Typical Sysadmin Tasks and Duties, Exams of Job Interviewing Techniques and Skills

Download Typical Sysadmin Tasks and Duties and more Exams Job Interviewing Techniques and Skills in PDF only on Docsity! Typical sysadmin tasks and duties Organizations need someone who understands the basics of how a system works so that they can keep their data safe, and keep their services running smoothly. You might ask: "Wait, isn’t there more that a sysadmin can do?" 2023 interview questions for system administrators success assured 1. What's the most frustrating support issue you've been called to resolve? A good candidate will demonstrate that they overcame their frustration and handled the situation with a professional attitude. It is important that System Administrators do not express annoyance when supporting employees who rely on them to solve a variety of technical difficulties. 2. Why would you not restore a DC that was last backed up eight months ago? Look for candidates who understand that a DC is a domain controller, and that backup files should generally not be older than 180 days. Backing up a DC that is several months old could lead to inconsistent data, caused by lingering objects. 3. What experience do you have with hardware components? Only candidates with proficient experience installing and replacing hardware components should be considered, as this is an operation which will frequently be performed by the system administrator. 4. What is the difference between LDAP and Active Directory? Candidates should be able to tell you that LDAP, or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, is a standard protocol for querying and modifying entries in a directory service. Active Directory is a directory service implemented by Microsoft, and it supports the LDAP protocol, among others. 5. Can you tell us about a time when you initially failed to solve an issue? The System Administrator should be someone who is able to overcome their failure and find a solution. Ideally, the candidate should be able to tell you about a strategy they follow after an attempt fails, rather than trying out different things randomly You are right. Now, in general, let’s look at what might be a typical sysadmin’s day-to-day tasks. Depending on their company’s needs and the person’s skill level, a sysadmin’s tasks vary from managing desktops, laptops, networks, and servers, to designing the organization’s IT policies. Sometimes sysadmins are even in charge of purchasing and placing orders for new IT equipment. Those seeking system administration as their career paths might find it difficult to keep their skills and knowledge up to date, as rapid changes in the IT field are inevitable. The next natural question that arises out of anyone’s mind is how IT professionals keep up with the latest updates and skills. Low difficulty questions Here are some of the more basic questions you will encounter, and my answers: 1. What are the first five commands you type on a *nix server after login? • lsblk to see information on all block devices • who to see who is logged into the server • top to get a sense of what is running on the server • df -khT to view the amount of disk space available on the server • netstat to see what TCP network connections are active 2. How do you make a process run in the background, and what are the advantages of doing so? You can make a process run in the background by adding the special character & at the end of the command. Generally, applications that take too long to execute, and don’t require user interaction are sent to the background so that we can continue our work in the terminal. (Citation) 3. Is running these commands as root a good or bad idea? Running (everything) as root is bad due to two major issues. The first is risk. Nothing prevents you from making a careless mistake when you are logged in as root. If you try to change the system in a potentially harmful way, you need to use sudo, which introduces a pause (while you’re entering the password) to ensure that you aren’t about to make a mistake. 9. Explain the boot process for Linux. BIOS -> Master Boot Record (MBR) -> GRUB -> the kernel -> init -> runlevel 10.How do you check the error messages while the server is booting up? Kernel messages are always stored in the kmsg buffer, visible via the dmesg command. Boot issues and errors call for a system administrator to look into certain important files, in conjunction with particular commands, which are each handled differently by different versions of Linux: • /var/log/boot.log is the system boot log, which contains all that unfolded during the system boot. • /var/log/messages stores global system messages, including the messages logged during system boot. • /var/log/dmesg contains kernel ring buffer information. 11.What is the difference between a symbolic link and a hard link? Updated Aug 30, 2019 | Editor's note: this answer original said 'a hard link is a mirror copy of the original file,' which is not accurate. Thank you to Bruce Bowen for providing the following answer: A hard link is a directory reference to the same inode that the first directory entry refers to, and the inode is updated to increase the reference count to know there is a new link to the data. This means that when a file is 'deleted', the directory is updated to remove the file name and the inode for the data has the reference count decremented. The data of the file won't be freed unless the reference count goes to 0. Since inodes are unique for each file system, hard links can't cross file systems. Soft links create a way to for a directory entry to say "the file information is really stored in another directory entry". Soft links break if the 'another directory entry' is deleted. So a 'user' way to describe the difference between a hard and soft link is that a hard link is a link to the file data and a soft link is a link to another file name. 12. How do you change kernel parameters? What kernel options might you need to tune? To set the kernel parameters in Unix-like systems, first edit the file /etc/sysctl.conf. After making the changes, save the file and run the sysctl -p command. This command makes the changes permanent without rebooting the machine 13. Explain the /proc filesystem. The /proc filesystem is virtual, and provides detailed information about the kernel, hardware, and running processes. Since /proc contains virtual files, it is called the virtual file system. These virtual files have unique qualities. Most of them are listed as zero bytes in size. Virtual files such as /proc/interrupts, /proc/meminfo, /proc/mounts and /proc/partitions provide an up-to-the-moment glimpse of the system’s hardware. Others, such as /proc/filesystems and the /proc/sys directory provide system configuration information and interfaces. 14. How do you run a script as another user without their password? For example, if you were editing the sudoers file (such as /private/etc/sudoers), you might use visudo to add the following: user1 ALL=(user2) NOPASSWD: /opt/scripts/bin/generate.sh 15. What is the UID 0 toor account? Have you been compromised? The toor user is an alternative superuser account, where toor is root spelled backward. It is intended to be used with a non-standard shell, so the default shell for root does not need to change. This purpose is important. Shells which are not part of the base distribution, but are instead installed from ports or packages, are installed in /usr/local/bin; which, by default, resides on a different file system. If root’s shell is located in /usr/local/bin and the file system containing /usr/local/bin is not mounted, root could not log in to fix a problem, and the sysadmin would have to reboot into single-user mode to enter the shell’s path. Advanced questions Here are the even more difficult questions you may encounter: 16.How does tracert work and what protocol does it use? The command tracert—or traceroute depending on the operating system—allows you to see exactly what routers you touch as you move through the chain of connections to your final destination. If you end up with a problem where you can’t connect to or ping your final destination, a tracert can help in that you can tell exactly where the chain of connections stops. With this information, you can contact the correct people; whether it be your own firewall, your ISP, your destination’s ISP, or somewhere in the middle. The tracert command—like ping—uses the ICMP protocol, but also can use the first step of the TCP three-way handshake to send SYN requests for a response. 17. What is the main advantage of using chroot? When and why do we use it? What is the purpose of the mount /dev, mount /proc, and mount /sys commands in a chroot environment? An advantage of having a chroot environment is that the filesystem is isolated from the physical host, since chroot has a separate filesystem inside your filesystem. The difference is that chroot uses a newly created root (/) as its root directory. A chroot jail lets you isolate a process and its children from the rest of the system. It should only be used for processes that don’t run as root, as root users can break out of the jail easily. The idea is that you create a directory tree where you copy or link in all of the system files needed for the process to run. You then use the chroot() system call to tell it the root directory now exists at the base of this new tree, and then start the process running in that chroot’d environment. Since the command then can’t reference paths outside the modified root directory, it can’t perform operations (read, write, etc.) maliciously on those locations. (Citation) 18. How do you protect your system from getting hacked? 24. What is OOM killer and how does it decide which process to kill first? If memory is exhaustively used up by processes to the extent that possibly threatens the system’s stability, then the out of memory (OOM) killer comes into the picture. An OOM killer first has to select the best process(es) to kill. Best here refers to the process which will free up the maximum memory upon being killed, and is also the least important to the system. The primary goal is to kill the least number of processes to minimize the damage done, and at the same time maximize the amount of memory freed. To facilitate this goal, the kernel maintains an oom_score for each of the processes. You can see the oom_score of each of the processes in the /proc filesystem under the pid directory: $ cat /proc/10292/oom_score The higher the value of oom_score for any process, the higher its likelihood is of being killed by the OOM Killer in an out-of-memory situation. (Citation) Conclusion System administration salaries have a wide range with some sites mentioning $70,000 to $100,000 a year, depending on the location, the size of the organization, and your education level plus years of experience. In the end, the system administration career path boils down to your interest in working with servers and solving cool problems. Now, I would say go ahead and achieve your dream path. What is LDAP? LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an open and cross platform protocol used for directory services authentication. LDAP provides the communication language that applications use to communicate with other directory services servers. Directory services store the users, passwords, and computer accounts, and share that information with other entities on the network. What is Active Directory? Active Directory is a directory services implementation that provides all sorts of functionality like authentication, group and user management, policy administration and more. Active Directory (AD) supports both Kerberos and LDAP – Microsoft AD is by far the most common directory services system in use today. AD provides Single- SignOn (SSO) and works well in the office and over VPN. AD and Kerberos are not cross platform, which is one of the reasons companies are implementing access management software to manage logins from many different devices and platforms in a single place. AD does support LDAP, which means it can still be part of your overall access management scheme. Active Directory is just one example of a directory service that supports LDAP. There are other flavors, too: Red Hat Directory Service, OpenLDAP, Apache Directory Server, and more. LDAP vs. Active Directory LDAP is a way of speaking to Active Directory. LDAP is a protocol that many different directory services and access management solutions can understand. The relationship between AD and LDAP is much like the relationship between Apache and HTTP: • HTTP is a web protocol. • Apache is a web server that uses the HTTP protocol. • LDAP is a directory services protocol. • Active Directory is a directory server that uses the LDAP protocol. Occasionally you’ll hear someone say, “We don’t have Active Directory, but we have LDAP.” What they probably mean is that they have another product, such as OpenLDAP, which is an LDAP server. It’s kind of like someone saying “We have HTTP” when they really meant “We have an Apache web server.” What is LDAP Authentication? There are two options for LDAP authentication in LDAP v3 – simple and SASL (Simple Authentication and Security Layer). Simple authentication allows for three possible authentication mechanisms: • Anonymous authentication: Grants client anonymous status to LDAP. • Unauthenticated authentication: For logging purposes only, should not grant access to a client. • Name/Password authentication: Grants access to the server based on the credentials supplied – simple user/pass authentication is not secure and is not suitable for authentication without confidentiality protection. SASL authentication binds the LDAP server to another authentication mechanism, like Kerberos. The LDAP server uses the LDAP protocol to send an LDAP message to the other authorization service. That initiates a series of challenge response messages that result in either a successful authentication or a failure to authenticate. It’s important to note that LDAP passes all of those messages in clear text by default, so anyone with a network sniffer can read the packets. You need to add TLS encryption or similar to keep your usernames and passwords safe. What is an LDAP Query? WDS is a server role that offers the ability to remotely deploy Windows operating systems. It can be used to set up new computers in network-based installations so that each operating system doesn’t have to be installed. 4. What is the Advantage of Using RAID? Here, the interviewer tests your understanding of data storage technology Tip #1: Describe RAID by providing a clear definition Tip #2: Explain the benefit of using RAID Sample Answer A RAID is a virtualization data storage technology that integrates multiple components of a physical disk drive into a single or several logical units. The advantage of using RAID is that it increases a system’s storage capacity, improves overall performance, and offers fault tolerance. 5. Define DHCP and Explain its Importance Here, the interviewer wishes to test your understanding of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Tip #1: Provide the meaning of DHCP Tip #2: Briefly explain why DHCP is used Sample Answer Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or DHCP is a protocol that is used to automatically assign dynamic IP addresses to computers or other devices on a network. This means a device acquires a new IP address every time it’s connected to the network. The benefit of DHCP is that it reduces operation tasks such that a sysadmin doesn’t have to manually configure each device. Besides, the protocol optimizes the IP addressing plan meaning that unused addresses are made available to new devices or clients. 6. What Three Attributes Makes You a Great Systems Administrator The interviewer wants to know whether you have values that match with those of the company. Tip #1: State three main attributes that make you the best Tip #2: Make your answer prompt and precise Sample Answer I am curious and analytical. I always explore a problem to find out what really caused it. If the root cause of an issue is not identified and resolved, the problem will reoccur and hurt the business. Besides, I am a good communicator with the ability to share insights in a jargon-free language. 7. Is it a Good Idea to Restore a DC that was Backed Up 7 Months Ago? Your technical knowledge about DCs is under test here and the interviewer seeks a candidate who is knowledgeable about DCs. Tip #1: Provide a direct and clear answer Tip #2: Support your answer by explaining it briefly Sample Answer Restoring a domain controller that was last backed up 7 months ago is a bad idea. This is because lingering objects are likely to be encountered that will lead to inconsistent data. The general rule is that backup files shouldn’t be more than 180 days old. 8. Briefly Tell Us About Your Technical Background The interviewer is looking for an individual with relevant certifications and experience. Tip #1: State your qualifications that are relevant to the systems administrator role Tip #2: Mention your experience Sample Answer I graduated four years ago with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Besides, I have earned a CompTIA certification and also worked mainly in the area of server and PC installation. In my previous assignments, I have been esteemed for identifying faulty machines early on and providing lasting solutions. 9. What Are You Proud of in Your Working with Endpoint Systems and Offering Support to Users? Here, the interviewer wants to assess your user support skills and the ability to resolve users’ issues. Tip #1: Think quickly about the experience you have had with users Tip #2: Demonstrate your user support capabilities and ability to resolve users’ problems Sample Answer I am especially proud of being able to identify users’ problems and resolve them effectively using appropriate tools. My clients as well as the users I have supported have often referred their friends to me to help them resolve their computer issues. I always resolve issues without taking much of my clients’ time. 10. What is an Active Directory? The interviewer wants to assess your understanding of an active directory. Tip #1: Provide the meaning of an active directory Tip #2: Support your answer by briefly explaining how an active directory functions Sample Answer An active directory offers centralized control for network security and administration. It stores all settings and information in a central database and enables a system administrator to deploy and update software as well as assign policies. Server computers that are configured with an active directory are called domain controllers. 11. What is a Domain? The interviewer is looking for an individual who is knowledgeable about domains and how they work NTFS refers to the current file system utilized by Windows. This file system offers various features including security permissions, back up, and quotas so that one can fill up a disk. FAT is an older file system developed by Microsoft that was chiefly used in Windows operating systems up to the XP version. FAT doesn’t offer most of the key features including security and back up that are provided by NTFS. 17. Differentiate an Antivirus from a Firewall A sysadmin needs to be aware of tools such as a firewall and an antivirus and that is exactly what the interviewer is testing here. Tip #1: Define an antivirus and a firewall Tip #2: Ensure to provide the difference between them Sample Answer An antivirus is a program that is designed to protect a computer from viruses. Once installed on a computer, an antivirus monitors the system continuously to identify any threat from the internet, external storage devices, or other sources. A firewall consists of a program that protects a system from hackers, intruders, or outsiders. Attacks from these sources may be viruses or unauthorized access intended to steal or destroy sensitive and valuable information. Firewalls come either as software or hardware. A software firewall is installed on a computer while organizations install a hardware firewall to safeguard all their systems. 18. What do You Understand by VOIP? A competent sysadmin needs to be familiar with internet protocol. That is what the interviewer wants to assess here. Tip #1: Describe the meaning of VOIP Tip #2: Provide the impression that you are well-aware of this protocol Sample Answer VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It is a category of software and hardware that helps people in using the internet as a medium of transmission for telephone calls. This is accomplished by forwarding data in packets through an IP instead of the traditional circuit transmissions. 19. Explain How a Tracert Works Here, the interviewer test your understanding of a tracert and how it functions Tip #1: Define a tracert Tip #2: Describe the functionality of a tracert Sample Answer Tracert or traceroute consists of a command-line tool that can be initiated using a prompt. It is used to track the path taken by IP packets to their destination. A Tracert command tracks a route by sending ICMP echo packets to a given destination. In the end, the command helps you determine where the chain of connection stops. 20. As a System Administrator, is Team Work Part of Your Typical Day? The interviewer wants to know whether your daily work involves working with others. Tip #1: Provide a relevant answer concerning your daily activities Tip #2: Make sure that your answer is satisfactory Sample Answer As a sysadmin, I would often provide technical support to teams and end-users. This may involve software installation, technical troubleshooting, or other technical duties associated with the role. Thus, I would not be engaged directly in teamwork. However, I would work with teams occasionally in developing and explaining technological strategies. Conclusion Asking these interview questions for system administrator would enable an interviewer to assess candidates and determine their level of familiarity with system administration. Besides, these system admin questions will help to know the level of experience of every candidate. This understanding is very vital in identifying the best individual for the system administrator position. The field of network administration is associated with enormous responsibility. A network administrator’s core responsibility is to maintain computer networks. This includes installation and configuration of networks and systems including troubleshooting all network issues. Thus, the role of a network administrator requires an individual with significant know-how and experience on how network systems work. Without relevant experience and knowledge, it is difficult to succeed in network administration. Companies always look for the best and most qualified person for this role. To find the best person, it is imperative to know the right questions to ask interviewees. Similarly, you should look out for specific answers to identify the right person. This article discusses the questions to ask during an interview and the answers to expect from the right person. 1. What is the Basic Role of a Network Administrator? This is a common question and the interviewer wants to assess whether you are well-aware about the role performed by a network administrator. Tip #1: Revise the main roles in your mind promptly so that you will not have to think deeply about them. Tip #2: Be clear and precise so that the interviewer can be convinced that you know your roles. Sample Answer First, a network administrator performs a management role that includes user training, updating networks, maintaining access privileges and user accounts, and maintaining network logs. Secondly, the administrator undertakes an implementation role that consists of installation and configuration of networking software, establishing user accounts, and installing storage are networks. In the past, I have been tasked with creating and implementing a network for a business with 200 employees. The network supported a simple physical location where the business offices were housed. 7. What Troubleshooting Process do You Use after Your Network Configuration Fails to Yield Expected Performance The interviewer is interested in knowing how you approach complex problems relating to network performance. Tip #1: Describe the approach you take when troubleshooting network performance issues Tip #2: Ensure to be brief and precise with your answer Sample Answer I begin by checking hardware failures, network outages, high network activity, or other poor performance triggers. After ruling out these, I use analytics and monitoring tools to find more information concerning the problem. I also reach out to other technicians and IT staff to expedite the process. 8. What Major Challenge did You Face during Your Last Role? How did You Handle It? Network admins encounter various challenges and the interviewer wants to assess your ability to handle challenging situations and offer appropriate solutions. Tip #1: Briefly describe a major challenge that you have faced previously Tip #2: Explain how you solved the issue Sample Answer Sometime during my last role, employees started losing data from their computers. This used to happen even with software and hardware firewalls in place and the pressure was on me to ensure employee data is secure. While troubleshooting the issue, I discovered the problem was caused by malicious applications sent via email. Thus, I educated the staff on how to deal with suspicious emails to avoid data loss. Besides, I developed an email policy that provided guidelines on appropriate use of emails. 9. What Authentication Method do You Apply for Network Access? Security is very critical when it comes to networks. The interviewer wants to assess your knowledge about security protocols and whether you can apply the latest and most effective security protocols. Tip #1: Demonstrate your familiarity about the latest authentication method applied for network access Tip #2: Briefly explain situations under which these methods would be most effective. Sample Answer I use the two-factor authentication method is because it is highly secure compared to single-factor authentication. To secure sensitive information, I would recommend that you upgrade if you are not using the two-factor method. The use of biometrics is another effective method and is particularly the easiest for users, provided appropriate hardware is in place. If you don’t plan to spend much on hardware, using a token is an effective method for adding security. 10. Differentiate Workgroups from Domains The role of a network administrator involves setting up and maintaining servers. The interview wants to know whether you are well-aware of domains and workgroups. Tip #1: Provide a clear difference between domains and workgroups Tip #2: Briefly demonstrate how they are applied in networking Sample Answer Domains have a server-to-client set up with a central authentication server where rules for communication are set. Centralized security and access control minimize the risk of attacks. On the other hand, workgroups are managed at an individual system level. With a workgroup, each system controls itself and decides about what to exchange with users in the same workgroup. 11. Briefly Describe a Firewall and how it is applied in Networks Firewalls are among the essential tools for network security. The interview wants to assess whether you understand firewalls and how they are applied in networks. Tip #1: Define a firewall in a direct and precise manner. Tip #2: Demonstrate your understanding by explaining how a firewall is used to secure a network. Sample Answer A firewall is a device that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to block specific traffic based on the set security criteria. The device filters traffic and prevents unauthorized access to a network. A firewall achieves this by scanning all messages entering or leaving a network and blocking those that violate the set rules. 12. Based on your Previous Experience, what Monitoring Tools Would You Recommend? A competent network administrator should be knowledgeable about different monitoring tools. The interviewer wants to examine your skillset and determine whether you are a good fit. Tip #1: State the monitoring tools that you would recommend. Tip #1: Support your answer by pointing out the main features of each of those tools. Sample Answer I would recommend Idera, Lab Tech, and Logic Monitor. Lab Tech not only provides network monitoring but also infrastructure management. Logic Monitor provides both network monitoring and application performance monitoring. Idera offers all these capabilities but doesn’t allow customization of the dashboard for quicker access to commonly used features. 13. What is the Difference in the Application of a LAN and VPN? Expertise in working with different types of networks is critical for a network administrator. The interviewer wants to understand your knowledge about different networks. Tip #1: Demonstrate your understanding of these types of networks by stating the kind of setting each is applied. Tip #2: Demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the OSI model Sample Answer This is the fifth layer of the OSI model and it primarily manages connections between networked computers. In particular, it establishes connections between local and remote applications. Besides, it manages and terminates those connections. This involves establishing procedures for restating, suspending, and ending connection sessions. Conclusion These questions and answers will help you hire the most qualified individual for the network administrator position for your organization. As an interviewer, ensure to ask the right questions. Also, allow the interviewee to take his or her time to provide the correct answer. With these questions, you are set to interview and select the best network admin. System engineers work in engineering management or IT industry with the primary skills of designing, integrating, and managing complex technological systems. At its core, the professionals work around many principles to combine various components for a generally useful function. System engineers first have to discover a particular problem and then identify meaningful solutions. They also analyze various impacts that might be probable, should the problems fail to be resolved. In essence, companies are always looking for experienced system engineers who are good at what they do. Like any other job application, interested applicants would be required to participate in an interview to determine their competency for the engineering job. As an interviewer, you ask various questions and expect specific answers to help select the best person for the systems engineer position. Here are the common interview questions for the position of a systems engineer. 1. What are the Roles of a Systems Engineer? Primarily, the interviewer wants to determine if you are familiar with the systems engineering role and may probably bring this question first to determine if you are well-versed to proceed with the interview session. Tip #1: Silently revise the significant critical points in your head before you answer. Don’t hesitate at this point, as that would give the impression that you aren’t sure about the field. Tip #2: Don’t go about giving in-depth explanations about everything that a systems engineer does. Be precise and accurate in displaying basic knowledge that deems important and time-saving. Sample Answer A systems engineer works with other departments in large organizations to meet the needs of customers and clientele base. The professional has three primary roles. First, he focuses on installing, setting up, configuring, and maintaining hardware and software systems. This also includes solving every technical problem about the system, should they arise. Second, he analyzes data in an organization to improve it and helps to balance complex aspects of a project. Third, he ensures that upgrades to the systems are implemented so as to enhance security. 2. What Qualities should a Systems Engineer Possess? The interviewer wants to gather if you know what it takes to be a good systems engineer, including the inculcation of the essential skills during your time in the company. Tip #1: Don’t get too overambitious and over mention many skills. Tip #2: Don’t refer the skills to your competency level: leave it to the interviewer. Sample Answer My skills go beyond long years of experience in the field of systems engineering. For instance, I have patience and perseverance in working with complicated systems. I also have significant technical and analytical skills to perform various tasks, thus growing the business. 3. What Major Challenge Did You Face during Your Last Role? How Did You Handle It? Before hiring you, the interviewer wants to be sure that you can handle any shortfall in your career. Tip #1: Use the most recent challenges that you handled in the best way Tip #2: Keep your explanations informative and direct to the point. Sample Answer One major challenge that arose in my previous role was the increasing complexity of various problems that I was called upon to solve including system failure. The organization has inadequate procedures to effectively resolve these problems. To address this issue, I created a systems engineering plan that described the procedures to be followed in implementing system maintenance processes and activities to minimize or eliminate system failure. 4. Does Learning About New Technology Excite You? Here, the interviewer is looking for a candidate that is ready to learn despite the demand of the job. Tip #1: Describe how you learn new concepts Tip #2: Let the interviewer know that you keep up-to-date about technological developments Sample Answer I am always open to discover new things since technology is ever-changing. On top of my experience, I seek to be better to make my skills more efficient. I also attend technical training every year to polish my skills and learn new ones. 5. As a Systems Engineer, Which Part of the Job will You Find Most Challenging? Operations such as coordinating various teams, designing, and implementing various strategies can become difficult for system engineers. Tip #1: Focus on your area of expertise Tip #2: Conclude with a stronghold Sample Answer The system adds value to a particular development by ensuring that various requirements and functions are in order. It also demonstrates the completeness of the design of system elements, and for validation and verification. 11. What’s your take on the Frequency of Upgrading Systems? Systems need to be upgraded regularly to ensure effective performance. The interviewer is trying to determine if you understand the significance of updating machines and software in your job description, Tip #1: Highlight the need and importance of upgrading systems regularly. Tip #2: Keep your answer simple and avoid exaggerations Sample Answer Security in an organization is enhanced when systems cannot be hacked or bugged, to mention a few. Therefore, it is crucial to upgrade systems to prevent such issues from arising. The upgrades can be carried out to full capacity every two years. 12. How Would You Breakdown a Complex Technical Problem to Stakeholders Who are not Familiar with Technology? On some occasions, you will have to interact with non-technical individuals in a company to explain systems engineering concepts. Here, the interview wants to determine if you are fit to help them understand such concepts. Tip #1: Prove that you can break down complex engineering concepts to simplify. Tip #2: Explain the approach you would use Sample Answer I would use a cheat sheet, for instance, to help explain to them the technical terms in a simple way that they can understand. This would involve illustrating concepts and using analogies to make them understand. A network/ system diagram and business process flow would also be ideal. 13. What Would You Recommend for the Improvement of Our Current Systems? The interviewer wants to have insight into how you can be productive and of quality to the current teams. Simply put, how detail-oriented are you? Tip #1: Focus on the company without trying to pinpoint its downfalls directly. Tip #2: Bring out precise details on the approaches you plan on taking. Sample Answer As a systems engineer, my principal responsibility would be to evaluate the performance of the existing systems and identify areas that need useful improvement. 14. How do You Plan and Prioritize Work during Your Time with Our Company? Your ability to prioritize work is assessed at this point. Tip #1: Demonstrate your ability to prioritize work Tip #2: Focus on how to become an asset that adds value the company Sample Answer I plan all my projects with a checklist and order them according to the urgency. I take my time to work on them attentively while managing my time significantly to handle the rest. The flexibility of attending multiple tasks is also an essential aspect of maintaining my schedule as it is. 15. Suggest any Methods that would help to Monitor and Maintain Systems for Maximum Productivity The performance of all systems in an organization is of great concern. The interviewer wants to know the approaches that you would utilize to maintain the company’s systems’ proper functioning. Tip #1: Use your experience to focus on how you can build the systems of the company Tip #2: Suggest one ideal method that would work for the company’s betterment Sample Answer Monitoring should be done frequently, say weekly, to identify flaws before they become rampant. When they arise, issues should be dealt with immediately by individuals who are highly trained to ensure that operations run smoothly in the company. I would use IT365 technology to monitor systems, network usage, and performance. 16. How Would You Handle High-Severity Issues and Challenges? Many at times, issues are inevitable in a working environment. They crop up when you least expect, mainly when things seemed to run smoothly. Here, the approaches that you would use to address such mishaps are in the spotlight. Tip #1: Avoid making it personal Tip #2: Be smart, lest you fall into a tricky trap Sample Answer As I can work under pressure, unexpected issues wouldn’t limit me from outperforming to the best of my abilities. In case of unforeseen issues, I would effectively dedicate my experience to calm everything down once again. I would also bring other departments on board to resolve the issue faster. 17. What Would Be Your First Step in Solving a Situation Whereby Production is Decreasing? In essence, this is a situational question to test your attitude towards addressing problems that require immediate attention for the sake of the profitability of the company. Tip #1: Use examples to support the relevancy of your answers Tip #2: While the question is more practical, theoretical knowledge would also come in handy. Sample Answer I cannot solve a problem without understanding what caused it in the beginning. First, I would seek to understand the issue at hand. Ideally, decreasing production may be as a result of systems failure or inefficiency of managing the systems. Correspondingly, I would establish where to start in bringing everything back to order. I would also perform a root cause analysis to identify the major problems that led to the issue. • Identifying the problem instead of just telling hardware techs something is wrong • Ability to troubleshoot • Curiosity to figure out the “why” Example: “Assuming the web page is up, I would investigate what could be wrong with the monitor. It could be a system overload or flapping, among other issues. Identifying the problem helps me prevent it in the future.” Suppose you try to fix a problem such as passwords not working for a group of users, but your attempt fails. What would you do? It is important for systems administrators to be unafraid of failure and experimentation. In fact, it can be rare for a first attempt at fixing a problem to succeed, and your candidates should have logical strategies for coming up with solutions. Look for: • A real strategy instead of trying things randomly • Recognition that multiple attempts are often necessary • A walk through the process Example: “I’ve learned from experience that a first attempt doesn’t always work. I always make sure to have at least two other backup plans. Here’s something that happened at my previous job …” What are three attributes that make you a great systems administrator? This question lends insight into candidates’ self-awareness skills as well as whether their values match those of your business. Look for: • Answers that match areas of emphasis in your job description • At least one soft skill • Attributes that fit your company culture Example: “I’m analytical and curious. I always dig to find out why a problem occurred. Otherwise, it is liable to happen again and hurt the business. I am also a great communicator, able to share my insight with anyone in jargon-free language.” Why is it a bad idea to restore a DC last backed up seven months ago? This question gets to candidates’ technical knowledge. DC means domain controller, and your candidates should know what it is. Look for: • Use of lingo or jargon • A mention of lingering objects • Knowledge of 180 days Example: “If you back up a DC seven months old, you could encounter lingering objects that lead to inconsistent data. Backup files, as a general rule, shouldn’t be over 180 days old.” What is your technical background? Systems administrators can have a tremendous range of experiences and certifications, so it’s important to hire one who can do the specific job your business needs. Even if candidates’ resumes and/or cover letters gave an overview of their technical background, this question lets them explain some aspects in more depth. Look for: • Qualifications that match what you’re looking for • An explanation of how the candidate compensates for any gaps (work experience in lieu of schooling, for example) • Specific certifications Example: “I earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science four years ago. Since then, I’ve obtained my CompTIA certification and worked primarily in installing PCs and servers. I’ve developed a reputation for identifying problematic machines early on, and I enjoy customer service and software programs such as Adobe Acrobat.” What are you especially proud of in your experience with support for users and endpoint systems? Many systems administrator jobs require interaction with users and knowledge of remote techniques and ticketing systems. This question ensures that the candidate will be able to do the customer service you require. Look for: • Ability to help and please clients • Specific examples) of accomplishments • Recognition of the value of a good client experience Example: “I’m particularly proud of the fact that I can effectively identify a problem and the best tools to resolve it. My clients often refer me to others and talk about how I quickly restore their functionality. In fact, here’s something that happened while I was at HTWW company …” We’re looking for someone who works well independently since the position involves field work and telecommuting. Give an example of how you’re a self-starter. This question is position-specific and gets to the heart of whether the candidate’s personality fits the requirements. Someone who needs a lot of team support might not fare well here. Look for: • An actual example from previous work • A tie-in to telecommuting or field work for even more insight Tip #1: Describe how you assisted a client set up a server. Tip #2: Clearly describe your role in the process of helping the client. Sample Answer I will ask the clients about the size of the organization so that I can determine the best SQL that will suit her organization’s needs. I would also ask about the uptime and any unique security requirements as well as other applications that the client will use. I once assisted a client who was experiencing trouble with her new SQL server. The system was very slow, and it was affecting her business. I analyzed and discovered a lack of compatibility between the new and old databases, so I upgraded the databases, and the system functioned well. 4. As a Database Administrator, How Do You Prevent Data Loss? The interviewer is testing whether you can prevent data loss. Tip #1: State how you prevent data losses. Tip #2: Show that you can help to secure data at all times. Sample Answer I make sure to perform regular data backups. Before migrating any data, I ensure that it is backed up and the backup is secure and in good condition. 5. Describe How You Would Use SQL Agent. The interviewer is testing your depth of experience using SQL server Tip#1: Clearly explain the purpose of the SQL agent. Tip#2: Describe a situation where you used it. Sample Answer SQL agents enable you to perform commands at a specific time repeatedly. For example, backups are done frequently at particular times. I use SQL agents to perform backups daily at a time when no one is using the system. I do my backups at 3:00 am using SQL agents. 6. What Database Tools Do You Use? The interviewer is seeking to find out how you use tools to solve problems. Tip #1: Mention the tools you use and why you prefer them Tip#2: Cite a situation when you used the tools Sample Answer Navicat allows me to connect many servers and work quickly and more efficiently. I once used Navicat and MS Access to help a client to migrate and clean up data quickly. 7. How Do You Handle Complains About Database Performance from Users? Here, the interviewer wants to test your problem-solving skills. Tip #1: Explain in detail the problems the users experienced and the process you used to solve it. Tip #2: Describe an experience when this happened. Sample Answer I regularly check and monitor the database to ensure it is working properly. However, if I receive user complaints concerning a particular issue, I start by analyzing the problem. After carefully analyzing the problem, I am able to identify the root cause. Then, I take appropriate actions to rectify it. Once the issue is eliminated, I seek feedback from users to know whether they are satisfied. 8. Briefly describe a Database? Your basic knowledge of databases is tested in this question. Tip #1: Define a database Tip #2: Show that you understand the database concept. Sample Answer A database is a collection of organized and structured data or information that is typically stored electronically. A database is controlled and managed using a database management system. 9. What is a Database Query? The interviewer is testing your knowledge about database query Tip #1: Clearly define a Query Tip #2: In simple terms, state the function of the query Sample Answer A query consists of instructions directed to a database. It instructs it on what to do, like to create a table, read, update a record, or delete data. Database queries are written in the form of questions or statements. 10. What is SQL? The interviewer is testing your knowledge of languages used to manipulate the database. Tip #1: Clearly define the term Tip#2: Describe in detail the functions of SQL. Sample Answer SQL stands for a sequential query language that you use to instruct the database to do what you want. You can give the database instructions through questions or statements and manipulate the data already in the database. 11. Explain the Function of a Primary Key Your technical skills are tested with this question. The interviewer wants to know if you have interacted extensively with databases. Tip #1: Clearly state the function of a primary key Tip #2: Give examples of a primary key Sample Answer data backup, control access permissions, train users on accessing the database information, and troubleshoot related issues and resolve them quickly. 17. Explain How You Troubleshoot Database Issues? The interviewer wants to know the strategy that you use for troubleshooting database problems. Tip #1: Clearly state the procedure you use to analyze and solve a database problem. Tip #2: Show that you can identify database problems and find solutions. Sample Answer I continuously monitor the database server. I use a ticketing system for users to report any issues that they are experiencing. If there is a problem, I analyze and identify the cause. After I have successfully identified the cause, I will solve the problem immediately. However, if it’s a simple technical issue, I will designate it to a technical person and follow up to ensure the issue has been resolved successfully and quickly. 18. What Do You Understand by a Database Schema? This question tests your knowledge about the internal communication of tables in databases. Tip #1: Define the term database schema Tip #2: Be precise and provide all important points Sample Answer A database schema represents how tables within a database communicate with each other. It’s usually a two-dimensional representation. For example, a relational database will have tables linked to each other using a primary key and a foreign key. This linking is what enables the communication between the tables. 19. Explain Log Shipping in the Microsoft SQL Server. The interviewer is testing your knowledge in the Microsoft SQL Server. Tip #1: Define the term log shipping Here are some of the most common windows server administrator interview questions you should prepare to do well in the interview. 1. In the context of the Registry, how do you define “tattooing”? “Tattooing” the registry suggests that customers can change and view the preference of the customers that are not placed away in the preserved prescribed Tip #2: Show a clear understanding of log shipping and its function Sample Answer Log shipping is the same as a backup in Microsoft SQL. It uses rapid failover in instances when the main server is not working. Therefore, Log shipping is done manually. 20. Briefly describe your experience with Hadoop? The interviewer wants to know whether you are familiar with Hadoop. Tip #1: Describe Hadoop and its application Tip #2: Demonstrate that you are experienced in Hadoop Sample Answer Hadoop enables companies to work with huge data sets. In my previous assignments, I have implemented and optimized Hadoop solutions for different enterprises. I ensure to stay abreast of new methods of using Hadoop. I engage in forums where this technology is discussed and through that, I learn a lot. Conclusion Understanding interview questions and the responses to look for is a great step towards finding the right candidate. Since the database administration role is critical in any company today, employers need to make sure they ask the right questions to help them get the best and most qualified person for the job. Registry portions. Irrespective of the assembly approach is evacuated or changed, the preference of the client will currently be kept in the registry. 2. What is an Active Directory? Active Directory is an organization of the inventory in a library to gather objects such as computers, customer profiles, etc. It effectively controls the framework through Domain Controllers that are available at many zones with the database of the Active Directory. A section of the limits fuse dynamic association with numerous land zones, check of computers and customers in the space offered by windows, using the Domain Controller to copy Active Directory. In accumulation to that these lines will be returned to every Domain Controllers. 3. Distinguish between a computer process and a thread. Computer Process In computing, a process is a computer program case that is performed repeatedly by a computer, that can run numerous programs on computer at the same time. Thread A thread comprises the many executable programs that collaborate as a solitary process. For instance, a thread might send a notification error to the customer; an alternative might contract with the signals of error although the third thread may perform the primary action. 4. What do you know about authorizing DHCP Servers in Active Directory? Ipconfig: To check the IP setup of the computer, we can use the command Ipconfig and additionally it can be very well applied to reestablish the IP address of the users if it is specified by a DHCP server. Ping: To check the link among the computer in use and the other computers, we can use the Ping command. 11. What do you know about working of IntelliMirror? IntelliMirror supports to settle settings of desktop, stored files and applications for users especially the one who move among workstations and works offline. 12. How you can install an app MSI file when the is not available? To install the application without using the MSI file, the Software Installer. ZAP text file can be used in its place. What is the domain controller’s basic function? The domain controller function is to verify customers to many networks and bring a set of objects that involved the Active Directory. 13. What is the goal of installing local DNS servers? A local DNS server offers the local mapping of fully competent domains to IP addresses. To resolve requests concerning the domains on network, local DNS servers can offer record data to distant DNS servers. 14. What’s new in Windows Server 2019? It is the latest window server version that uses the shortened LTSC or long-term servicing channel. Some of the most dominant features if the new windows server 2019 are: • Support for Kubernetes • Storage Space Direct • Storage Replica • Improved Windows Defender • Windows Subsystem for Linux • Other GUI new features from Win10 version 1809 • Storage Migration Service • System Insights 15. What is Windows Server’s default user interface? Windows PowerShell is said to be the default user interface and command-Line Shell made by Microsoft. The main goal of the PowerShell is to systematize administrative tasks that work both remote and local windows machines. .NET Framework is used to build PowerShell. 16. What is INODE? The file’s metadata are kept by INODE holds; INODE is said to be a unique pointer to a disk block. You can also say that it is a unique number owed to a file in UNIX-like Operating system. 17. Explain what is RAID in Windows Server? For storing the same data at a different place RAID or Redundant Array of Independent Disks strategy is used. It is a strategy for building fault tolerance and increase storage capacity. On separate drives it allows you to combine one or more volumes so that they are accessed by a single drive letter 18. What Are the System Administrator Roles? The System Administrator role varies in the organization. The 2 key System Admin tasks are Supporting, Installing and maintaining computers & servers. • Install patches & OS Updates • Access user’s administration • Creating and Restoring system backups • Access control • Review system logs access administration • Planning Disaster recovery • Comply with password needs • System audit logging 19. Can you name Different Version of Windows Server? The version of windows servers till now are: • Windows Server 2003 (2003) • Windows Server 2003 R2 (2005) • Windows Server 2008 (2008) • Windows Server 2008 R2 (2009) • Windows Server 2012 (2012) • Windows Server 2012 R2 (2013) the IP address. To keep a check on the IP addresses and names of other computers network, this computer can be configured as a WINS server. We may not able to connect to a remote network through its NetBIOS name, in case you are not using WINS in a network, 26. Define Dora Procedure & its usage. Discover, request, Offer and acknowledgement. it is used to automatically allocate an IP address to systems of the client. 27. In which order the GPOs are applied? We can apply the GPO is an order of • Local Group Policy object site, • Domain and • organizational units. 28. Can you state a few benefits of GPMC? One of the major benefits of GPMC is its easy management of all GPOs diagonally the whole Active Directory Forest View of GPOs in one list. We can do the GPOs backup and restore, Immigration of GPOs across many forest and domains. 29. How you will do the backup for Group policy? 1. For back up, one single GPO, right-click the GPO and then click Back Up. 2. For backup, all GPOs in the domain, right-click Group Policy Objects and click Back Up All. 30. What is the group nesting? When we add one group as an element of another group is known as ‘group nesting’. It also helps in easy management and reduced traffic replication. 31. What is Domain control? A domain controller is a server that manages the security requests from other servers and computers in the Windows Server domain. There are two kinds of the domain controller that is a backup domain controller and a primary domain controller. The primary domain controller emphasis on services of the domain to avoid the system possibility of a crash or slowing down because of the overtasking from handling other security requests and functionality. If the primary domain controller goes down, a backup domain controller is promoted and become the primary domain controller to preserve the server systems working appropriately. 32. What is tree? A tree is actually a collection of domains in the Active Directory that starts at one root and branches out into child domains, peripheral. This can similarly comprise an adjoining namespace linked in a transitive order. An Active Directory forest is an assortment of Active Directory trees, just like a real-world forest. Conclusion This article contains a fine collection of windows server interview questions and answers. You can get help from these server administrator interview questions provided in this article to prepare for your interview. You can also share with us some interview server questions and answers that you have been asked by interviewer, in the comments section.