30+ Infrastructure Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

We used ServiceNow as our ticketing tool in my previous organization.

• ServiceNow was used for incident management, problem management, and change management.

• It allowed us to track and prioritize tickets based on severity and impact.

• We could also assign tickets to specific teams or individuals for resolution.

• ServiceNow had a user-friendly interface and provided detailed reporting and analytics.

• We could also integrate it with other tools like JIRA for better collaboration.

DHCP and DNS are network protocols used for assigning IP addresses and translating domain names to IP addresses respectively.

• DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and is used for assigning IP addresses to devices on a network.

• DNS stands for Domain Name System and is used for translating domain names to IP addresses.

• DHCP and DNS are both essential components of a network infrastructure.

• Without DHCP, network administrators would have to manually assign IP addresse...read more

Yes, I have knowledge of both Office 365 and Active Directory.

• I have experience in managing user accounts, groups, and permissions in Active Directory.

• I am familiar with Office 365 applications such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business.

• I have worked on configuring and troubleshooting Office 365 services using PowerShell.

• I understand the integration between Active Directory and Office 365, including Azure AD Connect and Single Sign-On (SSO).

Answering questions related to thermodynamic cycle, power plant engineering, steam engine and steam turbine.

• A thermodynamic cycle is a series of processes that convert heat into work.

• Power plant engineering deals with the design, construction, and operation of power plants.

• Steam engine uses steam to produce mechanical work while steam turbine uses steam to produce electrical power.

• Difference between steam engine and steam turbine is that steam engine is an external combustion...read more

I use techniques like visualization, repetition, and association to recall sentences effectively.

• Practice visualization by creating mental images of the sentences

• Repetition helps reinforce memory of the sentences

• Association with familiar concepts or personal experiences aids in recall

IaC stands for Infrastructure as Code, which is the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure through code instead of manual processes.

• IaC allows for infrastructure to be defined and managed using code, providing consistency and repeatability.

• Popular tools for IaC include Terraform, Ansible, and Chef.

• I have used Terraform in my project to define and provision cloud infrastructure resources.

I have extensive infrastructure experience and prior knowledge in various technologies.

• I have worked with virtualization technologies such as VMware and Hyper-V.

• I have experience with cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure.

• I am familiar with networking technologies such as TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and VLANs.

• I have worked with storage technologies such as SAN and NAS.

• I have experience with configuration management tools such as Ansible and Puppet.

• I am familiar with monitoring tools s...read more

Backup is the process of creating copies of data to prevent data loss, with types including full, incremental, and differential backups.

• Backup is the process of creating copies of data to prevent data loss.

• Types of backups include full, incremental, and differential backups.

• Full backup: A complete copy of all data at a specific point in time.

• Incremental backup: Copies only the data that has changed since the last backup.

• Differential backup: Copies all changes since the last f...read more

P2V and V2V migrations involve converting physical servers to virtual servers and vice versa.

• P2V migration converts a physical server to a virtual server by copying the contents of the physical server to a virtual machine.

• V2V migration involves transferring a virtual machine from one virtualization platform to another.

• Both migrations require careful planning, testing, and validation to ensure data integrity and minimal downtime.

• Tools like VMware Converter, Microsoft Virtual M...read more

iLO and iDRAC are remote management technologies for servers.

• iLO stands for Integrated Lights-Out and is a remote management technology for HP servers.

• iDRAC stands for Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller and is a remote management technology for Dell servers.

• Both technologies allow administrators to remotely manage and monitor servers, including power cycling, firmware updates, and hardware health monitoring.

• They also provide remote console access, allowing administrator...read more

To whitelist any mail in Outlook, you can add the sender's email address to the Safe Senders list.

• Open Outlook and go to the Home tab.

• Click on the Junk dropdown menu and select Junk E-mail Options.

• In the Junk E-mail Options window, go to the Safe Senders tab.

• Click on the Add button and enter the email address you want to whitelist.

• Click OK to save the changes.

• Any emails from the whitelisted address will now be delivered to your inbox.

My strength lies in my ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues efficiently and effectively.

• Strong problem-solving skills

• Extensive knowledge of infrastructure systems

• Ability to work well under pressure

• Excellent communication skills

• Experience with various troubleshooting tools and techniques

Application packaging is the process of creating a deployable package containing all necessary files and configurations for an application.

• Involves bundling all files, libraries, and dependencies required for an application to run

• Ensures consistency and ease of deployment across different environments

• Common tools used for application packaging include MSI, RPM, and Docker images

Sticky bit is a permission in Unix systems that allows only the owner of a file to delete or rename it.

• Sticky bit is represented by a 't' in the permissions of a file or directory.

• It is commonly used on directories to prevent users from deleting files owned by other users.

• An example of sticky bit usage is on the /tmp directory in Unix systems.

SeLinux is a security module for Linux systems that enforces access control policies. Umask is a command that sets default permissions for new files and directories.

• SeLinux stands for Security-Enhanced Linux and provides access control security policies for Linux systems.

• It restricts access to files, directories, and processes based on defined security policies.

• Umask is a command that sets default permissions for new files and directories created by users.

• It is represented as...read more

I expect a competitive stipend based on industry standards and my experience.

• I have researched industry standards for Infrastructure Engineer stipends

• I have considered my level of experience and qualifications

• I am open to negotiation based on the specific job responsibilities and benefits package

• I am primarily interested in finding a position that aligns with my career goals and offers opportunities for growth

Road pavement layers include subgrade, subbase, base, and surface layers.

• Subgrade is the native soil underneath the road.

• Subbase is a layer of gravel or crushed stone placed on top of the subgrade.

• Base is a layer of asphalt concrete or concrete placed on top of the subbase.

• Surface layer is the top layer of asphalt or concrete that vehicles drive on.

Snapshots based backup is a method of backing up data by capturing the state of a system at a specific point in time.

• Snapshots are essentially a 'picture' of the data at a particular moment, allowing for easy restoration if needed.

• They are commonly used in virtual environments to create point-in-time copies of virtual machines.

• Snapshots can be taken manually or automatically on a scheduled basis.

• They are typically stored separately from the original data to prevent corruption...read more

TCP/IP is a set of rules governing the exchange of data over the internet.

• TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.

• It is a suite of communication protocols used to connect devices over the internet.

• TCP ensures that data packets are delivered error-free and in sequence.

• IP is responsible for routing packets to their destination.

• Examples of TCP/IP applications include web browsing, email, and file transfer.

Drive failure refers to the malfunction or breakdown of a storage drive, resulting in data loss or inaccessibility.

• Drive failure can be caused by physical damage, such as overheating or mechanical issues.

• It can also be due to logical errors, like file system corruption or bad sectors.

• Regular backups are essential to prevent data loss in case of drive failure.

• Replacing the failed drive and restoring data from backups is the typical solution.

• RAID configurations can help mitigat...read more

DNS stands for Domain Name System, which translates domain names to IP addresses.

• DNS is like a phone book for the internet, translating human-readable domain names (like google.com) to IP addresses (like 172.217.3.206).

• It helps in routing internet traffic efficiently by directing requests to the correct servers.

• DNS records include A records (for IPv4 addresses), AAAA records (for IPv6 addresses), MX records (for mail servers), and more.

LVM stands for Logical Volume Manager, used for managing disk storage in Linux. NTP stands for Network Time Protocol, used for time synchronization.

• LVM allows for dynamic resizing of logical volumes

• NTP ensures accurate time synchronization across networked devices

• LVM can be used to create snapshots for backups

• NTP servers can be configured to sync time with external time sources

Terraform modules are reusable components that define a set of resources in a Terraform configuration.

• Modules help organize and reuse Terraform code

• They encapsulate a set of resources and can be shared across projects

• Modules can have input variables and output values

• They can be stored locally or remotely in a version control system like Git

Deployment end-end process involves planning, testing, executing, and monitoring the deployment of software or infrastructure changes.

• Planning the deployment process including identifying resources, scheduling downtime, and creating a rollback plan

• Testing the deployment in a staging environment to ensure compatibility and functionality

• Executing the deployment by pushing changes to production servers or infrastructure

• Monitoring the deployment for any issues or errors, and addr...read more

Cost optimization in Big Query involves optimizing query performance, storage usage, and data transfer costs.

• Utilize partitioned tables to reduce query costs by scanning only relevant partitions

• Use clustering to organize data within partitions and improve query performance

• Optimize queries by using efficient SQL syntax and avoiding unnecessary operations

• Leverage caching to reduce repeated query costs

• Monitor and analyze query execution details to identify opportunities for opti...read more

PowerCLI is important for automating and managing VMware infrastructure through scripting.

• PowerCLI allows for automation of repetitive tasks, saving time and reducing human error.

• It provides a way to manage VMware infrastructure through scripting, making it easier to scale and maintain.

• PowerCLI can be used to gather information, configure settings, and perform maintenance tasks on VMware environments.

• It enables integration with other tools and systems, enhancing overall effic...read more

SolarWinds is a popular network monitoring tool used by infrastructure engineers to monitor network performance and troubleshoot issues.

• SolarWinds provides real-time monitoring of network devices, servers, and applications.

• It offers customizable dashboards and alerts to track performance metrics and notify of any issues.

• SolarWinds can also generate reports on network performance and historical data for analysis.

• Infrastructure engineers use SolarWinds to identify bottlenecks, ...read more

The overall network set up includes hardware, software, protocols, and configurations to ensure efficient communication and data transfer.

• Designing and implementing network architecture

• Configuring routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices

• Setting up VLANs, VPNs, and other network security measures

• Monitoring network performance and troubleshooting issues

• Implementing redundancy and failover mechanisms for high availability

• Documenting network configurations and chan...read more