PCDOE Implementing service monitoring strategies Practice Question
Which TWO options are valid methods to create a custom metric descriptor in Cloud Monitoring?
⚠ Common exam trap
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between creating a metric descriptor (the schema) and writing metric data (time series); candidates confuse log-based metrics (which auto-create a descriptor) with the explicit creation of a custom descriptor, or assume that any tool that produces metrics (like Prometheus exporters) directly creates a descriptor, when in fact the Ops Agent handles descriptor creation automatically for Prometheus endpoints.
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
✓
Using the gcloud commands: gcloud monitoring metrics create
The `gcloud monitoring metrics create` command directly invokes the Cloud Monitoring API to create a custom metric descriptor. Option E is correct because the Cloud Monitoring API's `CreateMetricDescriptor` method is the programmatic way to define a custom metric, specifying its type, unit, and labels. Both methods result in a new metric descriptor being registered in the project's metric store.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Creating a log-based metric
Why it's wrong here
Log-based metrics create metrics from logs, but they are not custom metric descriptors.
- ✓
Using the gcloud commands: gcloud monitoring metrics create
Why this is correct
gcloud CLI can create custom metric descriptors.
- ✗
Using Terraform resource google_monitoring_metric_descriptor
Why it's wrong here
Terraform can create descriptors, but the question asks for exactly two, and the most common are API and gcloud.
- ✗
Deploying a Prometheus exporter with the Ops Agent
Why it's wrong here
This collects metrics but does not create a metric descriptor.
- ✓
Using the Cloud Monitoring API CreateMetricDescriptor
Why this is correct
API allows programmatic creation of custom metric descriptors.
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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.