DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Which THREE metrics should you monitor to detect a memory pressure issue in Azure SQL Database?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often mistakenly think that only avg_page_life_expectancy (PLE) and page_cache_hit_ratio indicate memory pressure. However, avg_pending_disk_io is also a key metric: high pending I/O can result from insufficient memory causing frequent buffer pool evictions and increased disk activity. The real trap is confusing avg_io_stall_ms (which measures disk latency) with memory pressure—avg_io_stall_ms is a storage performance metric, not a direct memory pressure indicator.
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
✓
avg_page_life_expectancy
B (avg_page_life_expectancy) is correct because it measures how long (in seconds) a data page stays in the buffer pool before being evicted. A low value (typically below 300 seconds) indicates that pages are being flushed quickly due to memory pressure, forcing more physical I/O. This is a direct indicator of insufficient memory for the buffer cache.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
avg_io_stall_ms
Why it's wrong here
I/O stall is an I/O metric.
- ✓
avg_page_life_expectancy
Why this is correct
Lower page life expectancy indicates memory pressure.
- ✗
log_bytes_used
Why it's wrong here
Log bytes used is a log throughput metric.
- ✓
avg_pending_disk_io
Why this is correct
High pending I/O can be caused by memory pressure.
- ✓
page_cache_hit_ratio
Why this is correct
Lower hit ratio indicates memory pressure.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
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