Question

Difficulty: EasyPlanning Compute Engine Resources and Machine Types

A company is planning to host a production web application frontend on Google Compute Engine that runs 24/7. Profiling shows the application specifically requires 3 vCPUs and 6 GB of RAM, which does not match any predefined machine type. Which TWO compute planning decisions should the cloud engineer select to meet these requirements cost-effectively while ensuring high availability? (Select TWO answers.)

  1. Configure a custom machine type with 3 vCPUs and 6 GB of memory to match the workload requirements.Answer
  2. Purchase Committed Use Discounts (CUDs) for the predictable baseline compute capacity of the 24/7 web application.Answer
  3. C
    Provision the web application instances as Spot VMs to lower infrastructure operating costs.
  4. D
    Migrate the legacy web frontend directly to Cloud Functions to achieve event-driven micro-billing.

Answer

The correct decisions are to configure a custom machine type tailored to 3 vCPUs and 6 GB of memory, and to purchase Committed Use Discounts for the predictable continuous workload.
Custom machine types allow precise sizing of vCPUs and memory when non-standard ratios are required, avoiding unnecessary costs of larger predefined types. Additionally, Committed Use Discounts are ideal for predictable, steady-state workloads running 24/7.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate machine resource specifications
Identify that 3 vCPUs and 6 GB RAM fit a custom machine type configuration without paying for an over-provisioned predefined machine instance.
Compute Engine custom machine types allow exact sizing when standard predefined instance sizes do not match workload demands.
2
Evaluate pricing model for steady-state 24/7 workload
Apply Committed Use Discounts (CUDs) to lock in lower rates for predictable continuous compute usage.
CUDs provide discounted rates in exchange for a 1-year or 3-year commitment on baseline resource utilization.

Key Concept

Planning Compute Engine machine sizing with Custom Machine Types and cost optimization using Committed Use Discounts.
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