40+ Server Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

To troubleshoot HPE hardware not booting, check power supply, cables, BIOS settings, hardware connections, and perform diagnostics.

• Check power supply and ensure it is properly connected and functioning

• Inspect cables and connections to ensure they are secure and undamaged

• Verify BIOS settings and ensure they are correctly configured for booting

• Check hardware connections such as RAM, hard drives, and expansion cards

• Perform diagnostics using HPE tools or built-in diagnostics to i...read more

I am familiar with various operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

• Windows

• Linux

• macOS

OST and PST are file formats used by Microsoft Outlook to store email data.

• OST stands for Offline Storage Table and is used for offline access to email data.

• PST stands for Personal Storage Table and is used for archiving email data.

• OST files are created when Outlook is used in Cached Exchange Mode.

• PST files can be imported or exported to transfer email data between computers or accounts.

I have extensive experience with Dell and HP servers, focusing on hardware configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

• Configured Dell PowerEdge servers for various applications, optimizing RAID settings for performance and redundancy.

• Performed hardware upgrades on HP ProLiant servers, including adding RAM and replacing hard drives to enhance performance.

• Utilized Dell OpenManage and HP Insight Manager for monitoring server health and managing firmware updates.

• Troubleshot ...read more

Yes, I am familiar with Office365 and can configure it.

• I have experience with setting up and managing Office365 accounts

• I am proficient in configuring Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business

• I am familiar with PowerShell commands for Office365 administration

• I can troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Office365 services

FSMO roles are flexible single master operations roles in Active Directory that control specific operations and functions.

• FSMO roles are used in Active Directory to manage and control specific operations and functions.

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

• Schema Master role manages updates and modifications to the Active Directory schema.

• Domain Naming Master role controls the addition or removal of ...read more

Computing uses various disk types, including HDDs, SSDs, and hybrid drives, each with unique performance and storage characteristics.

• Hard Disk Drives (HDD): Traditional spinning disks that offer large storage capacities at a lower cost, commonly used in desktops and servers.

• Solid State Drives (SSD): Faster storage devices with no moving parts, providing quicker data access and improved performance, ideal for gaming and high-performance applications.

• Hybrid Drives (SSHD): Combi...read more

Use a log collection tool to capture logs from any random location.

• Identify the log collection tool that suits your needs.

• Configure the tool to collect logs from the desired location.

• Ensure that the tool has the necessary permissions to access the logs.

• Schedule the tool to run at regular intervals to capture new logs.

• An example of a log collection tool is Logstash.

I have extensive experience with server hardware, including assembly, maintenance, and troubleshooting across various environments.

• Built and configured servers from scratch, selecting components based on performance needs and budget constraints.

• Performed regular maintenance on server hardware, including cleaning, replacing faulty components, and upgrading memory and storage.

• Troubleshot hardware issues, such as diagnosing failing hard drives and replacing them with minimal dow...read more

VM migration issues can arise from various factors including network, storage, and compatibility problems.

• Network connectivity issues: If the source and destination hosts cannot communicate, migration will fail.

• Insufficient resources: Lack of CPU, memory, or storage on the destination host can prevent migration.

• Incompatible VM configurations: Different hypervisor versions or settings may not support migration.

• Storage accessibility: If the VM's storage is not accessible from t...read more

IBM has a wide range of servers including BladeCenter, System x, Power Systems, and z Systems.

• BladeCenter servers

• System x servers

• Power Systems servers

• z Systems servers

A DNS server translates domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites using easy-to-remember names.

• DNS stands for Domain Name System, which is essential for internet functionality.

• It resolves human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) to machine-readable IP addresses (e.g., 192.0.2.1).

• There are different types of DNS servers: authoritative, recursive, and caching servers.

• An authoritative DNS server holds the DNS records for a domain and responds t...read more

iLO IP stands for Integrated Lights-Out IP. It is a management processor embedded in HP ProLiant servers for remote server management.

• iLO IP is used to remotely manage and monitor HP ProLiant servers.

• It provides features like power control, remote console access, and virtual media support.

• iLO IP allows administrators to perform tasks without physically being present at the server location.

• It has its own dedicated IP address for remote access.

• iLO IP can be accessed through a w...read more

Migrating from Windows Server 2019 to 2022 involves planning, preparation, and execution to ensure a smooth transition.

• 1. Assess current environment: Evaluate applications and services running on Windows Server 2019.

• 2. Backup data: Create full backups of the server and critical data to prevent loss during migration.

• 3. Check compatibility: Ensure that hardware and software are compatible with Windows Server 2022.

• 4. Plan migration strategy: Choose between in-place upgrade or fr...read more

The election process in VMware HA ensures a master host is selected to manage failover and resource allocation.

• VMware HA (High Availability) uses an election process to determine the master host in a cluster.

• The master host is responsible for monitoring the health of other hosts and VMs.

• If the master host fails, the remaining hosts will hold a new election to select a new master.

• The election is based on the host's priority, which can be configured in the cluster settings.

• For ...read more

Components of a server include CPU, RAM, hard drives, power supply, and network interface cards.

• CPU (Central Processing Unit) - processes data

• RAM (Random Access Memory) - stores data temporarily

• Hard drives - stores data permanently

• Power supply - provides power to the server

• Network interface cards - connects the server to a network

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) enhances data storage reliability and performance through disk redundancy.

• RAID combines multiple physical disks into a single logical unit.

• RAID levels (e.g., RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5) offer different balances of performance, redundancy, and storage capacity.

• RAID 0 stripes data across disks for improved speed but offers no redundancy.

• RAID 1 mirrors data on two disks, providing redundancy but halving storage capacity.

• RAID 5 uses stripin...read more

Mac binding is a security feature that restricts network access to devices with specific MAC addresses.

• Mac binding is also known as MAC address filtering.

• It is commonly used in network security to prevent unauthorized access.

• It works by allowing only devices with specific MAC addresses to connect to the network.

• MAC addresses are unique identifiers assigned to network devices.

• For example, a server administrator may use MAC binding to restrict access to a network printer to onl...read more

Backup is the process of creating copies of data to prevent data loss in case of system failures or disasters.

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

• Full backup involves copying all data in a system.

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

• Differential backup copies all data that has changed since the last full backup.

• Other types of backup include mirror backup, synthetic backup, and continuous data p...read more

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. There are several types of RAID configurations.

• RAID 0 - Striping

• RAID 1 - Mirroring

• RAID 5 - Striping with parity

• RAID 6 - Striping with double parity

• RAID 10 - Combining RAID 0 and RAID 1

• RAID 50 - Combining RAID 5 and RAID 0

• RAID 60 - Combining RAID 6 and RAID 0

Servers can be classified based on their purpose and functionality.

• Web servers

• Application servers

• Database servers

• Mail servers

• File servers

• Print servers

• Proxy servers

• Virtual servers

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

RHEL 7 has improved security, performance, and scalability compared to RHEL 6.

• RHEL 7 uses systemd instead of init

• RHEL 7 has better support for Docker containers

• RHEL 7 has improved security features such as firewalld and SELinux

• RHEL 7 has better performance and scalability with support for larger systems and more CPUs

• RHEL 7 has updated versions of software packages compared to RHEL 6

A virtual machine is a software-based emulation of a physical computer that can run operating systems and applications.

• Virtual machines allow multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine

• They are isolated from each other and can be easily created, duplicated, or deleted

• Common virtual machine software includes VMware, VirtualBox, and Hyper-V

Backups can be taken using various methods depending on the type of data and system. It is important to have a backup strategy in place.

• Identify the data that needs to be backed up

• Choose a backup method (full, incremental, differential)

• Select a backup location (local, cloud, offsite)

• Schedule backups regularly

• Test backups to ensure data can be restored

• Consider disaster recovery options

Some significant features of UNIX include multi-user capability, multitasking, portability, and a hierarchical file system.

• Multi-user capability allows multiple users to access the system simultaneously.

• Multitasking enables running multiple processes at the same time.

• Portability means UNIX can run on various hardware platforms.

• Hierarchical file system organizes files in a tree-like structure for easy navigation.

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a network protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses to devices.

• DHCP is used to simplify network administration by automatically assigning IP addresses to devices.

• It allows devices to join a network without manual configuration.

• DHCP servers can also assign other network configuration settings, such as subnet mask and default gateway.

• DHCP leases are temporary and must be renewed periodically.

• DHCP can be used in b...read more