- A
Use a Cloud DNS health check that updates a routing policy in Bigtable
Why wrong: Bigtable does not support dynamic routing policy updates via DNS health checks. DNS is used for client traffic, but the Bigtable client library handles failover.
- B
Set the Bigtable cluster routing policy to 'read-failover'
The read-failover routing policy ensures that if the primary cluster is unhealthy, reads are automatically directed to the next healthy cluster.
- C
Enable multi-cluster routing by setting 'any-replica' policy
Why wrong: The 'any-replica' policy sends reads to the closest replica but does not automatically failover if a cluster is unhealthy; it may still route to an unhealthy cluster.
- D
Configure a Cloud Load Balancer with a backend service pointing to the Bigtable clusters
Why wrong: Bigtable is accessed via Cloud Bigtable endpoints, not through a load balancer.
PCDOE Practice Question: Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design for reliability, scalability, and disaster recovery. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 gaming company uses Cloud Bigtable for player state data with two clusters in different regions (us-central1 and us-west1) for disaster recovery. They need to ensure that read traffic automatically fails over to the secondary cluster if the primary cluster becomes unhealthy. They currently have a weighted DNS routing policy. Which additional configuration is required?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Set the Bigtable cluster routing policy to 'read-failover'
Cloud Bigtable with multi-cluster replication can use routing policies. The 'read-failover' routing policy directs reads to the nearest healthy cluster. To handle unhealthy clusters, you can use Cloud DNS with a health check that updates the routing policy, but the simplest approach is to configure the Bigtable routing policy to 'read-failover'. This policy automatically shifts reads away from unhealthy clusters.
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.
- ✗
Use a Cloud DNS health check that updates a routing policy in Bigtable
Why it's wrong here
Bigtable does not support dynamic routing policy updates via DNS health checks. DNS is used for client traffic, but the Bigtable client library handles failover.
- ✓
Set the Bigtable cluster routing policy to 'read-failover'
Why this is correct
The read-failover routing policy ensures that if the primary cluster is unhealthy, reads are automatically directed to the next healthy cluster.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable multi-cluster routing by setting 'any-replica' policy
Why it's wrong here
The 'any-replica' policy sends reads to the closest replica but does not automatically failover if a cluster is unhealthy; it may still route to an unhealthy cluster.
- ✗
Configure a Cloud Load Balancer with a backend service pointing to the Bigtable clusters
Why it's wrong here
Bigtable is accessed via Cloud Bigtable endpoints, not through a load balancer.
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 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.
Identify which PCDOE 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.
- →
Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — study guide chapter
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Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — This question tests Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set the Bigtable cluster routing policy to 'read-failover' — Cloud Bigtable with multi-cluster replication can use routing policies. The 'read-failover' routing policy directs reads to the nearest healthy cluster. To handle unhealthy clusters, you can use Cloud DNS with a health check that updates the routing policy, but the simplest approach is to configure the Bigtable routing policy to 'read-failover'. This policy automatically shifts reads away from unhealthy clusters.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Identify which PCDOE 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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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