In Snowflake, configuring a virtual warehouse to be in a "Maximized" mode implies maximizing the resources allocated to the warehouse for its duration. This is done to ensure that the warehouse has a consistent amount of compute resources available, enhancing performance for workloads that require a high level of parallel processing or for handling high query volumes.
To configure a virtual warehouse in maximized mode, you should set the same value for both MIN_CLUSTER_COUNT and MAX_CLUSTER_COUNT. This configuration ensures that the warehouse operates with a fixed number of clusters, thereby providing a stable and maximized level of compute resources.
Reference to Snowflake documentation on warehouse sizing and scaling:
* Warehouse Sizing and Scaling
* Understanding Warehouses

A clustering key in Snowflake is used to co-locate similar data within the same micro-partitions to improve query performance, especially for large tables where data is not naturally ordered or has become fragmented due to extensive DML operations. The appropriate use of a clustering key can lead to improved scan efficiency and better column compression, resulting in faster query execution times.
The indicators that it may be appropriate to use a clustering key for a table include:
* D. Queries on the table are running slower than expected: This can happen when the data in the table is not well-clustered, leading to inefficient scans during query execution.
* E. The clustering depth for the table is large: A large clustering depth indicates that the table's data is spread across many micro-partitions, which can degrade query performance as more data needs to be scanned.
References:
* Snowflake Documentation on Clustering Keys & Clustered Tables
* Snowflake Documentation on SYSTEM$CLUSTERING_INFORMATION
* Stack Overflow discussion on cluster key selection in Snowflake

Reader accounts in Snowflake are designed to allow users to read data shared with them but do not have the capability to extract data for use outside of Snowflake. They are intended for consuming shared data within the Snowflake environment only.