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Question 908 of 1,000

Serving and Scaling Models →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

PMLE Serving and Scaling Models Practice Question

This PMLE practice question tests your understanding of serving and scaling models. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 model that has strict latency requirements: p99 response time under 100 ms. The model is CPU-only and will receive up to 1000 QPS. They want to minimize cost while meeting the SLO. Which machine type and scaling configuration is most appropriate?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.

A
GPU-enabled machine with min_replicas=1 and max_replicas=2
Why wrong: GPU overkill for CPU model, more expensive.
B
n1-standard-8 with min_replicas=3 and max_replicas=3 (fixed)
Why wrong: Fixed replicas may over-provision or under-provision; autoscaling preferred for cost.
C
n1-highmem-2 with min_replicas=2 and max_replicas=10
Why wrong: Highmem is for memory-bound models; extra memory unnecessary and costly.
D
n1-standard-4 with min_replicas=1 and max_replicas=5, CPU utilization target 60%
Correct: n1-standard-4 provides moderate CPU; autoscaling on CPU utilization meets latency and cost goals.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

n1-standard-4 with min_replicas=1 and max_replicas=5, CPU utilization target 60%

Option D is correct because it uses a CPU-only machine (n1-standard-4) with autoscaling based on CPU utilization target of 60%, which balances cost and performance for a latency-sensitive, CPU-bound inference workload at 1000 QPS. The min_replicas=1 ensures a baseline capacity, while max_replicas=5 allows scaling to handle spikes without over-provisioning, keeping p99 under 100 ms.

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.

✗
GPU-enabled machine with min_replicas=1 and max_replicas=2
Why it's wrong here
GPU overkill for CPU model, more expensive.
✗
n1-standard-8 with min_replicas=3 and max_replicas=3 (fixed)
Why it's wrong here
Fixed replicas may over-provision or under-provision; autoscaling preferred for cost.
✗
n1-highmem-2 with min_replicas=2 and max_replicas=10
Why it's wrong here
Highmem is for memory-bound models; extra memory unnecessary and costly.
✓
n1-standard-4 with min_replicas=1 and max_replicas=5, CPU utilization target 60%
Why this is correct
Correct: n1-standard-4 provides moderate CPU; autoscaling on CPU utilization meets latency and cost goals.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Cisco often tests the misconception that GPU machines are always faster for ML inference, but for CPU-only models with strict latency SLOs, a properly scaled CPU instance with autoscaling is more cost-effective and meets performance requirements.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

CPU-only inference for models like BERT or ResNet benefits from compute-optimized instances (n1-standard series) where vCPU count matches throughput needs. Autoscaling with a CPU utilization target (e.g., 60%) uses horizontal pod autoscaling (HPA) in Kubernetes or managed instance groups in GCP, adding replicas when sustained CPU exceeds the threshold, which directly correlates with request latency under load. The p99 latency requirement under 100 ms implies the model must be lightweight enough to avoid queuing delays, so a balanced machine like n1-standard-4 (4 vCPUs, 15 GB RAM) provides sufficient compute per replica without memory waste.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PMLE question test?

Serving and Scaling Models — This question tests Serving and Scaling Models — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: n1-standard-4 with min_replicas=1 and max_replicas=5, CPU utilization target 60% — Option D is correct because it uses a CPU-only machine (n1-standard-4) with autoscaling based on CPU utilization target of 60%, which balances cost and performance for a latency-sensitive, CPU-bound inference workload at 1000 QPS. The min_replicas=1 ensures a baseline capacity, while max_replicas=5 allows scaling to handle spikes without over-provisioning, keeping p99 under 100 ms.

What should I do if I get this PMLE question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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