- A
Create a new instance with larger storage and migrate the data using mysqldump.
Why wrong: This causes downtime and is unnecessary.
- B
Enable automatic storage increase; resize manually is not possible.
Why wrong: Both auto-increase and manual resize are possible.
- C
Stop the instance, resize the attached persistent disk, then restart.
Why wrong: Cloud SQL manages storage internally; you cannot directly modify the persistent disk.
- D
Use the gcloud command to resize the storage; the operation is performed online.
Correct. gcloud sql instances patch --storage-size NEW_SIZE resizes online.
Question 805 of 1,000
PCDOE Manage Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of manage database solutions. 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.
A Cloud SQL for MySQL instance is running low on disk space. You need to increase the storage without downtime. What is the correct approach?
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
✓
Use the gcloud command to resize the storage; the operation is performed online.
Option D is correct because Cloud SQL for MySQL supports online storage resizing using the `gcloud sql instances patch` command or the Google Cloud Console, which allows you to increase the storage capacity without any downtime. The operation is performed while the instance remains available, and the underlying persistent disk is resized live, leveraging Google Cloud's live resize capability for Cloud SQL instances.
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.
- ✗
Create a new instance with larger storage and migrate the data using mysqldump.
Why it's wrong here
This causes downtime and is unnecessary.
- ✗
Enable automatic storage increase; resize manually is not possible.
Why it's wrong here
Both auto-increase and manual resize are possible.
- ✗
Stop the instance, resize the attached persistent disk, then restart.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud SQL manages storage internally; you cannot directly modify the persistent disk.
- ✓
Use the gcloud command to resize the storage; the operation is performed online.
Why this is correct
Correct. gcloud sql instances patch --storage-size NEW_SIZE resizes online.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume that any disk resize requires stopping the instance (as with traditional on-premises or some cloud VMs), but Cloud SQL's managed service allows online resizing without downtime, which is a key differentiator tested in the PCDOE exam.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cloud SQL for MySQL uses persistent disks that support live resizing without detaching or stopping the instance, leveraging the underlying Compute Engine live resize feature. The `gcloud sql instances patch` command triggers a rolling update that adjusts the disk size while the database continues to serve queries, though there may be a brief performance impact during the resize operation. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for production databases where even seconds of downtime can impact SLAs, and the resize is typically completed within minutes depending on the size increase.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Manage Database Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Manage Database Solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Manage Database Solutions — This question tests Manage Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the gcloud command to resize the storage; the operation is performed online. — Option D is correct because Cloud SQL for MySQL supports online storage resizing using the `gcloud sql instances patch` command or the Google Cloud Console, which allows you to increase the storage capacity without any downtime. The operation is performed while the instance remains available, and the underlying persistent disk is resized live, leveraging Google Cloud's live resize capability for Cloud SQL instances.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.
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