Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (AZ-300) Practice Exam

What indicates that scaling up might not be a long-term solution?

1. The high cost of adding memory

2. The inherent limits of the physical host

3. The complexity of server management

4. The ability to use containers

The correct answer is: The inherent limits of the physical host

The inherent limits of the physical host demonstrates that scaling up might not be a long-term solution because physical servers have fixed capacity limits on resources such as CPU, memory, and storage. As workloads grow, a physical host can reach its maximum capabilities, at which point adding more resources becomes impossible or impractical. This limitation leads organizations to consider alternative scaling strategies, such as horizontal scaling (adding more servers) or utilizing cloud services that can dynamically adjust resources based on demand. While the high cost of adding memory can be a concern, it does not inherently indicate that scaling up is not a viable strategy; it might still be pursued based on budget decisions. Server management complexity is a factor but is more related to the operational overhead rather than the fundamental capacity constraints. The ability to use containers suggests a modern approach to application deployment and scaling but does not directly relate to the efficacy of scaling up physical hosts. Thus, the limitations of the physical infrastructure are a critical factor when evaluating the long-term sustainability of scaling up.