CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

What should Connie focus on while troubleshooting her SQL database application that shows increased response time?

1. Memory

2. CPU

3. Storage

4. Networking

The correct answer is: Storage

When troubleshooting an SQL database application that is exhibiting increased response times, focusing on storage is particularly crucial. The performance of an SQL database heavily relies on its ability to read from and write to disk storage efficiently. If the storage subsystem is slow or overloaded, it can significantly impact the speed at which data can be accessed, resulting in delays and increased response times for queries. Factors such as disk type (HDD vs. SSD), disk I/O performance, RAID configurations, and overall capacity can all influence how quickly the database can respond to requests. For example, SSDs provide faster access times compared to traditional spinning disks, which can make a considerable difference in the context of a database application. Additionally, examining storage performance metrics like latency, throughput, and IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) can help identify if storage is indeed the bottleneck contributing to the performance issue. While memory, CPU, and networking are all important components to consider in application performance, their relevance to response time can vary. For instance, high CPU utilization might indicate processing issues, while memory can affect how much data can be cached. Networking issues can lead to latency in remote database access. However, increased response times often point directly to how effectively data can be retrieved or written