- A
2048
Based on RAM_MB/16: 32768/16 = 2048.
- B
4096
Why wrong: Double the correct amount.
- C
1024
Why wrong: Half of correct amount.
- D
500
Why wrong: That's the current setting, but capacity is higher.
Question 487 of 1,000
PCDOE Design and Plan Database Solutions Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of design and plan 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.
An e-commerce platform uses Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL with max_connections set to 500. They plan to increase the number of application instances requiring connections. The instance has 8 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM. What is the maximum number of connections Cloud SQL can support based on the default formula?
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
✓
2048
Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL uses a default formula to calculate max_connections: `max_connections = 4 * vCPUs + 100`. With 8 vCPUs, this gives 4 * 8 + 100 = 132. However, the question asks for the maximum number of connections Cloud SQL can support based on the default formula, which is capped at 2048 for PostgreSQL instances. Option A (2048) is correct because it represents this hard upper limit enforced by Cloud SQL, regardless of the formula's raw output.
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.
- ✓
2048
Why this is correct
Based on RAM_MB/16: 32768/16 = 2048.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
4096
Why it's wrong here
Double the correct amount.
- ✗
1024
Why it's wrong here
Half of correct amount.
- ✗
500
Why it's wrong here
That's the current setting, but capacity is higher.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL and MySQL caps; the trap here is that candidates assume the formula output is the final answer, or they confuse the PostgreSQL cap (2048) with MySQL's cap (4096).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL enforces this cap to prevent resource exhaustion (memory, shared buffers) on the instance. The formula `4 * vCPUs + 100` is a starting point, but the actual limit is min(formula_result, 2048). For example, a 32 vCPU instance would compute to 228, but the cap still applies. In real-world scenarios, exceeding this cap can lead to out-of-memory errors or connection refusals, even if the instance has ample RAM, because PostgreSQL's connection overhead includes per-connection memory allocations like work_mem and shared buffers.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Design and Plan Database Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design and Plan Database Solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCDOE questions
1,000 questions across all exam domains
- →
Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PCDOE practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PCDOE practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design and Plan Database Solutions practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Design and Plan Database Solutions.
Manage Database Solutions practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Manage Database Solutions.
Migrate Database Solutions practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Migrate Database Solutions.
Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Design for Reliability, Scalability, and Disaster Recovery.
Bootstrapping a Google Cloud organization for DevOps practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Bootstrapping a Google Cloud organization for DevOps.
Managing service incidents practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Managing service incidents.
Managing Google Cloud costs practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Managing Google Cloud costs.
Building and implementing CI/CD pipelines practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Building and implementing CI/CD pipelines.
Implementing service monitoring strategies practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Implementing service monitoring strategies.
Optimizing service performance practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to Optimizing service performance.
PCDOE fundamentals practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to PCDOE fundamentals.
PCDOE scenario practice questions
Practise PCDOE questions linked to PCDOE scenario.
Practice this exam
Start a free PCDOE practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Design and Plan Database Solutions — This question tests Design and Plan Database Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 2048 — Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL uses a default formula to calculate max_connections: `max_connections = 4 * vCPUs + 100`. With 8 vCPUs, this gives 4 * 8 + 100 = 132. However, the question asks for the maximum number of connections Cloud SQL can support based on the default formula, which is capped at 2048 for PostgreSQL instances. Option A (2048) is correct because it represents this hard upper limit enforced by Cloud SQL, regardless of the formula's raw output.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.