Question

Interview questions for a system administrator

Asked by: xxdcmast

I had posted a question yesterday asking for some questions for an entry level system administrator. I had the interview and used those questions listed at the following posting.
http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Server/2003_Server/Q_24753483.html#a25400185

That interview is over and we have a few more scheduled so I am looking for a few more questions. I am looking more open ended questions to allow an applicant to explain their ideas/rationale.

I am not looking for questions taken off the net I have searched and the answers are easy to find for any cantidate looking to "study" before the interview.

Please let me know what you use to screen the good cantidates from the bad ones. Easy points here.

Some subjects that we are interested in determining efficiency on are server2k3, AD, Group policy, networking (mid level understanding), backups, etc.

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Asked On
2009-09-23 at 09:53:36ID24755651
Tags

system administrator

,

server 2003

,

active directory

,

gpo

,

group policy

,

mmc

Topics

Windows 2003 Server

,

Microsoft Operating Systems

,

Active Directory

Participating Experts
5
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: illusion28Posted on 2009-09-23 at 10:09:54ID: 25405468

Hope this file will help you...

 

by: JeffPartonPosted on 2009-09-23 at 10:10:42ID: 25405476

1.  How would you go about promoting or demoting a 2003 server to/from a domain controller? - dcpromo
2.  How would you add a DNS replication partner to an existing DNS server? - Sites and Services
3. (Yes surprisingly most do not know this out of the ones I have interviewed) What is the purpose of a network cross-over cable?  When would one be used? - Serves as uplink when uplink isn't available also allows for machine-to-machine communication without a switch.
4.  If you apply a GPO to your entire organization but you do not want it to apply to a specific OU, how would you do this? - Exclude the OU from the GPO - or block inheritance
5.  Will DFS replication replicate Exchange or SQL data correctly? - No
6.  A workstation was working 15 minutes earlier but now will not work on the network.  Name your troubleshooting steps in determining the failure.

 

by: bluntTonyPosted on 2009-09-23 at 10:15:28ID: 25405524


Here goes. Here are some typical problem scenarios :
1. Certain settings applied via Group policy are not applying to certain computers/users in the domain. What steps would you take to troubleshoot, and in what order?
2. Users are complaining of very slow login - what are the obvious candidates for this problem, and how would you tackle this? In what order?
3. How would you go about performing updates to 500+ users objects in AD? What methods might you use?
4. Explain the differences between full/differential and incremental backups (pros and cons). Explain how full/incremental backups are performed on an Exchage database, and the mechanism behind restoring an Exchange database? (as in the role of the log files)

5. What are the implications of losing certain domain controllers. If a particular DC was to go down, what would be the important areas to check immediately? (as in is it a DNS/GC/FSMO role holder). What steps would you take if the server was not recoverable?

Not sure if this is what you're after...

 

by: xxdcmastPosted on 2009-09-23 at 10:22:51ID: 25405588

Blunttony: used number 3 today, thats a good one so many ways to go.

To all these are great questions and definitely along what im looking for. I dont care if the person cant remember a specific port number or other info you cna always google that Im just looking for process and proficiency with the technology.

Thaks keep em coming.

 

by: mkline71Posted on 2009-09-23 at 10:52:21ID: 25405904

Just in case you didn't see these for AD

http://www.petri.co.il/mcse_system_administrator_active_directory_interview_questions.htm

Definitely ask the them FSMO roles,  I'm shocked how  many people miss those and I'm talking about people that consider themselves senior level candidates.

How are group policies applied -- LSDOU is the answer there

What do they know about gorup policy prefs.

What are some tools they use to troubleshoot replication - repadmin would be the number 1 answer for me.

 

by: bluntTonyPosted on 2009-09-23 at 14:58:06ID: 25408388

Couple more, as name resolution is so important in AD...

1. When is NetBIOS used in preference to DNS for resolution. When is it ONLY used? When is DNS used in preference to NetBIOS. In what order are the various resources checked (e.g. cache, hosts etc)?

2. What are the arguments for and against disabling NetBIOS name resolution?

3. What are the purposes of, and pros and cons of, stub zones, delegations and forwarders? What scenarios would each be used?

And here are a couple that are always popping up on this site (or at least problems arising from people not knowing):

1. Why can't you traditionally restore an image of a DC? What are the implications of doing so? (i know it is technically possible but not natively).

2. What do you need to restore a DC? What backups? How would you go about restoring a DC to different hardware (trick question!).

3. What additional roles is it acceptable to place on a DC? What are not, and why? (I'm thinking Exchange!)

4. How would you go about providing a good level of fault tolerance to AD?

5. When would you perform an authoritative and non-authoritative restore of AD? How do you perform an authoritative restore of SYSVOL?

 

by: abhijitwaikarPosted on 2009-09-23 at 15:19:22ID: 25408595

Here are some more question:
Q. How to maintain and secure win 2003 server?
Q. How to make additional Domain controller?
Q. What are different types of backup in win2003 also explain system state backup?
Q. Difference between x-86 and itanium base and 16 bit and 32 bit and 64 bit machines?
Q. After how much time AD replication happens by default?
Q. How to do metadata cleanup?
Q. What is Routing group port?
Q. 5 Imp services for AD replication on Domain controller?
Q. Tools use to see Active directory status?


 

by: xxdcmastPosted on 2009-09-24 at 08:28:39ID: 25414370

Thanks guys appreciate all the help.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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