- A
Configure surge upgrade with `max-surge: 0, max-unavailable: 2`.
max-unavailable: 2 limits simultaneous unavailable nodes to 2, meeting the requirement. max-surge: 0 means no extra nodes are provisioned (workloads are rescheduled as nodes drain sequentially in pairs).
- B
Configure surge upgrade with `max-surge: 10, max-unavailable: 10`.
Why wrong: max-unavailable: 10 would take all 10 nodes offline simultaneously — catastrophic disruption to workloads.
- C
Manually cordon and drain 2 nodes, upgrade them, then repeat.
Why wrong: Manual cordon/drain/upgrade works but is operationally intensive and error-prone. Surge upgrade configuration automates this correctly.
- D
Enable GKE Auto-upgrade with default settings.
Why wrong: GKE Auto-upgrade uses the cluster's configured surge upgrade settings. If not specifically configured to max-unavailable: 2, the default may allow more nodes to be unavailable.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure a surge upgrade with `max-surge: 0` and `max-unavailable: 2`. This setting directly satisfies the requirement of minimizing disruption because it caps the number of nodes that can be unavailable at any given moment to exactly two, while preventing any extra nodes from being created during the process. By keeping `max-surge` at zero, no additional compute resources are spun up, and with `max-unavailable` set to two, the upgrade proceeds in controlled batches, ensuring at least eight of your ten nodes remain available to serve workloads. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how GKE node pool upgrade parameters balance speed against availability. A common trap is confusing `max-surge` with `max-unavailable`—candidates often think adding surge nodes reduces disruption, but here the constraint is on unavailable nodes, not total capacity. For a memory tip, remember “zero surge, two down” to keep your workloads safely running during the upgrade.
Google ACE Deploying and implementing a cloud solution Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of deploying and implementing a cloud solution. 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. 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 GKE node pool needs to be upgraded to a new node version. The cluster has 10 nodes. You need to minimize disruption to running workloads — no more than 2 nodes should be unavailable simultaneously. Which upgrade strategy should you configure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Configure surge upgrade with `max-surge: 0, max-unavailable: 2`.
Option A is correct because configuring `max-surge: 0` and `max-unavailable: 2` ensures that during the upgrade, no additional nodes are created (surge), and at most 2 nodes can be unavailable at any time. This directly satisfies the requirement of minimizing disruption by keeping at least 8 nodes available, while allowing the upgrade to proceed in controlled batches.
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.
- ✓
Configure surge upgrade with `max-surge: 0, max-unavailable: 2`.
Why this is correct
max-unavailable: 2 limits simultaneous unavailable nodes to 2, meeting the requirement. max-surge: 0 means no extra nodes are provisioned (workloads are rescheduled as nodes drain sequentially in pairs).
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure surge upgrade with `max-surge: 10, max-unavailable: 10`.
Why it's wrong here
max-unavailable: 10 would take all 10 nodes offline simultaneously — catastrophic disruption to workloads.
- ✗
Manually cordon and drain 2 nodes, upgrade them, then repeat.
Why it's wrong here
Manual cordon/drain/upgrade works but is operationally intensive and error-prone. Surge upgrade configuration automates this correctly.
- ✗
Enable GKE Auto-upgrade with default settings.
Why it's wrong here
GKE Auto-upgrade uses the cluster's configured surge upgrade settings. If not specifically configured to max-unavailable: 2, the default may allow more nodes to be unavailable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between `max-surge` and `max-unavailable` parameters, and the trap here is that candidates may confuse `max-unavailable` with the number of nodes that can be upgraded simultaneously, or incorrectly assume that manual cordon-and-drain is the only way to control disruption, missing that GKE's surge upgrade configuration directly supports this requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, GKE's surge upgrade uses a node pool update strategy that controls the number of nodes created above the desired size (surge) and the number of nodes that can be unavailable during the update. The `max-unavailable` parameter is implemented by GKE's node pool controller, which cordons and drains nodes in batches, respecting PodDisruptionBudgets (PDBs) to avoid violating application availability. In real-world scenarios, setting `max-unavailable: 2` is ideal for workloads with strict availability SLAs, as it allows the upgrade to complete faster than a single-node-at-a-time approach while still maintaining a safe buffer of available nodes.
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.
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
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
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Deploying and implementing a cloud solution — This question tests Deploying and implementing a cloud solution — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure surge upgrade with `max-surge: 0, max-unavailable: 2`. — Option A is correct because configuring `max-surge: 0` and `max-unavailable: 2` ensures that during the upgrade, no additional nodes are created (surge), and at most 2 nodes can be unavailable at any time. This directly satisfies the requirement of minimizing disruption by keeping at least 8 nodes available, while allowing the upgrade to proceed in controlled batches.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This ACE 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 ACE exam.
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