- A
Check the Performance Dashboard for packet loss between the two zones
Shows if there is underlying network packet loss.
- B
Analyze VPC Flow Logs for RTT latency values to identify congestion
High RTT may indicate congestion or queuing.
- C
Verify that the firewall rules are not blocking ICMP
Why wrong: ICMP blocking would cause consistent failure, not periodic packet loss.
- D
Review the CPU utilization of both instances
High CPU can cause packet drops at the instance level.
- E
Check BGP session status on the Cloud Router
Why wrong: BGP sessions are for hybrid connectivity, not intra-region instance communication.
Question 618 of 1,000
PCNE Practice Question: Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of managing, monitoring, and optimising network operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is experiencing periodic packet loss between two Compute Engine instances in the same region but different zones. They have enabled VPC Flow Logs and see that the flows are marked with 'RTT' latency. Which THREE actions should they take to diagnose the issue? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Check the Performance Dashboard for packet loss between the two zones
VPC Flow Logs provide RTT latency for TCP flows. Analyzing the RTT values can indicate congestion. Checking the Performance Dashboard can show packet loss between zones. Checking instance CPU metrics can reveal if one instance is overwhelmed. Checking firewall rules is less likely to cause intermittent loss; firewall rules either block or allow. Checking BGP sessions is irrelevant for intra-region traffic.
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.
- ✓
Check the Performance Dashboard for packet loss between the two zones
Why this is correct
Shows if there is underlying network packet loss.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Analyze VPC Flow Logs for RTT latency values to identify congestion
Why this is correct
High RTT may indicate congestion or queuing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Verify that the firewall rules are not blocking ICMP
Why it's wrong here
ICMP blocking would cause consistent failure, not periodic packet loss.
- ✓
Review the CPU utilization of both instances
Why this is correct
High CPU can cause packet drops at the instance level.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Check BGP session status on the Cloud Router
Why it's wrong here
BGP sessions are for hybrid connectivity, not intra-region instance communication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCNE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations — This question tests Managing, Monitoring, and Optimising Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Check the Performance Dashboard for packet loss between the two zones — VPC Flow Logs provide RTT latency for TCP flows. Analyzing the RTT values can indicate congestion. Checking the Performance Dashboard can show packet loss between zones. Checking instance CPU metrics can reveal if one instance is overwhelmed. Checking firewall rules is less likely to cause intermittent loss; firewall rules either block or allow. Checking BGP sessions is irrelevant for intra-region traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Identify which PCNE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCNE 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 PCNE exam.
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