PL-900 Practice Question: Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Automate
A flow fails with the error: 'GatewayTimeout'. The flow connects to an on-premises SQL Server via a data gateway. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse a 'GatewayTimeout' with authentication or data errors, assuming the issue is with credentials or the SQL object rather than the gateway's availability or network path.
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
✓
The on-premises data gateway is not running or unreachable
The 'GatewayTimeout' error indicates that the flow successfully reached the on-premises data gateway but the gateway did not respond within the expected time frame. This typically occurs when the gateway service is not running, the machine hosting the gateway is offline, or network connectivity between the gateway and the SQL Server is broken. Incorrect credentials or missing tables would produce different errors (e.g., 'Login failed' or 'Invalid object name').
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The SQL login credentials are incorrect
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This would cause an authentication error.
- ✓
The on-premises data gateway is not running or unreachable
Why this is correct
Correct. Gateway timeout typically indicates connectivity issues to the on-premises resource.
- ✗
The SQL table does not exist
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This would cause a 404 error, not timeout.
- ✗
The flow trigger did not fire
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The flow ran and failed, so trigger fired.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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