100+ Application Support Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

SQL is a database language used to manage data. Unix is an operating system used for servers and workstations.

• SQL is used to create, modify, and query databases.

• Unix is a command-line interface used for file management, process control, and networking.

• SQL can be used with various database management systems like MySQL, Oracle, and SQL Server.

• Unix commands include ls, cd, grep, and chmod.

• SQL and Unix are commonly used in web development and data analysis.

To add a column without using create, you can use the ALTER TABLE statement.

• Use the ALTER TABLE statement to add a new column to an existing table

• Specify the table name and the new column name, data type, and any other constraints

• Example: ALTER TABLE table_name ADD column_name data_type;

I will investigate the root cause of the slow performance and take appropriate actions.

• Check server resources usage

• Analyze application logs

• Identify bottleneck areas

• Optimize database queries

• Implement caching mechanisms

• Upgrade hardware or software if necessary

Views are virtual tables that are based on the result of a query. They provide a way to simplify complex queries and restrict access to data.

• Views are created by selecting columns from one or more tables and can include joins, filters, and calculations.

• Unlike tables, views do not store data physically, but rather retrieve it dynamically from the underlying tables.

• Views can be used to present a subset of data to users, hide sensitive information, or simplify complex queries.

• Ta...read more

Commonly used Unix commands

• ls - list directory contents

• cd - change directory

• mkdir - make directory

• rm - remove files or directories

• cp - copy files or directories

• mv - move or rename files or directories

• grep - search for patterns in files

• cat - concatenate and display files

• chmod - change file permissions

• ssh - secure shell remote login

Application Support Engineers are responsible for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues related to software applications.

• Provide technical support to end-users and clients

• Identify and resolve software bugs and errors

• Collaborate with development teams to enhance application functionality

• Document and maintain knowledge base articles for troubleshooting

• Monitor application performance and identify areas for improvement

Common SQL commands for data manipulation and retrieval

• SELECT - retrieve data from a table

• INSERT - insert data into a table

• UPDATE - update existing data in a table

• DELETE - delete data from a table

• CREATE - create a new table or database

• ALTER - modify the structure of a table

• DROP - delete a table or database

• JOIN - combine data from multiple tables

• GROUP BY - group data based on a specific column

• ORDER BY - sort data based on a specific column

SQL delete syntax and commands.

• Use the DELETE statement followed by the table name.

• Add a WHERE clause to specify the rows to be deleted.

• Use the TRUNCATE statement to delete all rows in a table.

• Use the DROP statement to delete an entire table.

• Be careful when deleting data as it cannot be recovered.

• Examples: DELETE FROM table_name WHERE column_name = value;

• TRUNCATE TABLE table_name;

• DROP TABLE table_name;

Clustered index determines the physical order of data in a table while non-clustered index creates a separate structure.

• Clustered index sorts and stores the data rows in the table based on their key values

• Non-clustered index creates a separate structure that contains the key values and a pointer to the data row

• A table can have only one clustered index while multiple non-clustered indexes can be created

• Clustered index is faster for retrieving large amounts of data while non-cl...read more

Use secure file transfer protocols like SFTP or SCP to move files between servers.

• Use SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) or SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) for secure file transfer.

• Ensure servers have proper firewall rules and access controls in place.

• Encrypt files before transferring them to ensure data security.

• Regularly update software and patches to prevent vulnerabilities.

• Consider using VPN for added security during file transfer.

Indices are values that point to specific data within a data structure. They are used to access and manipulate data efficiently.

• Indices are commonly used in arrays to access specific elements.

• They can also be used in databases to improve search performance.

• Indices can be created on columns in a table to speed up queries.

• In programming, indices are often used in loops to iterate over data structures.

• Indices can also be used in mathematical operations, such as calculating the a...read more

Basic SQL queries such as delete, join, select are used to manipulate and retrieve data from databases.

• DELETE: Removes data from a table based on a condition

• JOIN: Combines data from two or more tables based on a related column

• SELECT: Retrieves data from one or more tables based on a condition

• Examples: DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition; SELECT * FROM table1 JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;

Yes, you can assign Office 365 license to a shared mailbox.

• Shared mailboxes in Office 365 can be assigned licenses.

• Assigning a license to a shared mailbox allows it to access certain features and services.

• Shared mailboxes can be assigned Exchange Online Plan 1 or Plan 2 licenses.

• Assigning a license to a shared mailbox is done through the Office 365 admin center or PowerShell.

• Example: Set-Mailbox -Identity 'sharedmailbox@domain.com' -Type Shared -LicenseAssignment 'EXCHANGESTA...read more

Tomcat server is a Java-based web server that is used to serve Java Servlets and JSP pages.

• Tomcat is an open-source web server and servlet container

• It is used to deploy Java web applications

• It supports Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages (JSP), Java Expression Language (EL), and WebSocket technologies

• It can be used as a standalone server or integrated with other web servers like Apache

• It provides a web management interface for easy configuration and deployment

Yes, I am part of change management and incident management.

• I am responsible for managing changes to applications and systems to ensure smooth transitions and minimal disruptions.

• I also handle incidents and troubleshoot issues to minimize downtime and impact on users.

• I work closely with stakeholders to communicate changes and incidents effectively.

• I document all changes and incidents for future reference and analysis.

To ensure application availability, I implement redundancy, monitoring, and disaster recovery strategies.

• Implementing redundancy by having multiple servers or data centers to ensure continuous operation

• Setting up monitoring tools to detect issues and proactively address them

• Implementing disaster recovery plans to quickly restore services in case of failures

A table with 3-4 columns is created to store and organize data in a structured manner.

• Columns represent different attributes or properties of the data.

• Each row in the table represents a unique record or entry.

• Columns can have different data types such as text, numbers, dates, etc.

• Primary key column can be used to uniquely identify each record.

• Foreign key columns can establish relationships between tables.

• Example: A table for customer data may have columns like 'ID', 'Name', '...read more

Debugging an application involves identifying and fixing errors in the code.

• Reproduce the issue to understand the problem

• Use debugging tools like log files, debuggers, and profilers

• Isolate the problem area and analyze the code

• Fix the issue and test the application thoroughly

• Document the debugging process and the solution

Left outer join is used to combine all rows from the left table with matching rows from the right table.

• Use the LEFT JOIN keyword to perform a left outer join

• The syntax is: SELECT column_name(s) FROM table1 LEFT JOIN table2 ON table1.column_name = table2.column_name

• If there is no match in the right table, NULL values are returned

• Example: SELECT customers.name, orders.order_id FROM customers LEFT JOIN orders ON customers.customer_id = orders.customer_id;

I have used Python and shell scripting in various projects to automate tasks, manage configurations, and analyze data.

• Automating data processing tasks using Python scripts

• Creating shell scripts to manage server configurations

• Analyzing log files with Python scripts

• Developing monitoring tools using Python and shell scripting

Method overloading is creating multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. Method overriding is creating a new implementation of an existing method in a subclass.

• Method overloading is used to provide different ways of calling the same method with different parameters.

• Method overriding is used to provide a new implementation of an existing method in a subclass.

• Method overloading is resolved at compile-time based on the number and types of arguments passed.

• Met...read more

SQL query to find Nth highest salary, fetch duplicate records, and shell script for Fibonacci series.

• To find Nth highest salary in SQL, use the 'ROW_NUMBER()' function with 'ORDER BY' and 'LIMIT'. Example: SELECT salary FROM (SELECT salary, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS rn FROM employees) AS temp WHERE rn = N;

• To fetch duplicate records in SQL, use the 'GROUP BY' and 'HAVING' clauses. Example: SELECT column1, column2, COUNT(*) FROM table_name GROUP BY column1, co...read more

API testing is the process of testing APIs to ensure they meet functionality, reliability, performance, and security requirements.

• Ensures that APIs work as expected and meet specifications

• Verifies functionality, reliability, performance, and security of APIs

• Helps identify bugs, errors, and issues in the API

• Ensures compatibility with different systems and environments

• Automates testing processes for efficiency

• Examples: testing API endpoints, data validation, error handling

To add and maintain websites in IIS, use IIS Manager. For SQL, use SQL Server Management Studio to update, join, create functions, stored procedures.

• To add a website in IIS, open IIS Manager and click on 'Sites' > 'Add Website'. Fill in the required details and click 'OK'.

• To maintain a website in IIS, use IIS Manager to make changes to the website's settings, bindings, and application pools.

• To update data in SQL, use SQL Server Management Studio to write and execute SQL queri...read more

To edit in a database with a query, use the UPDATE statement with appropriate conditions and values.

• Use the UPDATE statement to modify data in a database table

• Specify the table name and set the new values using the SET keyword

• Use the WHERE clause to specify the conditions for the update

• Example: UPDATE employees SET salary = 50000 WHERE department = 'IT'

OOP stands for Object-Oriented Programming, a programming paradigm that focuses on objects and their interactions.

• OOP is based on the concept of classes and objects

• It emphasizes encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism

• Examples of OOP languages include Java, C++, and Python

CGST stands for Central Goods and Services Tax.

• CGST is a tax levied on the supply of goods and services within a state.

• It is a part of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system in India.

• The revenue collected from CGST is shared between the central and state governments.

• CGST rates vary depending on the type of goods or services being supplied.

• For example, the CGST rate for essential goods like food items is lower than that for luxury items like cars.

We monitor servers using a combination of monitoring tools, alerts, and regular health checks.

• Utilize monitoring tools such as Nagios, Zabbix, or SolarWinds to track server performance and availability

• Set up alerts for critical issues such as high CPU usage, low disk space, or network connectivity problems

• Perform regular health checks to ensure servers are running smoothly and address any potential issues proactively

I am currently handling 20 servers across different environments.

• I manage a mix of physical and virtual servers

• I am responsible for monitoring server performance and troubleshooting issues

• I work closely with the IT team to ensure server availability and reliability

I am currently handling user traffic of approximately 10,000 users per day.

• Approximately 10,000 users per day

• Traffic may vary based on peak hours or specific events

• Monitoring tools used to track user traffic

• Regularly analyze traffic patterns to optimize performance

Helpdesk and application support involve providing technical assistance and troubleshooting for software applications and systems.

• Helpdesk support involves addressing user inquiries and issues related to software applications and systems.

• Application support focuses on troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with specific software applications.

• Both roles require strong problem-solving skills and technical knowledge to assist users effectively.

• Examples include providing ...read more

Yes, I have knowledge of SQL and Oracle WebLogic server.

• I have experience writing complex SQL queries to retrieve and manipulate data.

• I am familiar with Oracle WebLogic server and have worked on configuring and troubleshooting it.

• I have knowledge of SQL functions, joins, and stored procedures.

• I have experience in performance tuning SQL queries for optimal efficiency.

• I have worked on deploying applications on Oracle WebLogic server and monitoring their performance.