20+ Server Administrator Interview Questions and Answers

Server administration involves managing servers, ensuring their availability, security, and performance.

• Installing and configuring servers and applications

• Monitoring server performance and troubleshooting issues

• Managing user accounts and permissions

• Implementing security measures and backups

• Updating and patching software and operating systems

• Responding to alerts and incidents

• Documenting server configurations and procedures

Questions related to Server Administration including domains, GPO, VM creation and management in Azure, port blocking, and FSMO roles.

• Domain is a logical group of computers, users, and devices in a network. GPO is a group policy object that defines rules and settings for a group of users or computers.

• To create a VM in Azure, you need to select the appropriate image, size, and configuration options. You can use Azure Portal, Azure PowerShell, or Azure CLI to create a VM.

• To app...read more

I will implement various security measures such as firewalls, access controls, regular updates, and backups.

• Install and configure firewalls to prevent unauthorized access

• Implement access controls to restrict access to sensitive data

• Regularly update software and operating systems to patch vulnerabilities

• Perform regular backups to ensure data can be restored in case of a security breach

Hardware and software firewalls are security measures that protect networks from unauthorized access.

• Hardware firewall is a physical device that filters traffic between networks.

• Software firewall is a program that runs on a computer and filters traffic to and from that computer.

• Firewalls use port forwarding to allow specific traffic to pass through.

• Protocols such as TCP and UDP are used to determine how data is transmitted.

• Firewalls can be configured to block or allow traffic...read more

Possible reasons for VM migration failure to other host

• Incompatible hardware or software on the destination host

• Insufficient resources on the destination host

• Network connectivity issues between the source and destination hosts

• Security restrictions preventing the migration

• Incorrect configuration of the virtual machine

• Lack of permissions for the migration process

RAID configuration involves selecting the appropriate RAID level and configuring the disks accordingly.

• Choose the appropriate RAID level based on the desired level of redundancy and performance

• Identify the disks to be used in the RAID array

• Configure the RAID array using the appropriate software or hardware tools

• Test the RAID array to ensure it is functioning properly

The default Mysql port is 3306.

• Mysql uses port 3306 by default for communication.

• The port number can be changed in the configuration file.

• To connect to a Mysql server, the client must specify the correct port number.

Server hardening is the process of securing a server by reducing its attack surface and minimizing vulnerabilities.

• Server hardening involves configuring the server to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, data theft, and other security threats.

• This can include installing security patches and updates, disabling unnecessary services and ports, and implementing access controls.

• Examples of server hardening measures include using firewalls, implementing strong passwords and encr...read more

Network topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of network devices and connections.

• There are several types of network topologies such as bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid.

• Bus topology connects all devices to a single cable, while star topology connects all devices to a central hub.

• Ring topology connects devices in a circular chain, while mesh topology connects devices to each other in a network.

• Hybrid topology is a combination of two or more topologies.

• The choi...read more

Logical Volume Management (LVM) is a method of allocating space on mass storage devices that allows for flexible partitioning.

• LVM allows for the creation of logical volumes that can span multiple physical disks.

• It provides features such as resizing volumes on-the-fly and creating snapshots for backups.

• LVM is commonly used in enterprise environments to manage large amounts of data.

• Examples of LVM tools include pvcreate, vgcreate, lvcreate, and lvextend.

VM stands for virtual machine, which is a software emulation of a computer system. Office 365 is a cloud-based suite of productivity tools.

• A virtual machine is a software program that emulates a physical computer, allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine.

• Office 365 is a subscription-based service provided by Microsoft that includes popular productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• VMs are commonly used in server administration...read more

Lease duration defines how long an IP address is assigned, while reservation ensures a specific IP is always assigned to a device.

• Lease Duration: The time period an IP address is assigned to a device before it must be renewed.

• Example: A lease duration of 24 hours means the device must renew its IP after that period.

• Reservation: A fixed IP address assigned to a specific device based on its MAC address.

• Example: A printer can be reserved an IP address so it always has the same a...read more

In a daily environment, a Server Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining servers to ensure they are running efficiently and securely.

• Regularly monitor server performance and troubleshoot any issues that arise

• Implement security measures to protect servers from cyber threats

• Update software and firmware to ensure servers are running on the latest versions

• Backup data regularly to prevent data loss in case of server failure

A server is a computer or software program that provides functionality for other programs or devices.

• A server is a computer or software program that serves requests from clients.

• Servers can provide various services such as file storage, email, web hosting, and database management.

• Examples of servers include web servers like Apache or Nginx, email servers like Microsoft Exchange, and file servers like Windows Server.

To add an IP to a server, you need to access the server's network settings and configure a new IP address.

• Access the server's network settings

• Locate the network adapter or interface that you want to add the IP to

• Configure a new IP address for the adapter or interface

• Save the changes and restart the network service if necessary

Swap is a space on a hard disk used as virtual memory. It can be increased by creating a swap file or partition.

• Swap is used when the system's physical memory (RAM) is full.

• To increase swap, a swap file can be created using the 'dd' command.

• Alternatively, a swap partition can be created during the installation of the operating system.

• The 'swapon' command is used to activate the swap space.

• The 'free' command can be used to check the swap space.

The Linux booting process involves several stages including BIOS, bootloader, kernel initialization, and user space initialization.

• BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) performs Power-On Self Test (POST) and locates the bootloader

• Bootloader (such as GRUB) loads the Linux kernel into memory

• Kernel initializes hardware, mounts the root filesystem, and starts the init process

• User space initialization involves starting system services and launching the login prompt

Breaking the root password is unethical and illegal.

• Breaking the root password is a violation of system security and can lead to unauthorized access.

• It is important to follow ethical guidelines and respect the privacy and security of systems.

• If you forget the root password, it is recommended to use proper procedures to reset it.

• Always prioritize security and adhere to best practices to protect sensitive information.

To monitor high CPU, use performance monitoring tools, check system logs, analyze process utilization, and optimize resource allocation.

• Utilize performance monitoring tools like Task Manager, Resource Monitor, or third-party software.

• Check system logs for any CPU-related errors or warnings.

• Analyze process utilization to identify any specific processes consuming excessive CPU resources.

• Optimize resource allocation by adjusting CPU affinity, scheduling priorities, or upgrading ...read more

Mask is a pattern used to determine which bits in a value should be considered, while umask is a permission mask used to set default permissions for newly created files and directories.

• Mask is used to select specific bits in a value, often used in bitwise operations

• Umask is a permission mask that determines the default permissions for newly created files and directories

• Masking can be used to extract or manipulate specific bits in a binary value

• Umask values are subtracted from...read more

vMotion is a feature in VMware that allows live migration of virtual machines between physical servers without downtime.

• vMotion enables workload balancing, hardware maintenance, and data center consolidation.

• It requires shared storage between the source and destination hosts.

• vMotion can be initiated manually or automatically based on resource utilization.

• It is a key feature in VMware's vSphere suite of virtualization products.

• Example: Moving a virtual machine from one host to...read more

Virtualization is the process of creating a virtual version of a device or resource, such as a server, storage device, network or operating system.

• Allows multiple virtual instances to run on a single physical machine

• Improves efficiency by maximizing resource utilization

• Enhances flexibility and scalability of IT infrastructure

• Examples include VMware, Hyper-V, and VirtualBox

Active Directory FSMO roles are specialized tasks assigned to domain controllers for efficient directory management.

• There are five FSMO roles: Schema Master, Domain Naming Master, RID Master, PDC Emulator, and Infrastructure Master.

• The Schema Master manages changes to the Active Directory schema, ensuring consistency across the forest.

• The Domain Naming Master controls the addition and removal of domains in the forest, preventing duplicate domain names.

• The RID Master allocates...read more

FSMO roles are specialized domain controller tasks in Active Directory.

• There are 5 FSMO roles: Schema Master, Domain Naming Master, RID Master, PDC Emulator, and Infrastructure Master.

• Schema Master: responsible for making changes to the Active Directory schema.

• Domain Naming Master: responsible for adding or removing domains in a forest.

• RID Master: responsible for allocating RIDs (Relative Identifiers) to domain controllers.

• PDC Emulator: responsible for backward compatibility ...read more

DMG port is a type of port used for connecting external devices to a Mac computer.

• DMG port stands for Digital Media Gateway port.

• It is commonly used for connecting external storage devices, such as hard drives or flash drives, to a Mac computer.

• DMG ports can also be used for connecting other peripherals, such as cameras or printers, to a Mac computer.

Resetting the root password on a server

• Access the server's console or SSH

• Boot into single-user mode

• Mount the filesystem in read/write mode

• Use the 'passwd' command to change the root password

• Reboot the server to apply the changes