Database
RecognitionAmazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX)
DynamoDB caching alternative; direct depth requires a distinct scalability decision.
Key points
- DAX is a DynamoDB caching option that requires a distinct cache and latency requirement.
Best-known use cases
- D1.3, D2.1, and D2.2: use DAX only when the named DynamoDB workload benefits from the supported caching path.
What candidates often confuse it with
- DAX caches DynamoDB access; changing DynamoDB capacity or partition-key design addresses different constraints.
Key takeaway
Do not choose DAX for throttling until the evidence shows caching, rather than capacity or key distribution, is the answer.
Related services
- Amazon Aurora
- Amazon Aurora Serverless v2
- Amazon DynamoDB
Relevant exam tasks
- D1.3 — Task 1.3: Implement performance optimization strategies for compute, storage, and database resources.
- 1.3.1 — Optimize compute resources and remediate performance problems by using performance metrics, resource tags, and AWS tools.
- D2.1 — Task 2.1: Implement scalability and elasticity.
- 2.1.1 — Configure and manage scaling mechanisms in compute environments.
- D2.2 — Task 2.2: Implement highly available and resilient environments.
- 2.2.1 — Configure and troubleshoot Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) and Amazon Route 53 health checks.