PCDOE Implementing service monitoring strategies Practice Question
Which FOUR of the following are valid approaches to monitor a custom application metric in Cloud Monitoring? (Choose 4)
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume that only agent-based methods can collect custom metrics, but Cloud Monitoring supports multiple approaches including direct API, logs-based metrics, and OpenTelemetry. Additionally, the legacy Stackdriver agent on Windows does support custom metrics via generic task plugin, contrary to common misconception.
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
✓
Install the Stackdriver Monitoring agent on a Windows VM and configure custom metric collection in the agent configuration file.
All four options (A, B, C, E) are valid approaches for monitoring custom application metrics in Cloud Monitoring. Option A is valid because the legacy Stackdriver Monitoring agent on Windows supports custom metric collection via the generic task plugin. Option B is valid: the Cloud Monitoring API allows writing custom metric data directly via `projects.timeSeries.create`. Option C is valid: logs-based metrics can extract metric values from application logs. Option E is valid: the OpenTelemetry Collector with the Google Cloud Monitoring exporter can send custom metrics.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Install the Stackdriver Monitoring agent on a Windows VM and configure custom metric collection in the agent configuration file.
Why this is correct
Correct. The Stackdriver Monitoring agent can be configured to collect custom metrics on Windows using the generic task plugin, making this a valid approach.
- ✓
Use the Cloud Monitoring API to write time series data directly.
Why this is correct
Correct. The Cloud Monitoring API provides a direct programmatic way to write custom time series data.
- ✓
Create a logs-based metric from application logs that contain the metric value.
Why this is correct
Correct. Logs-based metrics allow extracting custom metric values from structured application logs.
- ✗
Use the built-in JMX plugin in the Cloud Monitoring agent to collect Java application metrics.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Monitoring agent does not have a JMX plugin.
- ✓
Use the OpenTelemetry Collector with the Google Cloud Monitoring exporter.
Why this is correct
Correct. OpenTelemetry Collector with the Google Cloud Monitoring exporter is a modern, vendor-neutral way to send custom metrics.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.