The answer is a missing or incorrect targetPort in the Service definition. When a GKE LoadBalancer Service forwards traffic to pods, the targetPort defaults to the same value as the port if not explicitly set. Here, the Service’s port is 80, so traffic hits the pod on port 80, but the container is listening on 8080, causing a connection timeout. This scenario tests your understanding of how Kubernetes maps external ports to container ports, a common exam trap on the Google Professional Cloud Developer exam where candidates overlook the targetPort field when the container port differs from the service port. The key is remembering that targetPort must match the containerPort, not the service port. For a quick memory tip: think of port as the front door and targetPort as the room number inside—if you knock on door 80 but the room is 8080, nobody answers.
PCD Deploying applications Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of deploying applications. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 team is deploying a containerized application to Google Kubernetes Engine using a Deployment and a Service of type LoadBalancer. The application is a web server that should be accessible on port 80. After deployment, the external IP is assigned, but when they try to access http://<EXTERNAL_IP>:80, they get a connection timeout. The pods are running, and the logs show the web server is listening on port 8080. The team has verified that the cluster firewall rules allow traffic on port 80. They have also confirmed that the pods are healthy and no network policies are in place. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Deployment's containerPort is set to 8080, but the Service's port is set to 80 and targetPort is not specified.
Option B is correct because if the Service's targetPort is not specified, it defaults to the same value as the port (80). However, the container is listening on port 8080, so traffic forwarded to port 80 on the pod results in a connection timeout. Option A is incorrect because having targetPort set to 80 would be incorrect; it should be 8080. Option C is incorrect because externalTrafficPolicy: Local affects client IP preservation, not basic connectivity. Option D is incorrect because network policies are not in place and firewall rules allow 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.
✗
The cluster has a network policy that blocks incoming traffic.
Why it's wrong here
No network policies are in place, and firewall rules allow traffic.
✓
The Deployment's containerPort is set to 8080, but the Service's port is set to 80 and targetPort is not specified.
Why this is correct
Without targetPort, the Service forwards to the same port number, causing mismatch.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The Service is missing the externalTrafficPolicy: Local setting.
Why it's wrong here
This setting affects client IP, not connectivity.
✗
The Service's targetPort is set to 80 instead of 8080.
Why it's wrong here
Setting targetPort to 80 would forward to port 80, but the container listens on 8080.
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
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCD 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.
Deploying applications — This question tests Deploying applications — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Deployment's containerPort is set to 8080, but the Service's port is set to 80 and targetPort is not specified. — Option B is correct because if the Service's targetPort is not specified, it defaults to the same value as the port (80). However, the container is listening on port 8080, so traffic forwarded to port 80 on the pod results in a connection timeout. Option A is incorrect because having targetPort set to 80 would be incorrect; it should be 8080. Option C is incorrect because externalTrafficPolicy: Local affects client IP preservation, not basic connectivity. Option D is incorrect because network policies are not in place and firewall rules allow traffic.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which PCD 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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