The answer is to reserve a static internal IP address in the same region and subnetwork. This is correct because a reserved static internal IP address is explicitly assigned to a project within a specific VPC subnet and remains allocated to that project even when the associated Compute Engine VM is stopped or deleted, ensuring true persistence. On the Google Professional Cloud Network Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between ephemeral and static internal IPs, with the common trap being that many candidates confuse a static external IP’s behavior with internal IPs or assume an ephemeral IP will survive a VM stop. A key memory tip is to think of “reserve” as a permanent lease on the address within the subnet—unlike an ephemeral IP, which is released back to the pool upon VM lifecycle changes. For internal-only legacy migrations, this fixed address guarantees that dependent services can always reach the VM at the same IP, regardless of its operational state.
PCNE Configuring network services Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 organization is migrating a legacy application to GCP. The application requires a static internal IP address for a Compute Engine VM that must persist even if the VM is stopped or deleted. Which IP address type should they assign?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reserve a static internal IP address in the same region and subnetwork.
A static internal IP address is reserved within a specific region and subnetwork, ensuring the IP persists even after the VM is stopped or deleted. This meets the requirement for a fixed internal address that remains available for reassignment to the same or a different VM in the same subnet. Ephemeral IPs are released on VM stop/delete, and external IPs are not relevant for internal-only communication.
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.
✗
Configure an alias IP range on the VM's network interface.
Why it's wrong here
Alias IPs are for assigning multiple IPs, not for persistence.
✗
Assign an ephemeral external IP and configure a firewall rule.
Reserve a static internal IP address in the same region and subnetwork.
Why this is correct
Static internal IPs are reserved and persist until released.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a regional internal IP address with auto-delete set to false.
Why it's wrong here
Regional internal IPs are ephemeral unless explicitly reserved.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'ephemeral' with 'persistent' or assume that stopping a VM preserves the internal IP, but GCP releases ephemeral internal IPs on stop/delete unless explicitly reserved as a static internal IP.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Reserving a static internal IP address in GCP creates a regional resource that is independent of the VM lifecycle; it can be assigned to any VM in the same subnetwork and region. Under the hood, this reservation uses the same VPC subnet range but marks the address as 'static' in the Cloud API, preventing it from being returned to the ephemeral pool. A real-world scenario is a database VM that must always be reachable at the same internal IP for application configuration files, even during maintenance or re-creation.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
Configuring network services — This question tests Configuring network services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reserve a static internal IP address in the same region and subnetwork. — A static internal IP address is reserved within a specific region and subnetwork, ensuring the IP persists even after the VM is stopped or deleted. This meets the requirement for a fixed internal address that remains available for reassignment to the same or a different VM in the same subnet. Ephemeral IPs are released on VM stop/delete, and external IPs are not relevant for internal-only communication.
What should I do if I get this PCNE 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.
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Question Discussion
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