the old one.
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.
- →
Manage Database Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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: Create a new cluster with SSD, replicate data to it, then delete the old cluster. — Bigtable does not support in-place conversion of a cluster's storage type from HDD to SSD. The correct approach is to create a new cluster with SSD storage, configure replication to replicate data from the existing HDD cluster to the new SSD cluster, and then delete the old HDD cluster. This ensures zero downtime and data consistency during the migration.
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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