PCDOE Optimizing performance and cost Practice Question

Exhibit

The output of `gcloud compute instances list --format="table(name,zone,machineType,preemptible,status)"` shows:
```
NAME        ZONE           MACHINE_TYPE   PREEMPTIBLE  STATUS
instance-1  us-central1-a  n1-standard-4  true         RUNNING
instance-2  us-central1-b  n1-standard-8  false        RUNNING
instance-3  us-central1-a  n1-standard-2  false        TERMINATED
```

Refer to the exhibit. A DevOps engineer wants to reduce compute costs immediately. Which action is most effective?

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

✓

Rightsize instance-2 from n1-standard-8 to n1-standard-4.

Rightsizing instance-2 from n1-standard-8 to n1-standard-4 reduces vCPUs from 8 to 4, directly lowering cost. The terminated instance incurs no cost, and the preemptible instance is already cost-effective. Zone changes do not affect cost.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Delete the terminated instance.
Why it's wrong here
Terminated instances do not incur compute costs.
✓
Rightsize instance-2 from n1-standard-8 to n1-standard-4.
Why this is correct
Reducing the machine size saves cost.
✗
Change instance-1 to a non-preemptible instance.
Why it's wrong here
Changing to non-preemptible would increase cost.
✗
Move instance-1 to a different zone.
Why it's wrong here
Zone changes do not affect cost.

Go deeper

PCDOE Optimizing performance and cost Practice Question

Exhibit

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

Related to this question