- A
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --custom-cpu 6 --custom-memory 20
Why wrong: Missing 'GB' and equals sign in flags.
- B
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --custom-cpu=6 --custom-memory=20GB
Correct syntax: custom-cpu and custom-memory with equals and GB suffix.
- C
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --cpu=6 --memory=20GB
Why wrong: The correct flags are --custom-cpu and --custom-memory, not --cpu and --memory.
- D
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --machine-type custom-6-20480
Why wrong: The machine type format is custom-{vCPUs}-{memory in MB}, but memory must be in MB: 20480 MB is 20 GB, but the question asks for the command with flags.
Question 87 of 1,000
Cloud Digital Leader Fundamental Cloud Concepts Practice Question
This GCDL practice question tests your understanding of fundamental cloud concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An engineer needs to create a custom machine type on Compute Engine for a workload that requires exactly 6 vCPUs and 20 GB of memory. The engineer uses the gcloud command-line tool. Which command correctly creates the instance?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
✓
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --custom-cpu=6 --custom-memory=20GB
Custom machine types are specified using the --custom-cpu and --custom-memory flags. The correct syntax is --custom-cpu=6 --custom-memory=20GB. The other options use incorrect flags or formats.
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.
- ✗
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --custom-cpu 6 --custom-memory 20
Why it's wrong here
Missing 'GB' and equals sign in flags.
- ✓
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --custom-cpu=6 --custom-memory=20GB
Why this is correct
Correct syntax: custom-cpu and custom-memory with equals and GB suffix.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --cpu=6 --memory=20GB
Why it's wrong here
The correct flags are --custom-cpu and --custom-memory, not --cpu and --memory.
- ✗
gcloud compute instances create my-instance --machine-type custom-6-20480
Why it's wrong here
The machine type format is custom-{vCPUs}-{memory in MB}, but memory must be in MB: 20480 MB is 20 GB, but the question asks for the command with flags.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The machine type format is custom-{vCPUs}-{memory in MB}, but memory must be in MB: 20480 MB is 20 GB, but the question asks for the command with flags.
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 GCDL 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.
- →
Fundamental Cloud Concepts — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this GCDL question test?
Fundamental Cloud Concepts — This question tests Fundamental Cloud Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: gcloud compute instances create my-instance --custom-cpu=6 --custom-memory=20GB — Custom machine types are specified using the --custom-cpu and --custom-memory flags. The correct syntax is --custom-cpu=6 --custom-memory=20GB. The other options use incorrect flags or formats.
What should I do if I get this GCDL question wrong?
Identify which GCDL 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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This GCDL 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 GCDL exam.
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