- A
External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer
This is a passthrough load balancer that preserves client source IP, though it is regional. It is the only option that meets the source IP preservation requirement.
- B
Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer
Why wrong: This is for internal traffic within a VPC; clients are internal, not external.
- C
Global external TCP Proxy Load Balancer
Why wrong: This LB terminates TCP connections at the edge and does not preserve the client source IP.
- D
Global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why wrong: This is an HTTP/HTTPS proxy LB; it does not preserve client IP as it terminates the connection.
Question 290 of 1,000
PCNE Passthrough load balancer Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. 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. A key principle to apply: passthrough load balancer. 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.
An organization runs a stateful TCP application on a group of Compute Engine instances in us-central1. Clients must connect to the service using a single anycast IP address, and the load balancer must preserve the client source IP address. Which load balancing option meets these requirements?
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
✓
External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer
The External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer is a passthrough load balancer that preserves the client source IP address, which is required for a stateful TCP application. It can be configured with a single static external IP address that clients use to connect. The Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer is for internal traffic and does not provide an external IP. The Global external TCP Proxy Load Balancer terminates the TCP connection and does not preserve the client IP. The Global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer also terminates connections and is designed for HTTP/HTTPS traffic. Therefore, the External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer meets all requirements.
Key principle: Passthrough load balancer
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer
Why this is correct
This is a passthrough load balancer that preserves client source IP, though it is regional. It is the only option that meets the source IP preservation requirement.
Related concept
Passthrough load balancer
- ✗
Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
This is for internal traffic within a VPC; clients are internal, not external.
- ✗
Global external TCP Proxy Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
This LB terminates TCP connections at the edge and does not preserve the client source IP.
- ✗
Global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
This is an HTTP/HTTPS proxy LB; it does not preserve client IP as it terminates the connection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume that 'single anycast IP' requires a global load balancer, but the only passthrough load balancer that preserves client IP is the regional External TCP/UDP NLB.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Passthrough load balancer
- Anycast IP
- External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer
- Global external TCP Proxy Load Balancer
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
Passthrough load balancer
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review passthrough load balancer, then practise related PCNE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Configuring Network Services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Configuring Network Services practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Configuring Network Services — This question tests Configuring Network Services — Passthrough load balancer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer — The External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer is a passthrough load balancer that preserves the client source IP address, which is required for a stateful TCP application. It can be configured with a single static external IP address that clients use to connect. The Internal TCP/UDP Load Balancer is for internal traffic and does not provide an external IP. The Global external TCP Proxy Load Balancer terminates the TCP connection and does not preserve the client IP. The Global external HTTP(S) Load Balancer also terminates connections and is designed for HTTP/HTTPS traffic. Therefore, the External TCP/UDP Network Load Balancer meets all requirements.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Review passthrough load balancer, then practise related PCNE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Passthrough load balancer
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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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