Preparing for an infrastructure or support interview? These are the Windows Server questions I see most often, with short answers you can explain in your own words. Learn the concepts rather than memorizing the lines.
1. What is Windows Server?
Windows Server is Microsoft’s operating system that helps organizations manage users, networks, files, applications, and shared resources across their IT environment.
2. What is Active Directory (AD)?
Active Directory (AD) is a centralized directory service that stores information about users, computers, groups, and security policies, allowing organizations to manage logins, access permissions, and resources from a single location.
3. What is a domain controller?
Domain Controller (DC) is a server that runs Active Directory, verifies user logins, and applies security policies and permissions across the organization’s network.
4. What is DNS, and why does AD need it?
DNS (Domain Name System) converts easy-to-read names into IP addresses, helping computers find each other on a network. Active Directory uses DNS to locate domain controllers and other network services.
5. What is DHCP?
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network service that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network settings, such as subnet masks and default gateways, to devices connected to the network.
6. What is Group Policy (GPO)?
Group Policy (GPO) is a feature in Active Directory that allows administrators to centrally manage and apply security settings, user configurations, and system policies to multiple users and computers at the same time.
7. What is the difference between a workgroup and a domain?
Workgroup vs. Domain: In a workgroup, each computer is managed independently with its own user accounts and settings. In a domain, user accounts, security settings, and resources are managed centrally through Active Directory (AD), making administration easier and more secure.
8. What are FSMO roles?
FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operations) Roles are five specialized Active Directory roles assigned to specific domain controllers. They handle critical tasks that should be managed by only one server at a time, such as schema updates, domain management, time synchronization, security identifier allocation, and infrastructure updates.
9. What is the difference between NTFS and share permissions?
Share Permissions vs. NTFS Permissions: Share permissions control access to files and folders when they are accessed over the network, while NTFS permissions control access both locally and over the network. When both permissions apply, the more restrictive permission takes precedence.
10. How do you check why a server is slow?
Performance Troubleshooting: Use Task Manager or Resource Monitor to monitor CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, then check Event Viewer for system or application errors that may indicate the cause of performance issues.
11. What is Event Viewer used for?
Event Log Analysis is the process of reviewing system, application, and security logs in Event Viewer to identify errors, warnings, and events that help diagnose and resolve problems.
12. What is the difference between Windows Update and WSUS?
Windows Update vs. WSUS: Windows Update downloads and installs updates directly from Microsoft, while WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) allows administrators to centrally approve, manage, and distribute updates to computers within an organization.
13. What is RDP?
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a Microsoft technology that allows users to remotely connect to and control a server or computer over a network. By default, RDP uses TCP port 3389 for communication.
14. What is a backup, and what types exist?
Backup is a copy of data created to protect against data loss and enable recovery when needed. The three main types of backups are Full Backup, Incremental Backup, and Differential Backup.
15. What do you do when a server is down?
Incident Troubleshooting Process: Verify power and network connectivity, confirm the issue, review logs and error messages, restart the affected service if appropriate, escalate unresolved issues when necessary, and document both the resolution and root cause for future reference.
For these type of questions please reach out to IT Mitrudu.