400+ System Administrator Interview Questions and Answers

Cloud technology is the delivery of computing services over the internet. Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) solution.

• Cloud technology allows users to access data and applications from anywhere with an internet connection.

• Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based solution that allows organizations to manage mobile devices and applications.

• MAM allows organizations to manage and secure applications and data on mobile...read more

APNS is Apple's push notification service. Expired APNS certificate will impact MDM enrolled devices.

• APNS is used to send push notifications to Apple devices

• APNS certificate needs to be renewed annually

• If APNS certificate is not renewed, push notifications will not be delivered to enrolled devices

• MDM solutions rely on APNS to manage and control enrolled devices

It depends on the app's settings and the user's permissions.

• If the managed app allows opening zip files and the user has permission to do so, then they can open it.

• If the app does not allow opening zip files or the user does not have permission, then they cannot open it.

• The user should check with their IT department or the app's documentation to determine if zip files are allowed.

• If the zip file contains a potentially harmful file type, the app may block it from being opened.

I would take the initiative to learn the new programming language as quickly as possible.

• Research the best resources for learning the language

• Practice coding in the new language regularly

• Seek guidance and mentorship from experienced programmers

• Attend workshops and conferences to enhance knowledge

• Apply the new language in real-world projects to gain experience

Passcode and PIN are both used for authentication, but they differ in their length and complexity.

• A passcode is typically longer than a PIN and can include letters, numbers, and symbols.

• A PIN is usually a 4-6 digit number.

• Passcodes are generally considered more secure than PINs.

• Examples of passcodes include the password for your email account or the code to unlock your phone.

• Examples of PINs include the code to access your bank account or the PIN to unlock your SIM card.

To check available physical volumes, volume groups, and logical volumes, you can use the 'pvdisplay', 'vgdisplay', and 'lvdisplay' commands.

• Use 'pvdisplay' command to display information about physical volumes.

• Use 'vgdisplay' command to display information about volume groups.

• Use 'lvdisplay' command to display information about logical volumes.

• These commands provide detailed information about the available physical volumes, volume groups, and logical volumes on the system.

• You...read more

To recover root password, boot into single-user mode and reset the password.

• Reboot the system and press 'e' at the GRUB menu to edit the boot options.

• Add 'single' or 'init=/bin/bash' to the end of the 'linux' line and press F10 to boot.

• Run 'passwd' command to reset the root password.

• Reboot the system and login with the new password.

Restarting a service stops and then starts it again, while reloading a service refreshes its configuration without stopping it.

• Restarting a service completely stops it and then starts it again

• Reloading a service refreshes its configuration without stopping it

• Restarting a service is useful when there are critical changes or issues

• Reloading a service is useful when only the configuration needs to be updated

To check server performance, monitor CPU, memory, disk usage. Use tools like top, htop, iostat. Check logs for errors.

• Monitor CPU usage with top or htop command

• Monitor memory usage with free or vmstat command

• Monitor disk usage with df or iostat command

• Check logs for errors related to the application

• Use performance monitoring tools like Nagios or Zabbix

Yes, we can differ an OS update for an iOS device using an MDM solution.

• MDM solution allows administrators to control the update process

• Administrators can choose to delay or skip updates for certain devices

• This can be done by creating update policies and assigning them to specific devices or groups

• For example, an organization may choose to delay updates for a few days to ensure compatibility with their internal apps

• MDM solutions like Jamf, Microsoft Intune, and VMware Workspa...read more

Check if the monitor is turned on and connected properly. Restart the computer.

• Check if the monitor is turned on and connected properly

• Check if the cables are connected properly

• Restart the computer

• Check if the graphics card is working properly

There are different types of backups, including full, incremental, and differential backups.

• Full backup: A complete backup of all data and files.

• Incremental backup: Only backs up the changes made since the last backup.

• Differential backup: Backs up all changes made since the last full backup.

• Scheduled backups: Regularly scheduled backups to ensure data is protected.

• Offsite backups: Storing backups in a separate location for disaster recovery.

• Cloud backups: Backing up data to r...read more

As a system administrator, my core responsibility would be to troubleshoot and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

• Identify the root cause of the issue

• Check for any backups or redundancies that can be used

• Communicate the issue to management and other relevant parties

• Work with the team to resolve the issue as quickly as possible

• Document the issue and the steps taken to resolve it for future reference

Yes, it is possible to block screen capture feature on an iOS device even if it is not enrolled through DEP.

• You can use a mobile device management (MDM) solution to block screen capture feature on iOS devices.

• MDM solutions like Jamf, Microsoft Intune, and VMware Workspace ONE can help you enforce policies on iOS devices.

• You can create a policy in your MDM solution to disable the screen capture feature on iOS devices.

• This policy will apply to all iOS devices that are enrolled ...read more

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, used to securely connect to a private network over the internet.

• Understand the VPN setup and configuration

• Check VPN client software for any issues

• Verify network connectivity and firewall settings

• Ensure correct VPN credentials are being used

• Check VPN server logs for any errors

• Restart VPN services if necessary

Tools for identifying and solving problems as a System Administrator

• Monitoring tools like Nagios, Zabbix, and PRTG

• Log analysis tools like Splunk, ELK Stack, and Graylog

• Network analysis tools like Wireshark and tcpdump

• Remote access tools like SSH and RDP

• Scripting languages like Python and Bash

• Virtualization tools like VMware and VirtualBox

• Backup and recovery tools like Veeam and Backup Exec

I would check the system logs, hardware components, and power supply to identify the root cause of the shutdown.

• Check system logs for any error messages or warnings

• Verify hardware components such as RAM, CPU, and hard drive

• Check power supply and ensure it is functioning properly

• Look for any recent changes or updates that may have caused the shutdown

• Perform stress tests to identify any potential hardware issues

Clustering is the process of grouping similar objects together based on certain criteria.

• Clustering is used in various fields like data analysis, machine learning, and network management.

• Types of clustering include hierarchical clustering, k-means clustering, and density-based clustering.

• Hierarchical clustering creates a tree-like structure of clusters.

• K-means clustering partitions data into k clusters based on similarity.

• Density-based clustering groups objects based on their...read more

AD is Active Directory, a directory service developed by Microsoft. ISO layers refer to the OSI model, and TCP/IP is a protocol suite.

• Active Directory is a directory service used to manage resources in a network.

• ISO layers refer to the Open Systems Interconnection model, which is a conceptual model used to describe network communication.

• TCP/IP is a protocol suite used for communication between devices on a network.

• TCP/IP consists of four layers: application, transport, intern...read more

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle.

• SDLC is a process used by software development teams to design, develop, and test high-quality software.

• It consists of several phases including planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance.

• Each phase has its own set of activities and deliverables that must be completed before moving on to the next phase.

• SDLC helps ensure that software is developed on time, within budget, and meets the needs of the end-users.

• Exampl...read more

To extend LVM, follow these steps: 1. Create a new partition. 2. Initialize the partition as a physical volume. 3. Add the physical volume to the volume group. 4. Extend the logical volume. 5. Resize the file system.

• Create a new partition using tools like fdisk or parted.

• Initialize the partition as a physical volume using the pvcreate command.

• Add the physical volume to the volume group using the vgextend command.

• Extend the logical volume using the lvextend command.

• Resize the ...read more

To fix a system that is unable to boot, you can try troubleshooting steps such as checking hardware connections, running diagnostics, repairing the operating system, or restoring from a backup.

• Check hardware connections to ensure everything is properly connected

• Run diagnostics to identify any hardware or software issues

• Repair the operating system using recovery tools or installation media

• Restore the system from a backup if available

• If necessary, seek assistance from technical...read more

Yes, I am familiar with DNS, DHCP, Exchange version, and Office 365.

• DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses.

• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) assigns IP addresses to devices on a network.

• Exchange version refers to the version of Microsoft Exchange Server, which is used for email, calendar, and contacts.

• Office 365 is a cloud-based suite of productivity tools, including email, calendar, and document collaboration.

• I have ex...read more

BSOD and slow performance troubleshooting

• Check for hardware issues such as faulty RAM or hard drive

• Update drivers and firmware

• Scan for malware and viruses

• Check for overheating

• Review system logs for errors

• Disable unnecessary startup programs

• Perform a clean boot

• Check for available updates and patches

• Perform a system restore

• Reinstall the operating system if necessary

In case of Blue screen of death, I would first try to identify the cause of the issue and then troubleshoot accordingly.

• Check for any recent hardware or software changes that may have caused the issue

• Restart the computer and see if the issue persists

• Run diagnostic tools to check for hardware failures

• Check for any available Windows updates or driver updates

• If necessary, restore the system to a previous stable state using System Restore

Explanation of IP address, local and roaming users, organization unit, Active Directory Domain Service, DNS, and Hyper-V.

• IP address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device on a network.

• Local user is a user account that is created on a specific device and can only be used on that device.

• Roaming user is a user account that can be used on multiple devices within a network.

• Organization unit is a container object in Active Directory used to organize and manage net...read more

ESXi can be installed using ISO or USB. Update using vSphere Update Manager. Configure using vSphere Client or PowerCLI.

• To install ESXi, download the ISO image and burn it to a CD or create a bootable USB drive. Boot the server from the CD or USB and follow the installation wizard.

• To update ESXi, use vSphere Update Manager. It can be used to update multiple hosts at once.

• To configure ESXi, use vSphere Client or PowerCLI. vSphere Client is a GUI tool while PowerCLI is a comman...read more