40+ System Administrator Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

I am proficient in Python and can code in Java and C++.

• Proficient in Python, can code in Java and C++

• Experience in developing web applications using Flask and Django frameworks

• Familiarity with data analysis libraries like Pandas and Numpy

• Experience in developing GUI applications using PyQt and Tkinter

• Knowledge of version control systems like Git and SVN

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

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

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

Polymorphism and encapsulation are two important OOP concepts. Polymorphism allows objects to take on multiple forms, while encapsulation ensures data security.

• Polymorphism allows objects to be treated as if they are of different types, depending on the context in which they are used.

• Encapsulation is the practice of hiding data and methods within a class, so that they cannot be accessed or modified from outside the class.

• Polymorphism and encapsulation work together to create ...read more

The basic requirement to install the WDS server is a Windows Server operating system.

• Windows Server operating system

• Sufficient disk space

• Active Directory Domain Services

• DHCP server

• DNS server

You can find the IP address of a machine by using command line tools or checking network settings.

• Use the 'ipconfig' command on Windows to find the IP address

• Use the 'ifconfig' command on Linux or macOS to find the IP address

• Check network settings in the system preferences or control panel

SMTP is a protocol used for sending emails, while POP3 is used for receiving emails. They have specific port numbers for communication.

• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending emails

• POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) is used for receiving emails

• SMTP uses port 25 for communication

• POP3 uses port 110 for communication

RJ45 and RJ11 connectors are types of connectors used in networking and telecommunications.

• RJ45 connectors are used for Ethernet connections and have 8 pins.

• RJ11 connectors are used for telephone connections and have 6 pins.

• RJ45 connectors are larger in size compared to RJ11 connectors.

• RJ45 connectors are commonly used in home and office networks.

• RJ11 connectors are commonly used for landline telephones and DSL connections.

Oops concept is a programming paradigm that focuses on objects and their interactions. Printing an array in reverse order involves iterating through the array and printing each element in reverse order. OS stands for Operating System.

• Oops concept involves encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.

• To print an array in reverse order, start from the last element and iterate backwards.

• Operating System is a software that manages computer hardware and software resources.

• Example:...read more

A System Administrator can manage Https sites by configuring and maintaining the necessary security protocols and certificates.

• A System Administrator should have knowledge of SSL/TLS protocols and certificates.

• They should be able to configure web servers to support Https.

• They should regularly update and renew SSL certificates.

• They should monitor and troubleshoot any issues related to Https connections.

• They should ensure proper encryption and security measures are in place.

• Exa...read more

Four basic principles of OOPS are encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

• Encapsulation: bundling of data and methods that manipulate the data within a single unit

• Inheritance: ability of a class to inherit properties and characteristics from a parent class

• Polymorphism: ability of objects to take on multiple forms or have multiple behaviors

• Abstraction: hiding of complex implementation details and providing a simpler interface for the user

There are two types of communication transmission in computer networking: analog and digital.

• Analog transmission involves continuous signals that vary in amplitude and frequency, such as traditional telephone lines.

• Digital transmission involves discrete signals represented by binary code, such as Ethernet cables and wireless networks.

Some of the latest computer processors include Intel Core i9, AMD Ryzen 9, and Apple M1.

• Intel Core i9

• AMD Ryzen 9

• Apple M1

Incident tickets are for immediate issues, while problem tickets are for underlying causes of recurring incidents.

• Incident tickets are created for immediate issues that need to be resolved quickly.

• Problem tickets are created to address the underlying causes of recurring incidents.

• Incident tickets focus on restoring service as quickly as possible.

• Problem tickets focus on identifying and resolving the root cause to prevent future incidents.

• Examples: Incident ticket - Server out...read more

Citrix Workspace provides secure access to applications and data from any device, anywhere.

• Allows users to access their virtual desktops and applications from any device with an internet connection

• Provides a unified interface for accessing all applications and data

• Enhances security by centralizing data and applications in the data center

• Improves productivity by allowing users to work from anywhere

• Reduces IT costs by simplifying application management and reducing hardware req...read more

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 information such as subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses.

• DHCP leases are temporary and must be renewed periodically.

• DHCP can b...read more

Samba is a free and open-source software that allows file and print sharing between Linux and Windows systems.

• Samba server enables Linux machines to share files and printers with Windows machines.

• It uses the SMB/CIFS protocol to provide seamless integration with Windows clients.

• Samba can also act as a domain controller, allowing Windows clients to authenticate against a Linux server.

• Samba can be configured through its configuration file, smb.conf.

• Examples of Samba commands in...read more

Windows servers are operating systems designed by Microsoft for networked environments, providing various functions such as file sharing, user authentication, and remote access.

• Windows servers provide services such as Active Directory for user authentication and group policy management.

• They support file sharing through protocols like SMB (Server Message Block).

• Windows servers can host websites and web applications using Internet Information Services (IIS).

• Remote access to Win...read more

Active Directory is a Microsoft service that manages network resources and user accounts.

• Centralized database for managing network resources and user accounts

• Allows for single sign-on authentication

• Can be used to manage access to resources across multiple domains

• Can be integrated with other Microsoft services like Exchange and SharePoint

• Uses a hierarchical structure of domains, trees, and forests

• Can be managed through a GUI or command-line tools like PowerShell

Polymorphism is the ability of an object to take on many forms.

• Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as if they are of the same class.

• It is achieved through method overloading and method overriding.

• Example: A shape class can have different subclasses like circle, square, triangle, etc. and all can be treated as shapes.

• Polymorphism helps in achieving code reusability and flexibility.

NFS secure server is a network file system that provides secure access to shared files over a network.

• NFS secure server uses Kerberos authentication to provide secure access to shared files.

• It encrypts the data being transferred over the network to prevent eavesdropping.

• It also uses Access Control Lists (ACLs) to control access to shared files.

• Examples of NFS secure servers include Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu.

• NFS secure server is commonly used in enterprise environmen...read more

Network teaming is the process of combining multiple network interfaces to work as a single interface.

• Teaming provides redundancy and load balancing.

• It can be done at the software or hardware level.

• Teaming can be configured for different modes such as active-backup, round-robin, and LACP.

• Examples of teaming software include Linux bonding and Windows NIC teaming.

A host entry is an entry in a computer's host file that maps a hostname to an IP address.

• Host entries are used to override DNS resolution for specific hostnames.

• They are commonly used for local development or testing purposes.

• An example of a host entry is '127.0.0.1 localhost', which maps the hostname 'localhost' to the loopback IP address.

• Host entries can also be used to block access to certain websites by mapping their hostname to an invalid IP address.

An archive is a collection of historical records or documents.

• Archives are used to preserve and organize important documents and records.

• Archives can be physical or digital.

• Examples of archives include the National Archives and Records Administration and the Internet Archive.

• Archives can be used for research, historical preservation, and legal purposes.

I chose Linux because of its stability, security, and flexibility. RPM is a package manager used in Red Hat-based distributions, while Yum is a command-line package management utility.

• I chose Linux because it is an open-source operating system that offers better stability and security compared to other options.

• Linux provides a high level of flexibility, allowing me to customize and optimize the system according to specific needs.

• RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) is a package mana...read more

To create a cluster in VM, you need to configure shared storage, install clustering software, and set up cluster nodes.

• Configure shared storage for the cluster

• Install clustering software on each node

• Set up cluster nodes and configure them to communicate with each other

There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.

• IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numerical addresses, expressed in four octets separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.1.1)

• IPv6 addresses are 128-bit hexadecimal addresses, expressed in eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons (e.g. 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334)

iptables is a Linux-based firewall tool that uses packet filtering and NAT to control network traffic.

• iptables is used to set up, maintain, and inspect the tables of IP packet filter rules in the Linux kernel.

• It can be used to block or allow traffic based on various criteria such as IP address, port number, protocol, etc.

• iptables can also be used for Network Address Translation (NAT) to modify the source or destination IP address of packets.

• Examples of iptables commands inclu...read more

TCP Wrapper is a host-based network access control mechanism.

• It provides an additional layer of security by filtering incoming network traffic based on the IP address of the remote host.

• It uses the /etc/hosts.allow and /etc/hosts.deny files to determine which hosts are allowed or denied access.

• It can be used to restrict access to specific services such as SSH, FTP, and Telnet.

• It can also be used to log connection attempts and send alerts when unauthorized access is attempted.

Red Hat is a multinational software company known for its enterprise operating system, Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

• Red Hat is a leading provider of open source solutions.

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a popular operating system used in enterprise environments.

• Red Hat offers a range of products and services, including cloud computing solutions.

• Red Hat was acquired by IBM in 2019.

Creating DNS records involves adding various types of records to a DNS server to map domain names to IP addresses.

• Access the DNS management console of your DNS provider or server

• Add a new DNS record by specifying the type (e.g. A, CNAME, MX, TXT), name, and value

• Save the changes and wait for the DNS propagation to take effect

To create a HyperV machine, use Hyper-V Manager or PowerShell to create a new virtual machine and configure its settings.

• Open Hyper-V Manager

• Click on 'Action' and then 'New' to create a new virtual machine

• Follow the wizard to set up the virtual machine with desired settings

• Alternatively, use PowerShell cmdlets like New-VM to create a virtual machine

Server Migration is the process of transferring data, applications, and settings from one server to another.

• Involves moving data, applications, and settings from one server to another

• Ensures minimal downtime and data loss

• Requires careful planning and coordination

• Commonly done to upgrade hardware, software, or consolidate servers

Network is important for communication, sharing resources, and accessing information.

• Facilitates communication between devices and users

• Allows for sharing of resources such as files, printers, and internet connection

• Enables access to information and services across different locations

• Increases efficiency and productivity in organizations

• Supports collaboration and teamwork among users

• Enhances security through network monitoring and access control

Microservice architecture is an architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services.

• Microservices are small, independent, and autonomous services that communicate with each other through APIs.

• Each microservice is responsible for a specific business capability and can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.

• Microservices promote flexibility, scalability, and fault tolerance in complex applications.

• Examples of microservice arc...read more

A partition is a logical division of a hard drive that allows different operating systems or data sets to be stored separately.

• Partitions help organize and separate data on a hard drive

• Each partition has its own file system and can be formatted independently

• Common partition types include primary, extended, and logical partitions

VDI can be managed by monitoring performance, updating software, optimizing resources, and ensuring security.

• Monitor performance regularly to identify any issues or bottlenecks.

• Update VDI software and patches to ensure system stability and security.

• Optimize resources by balancing workloads and adjusting configurations as needed.

• Ensure security measures are in place, such as encryption, access controls, and regular backups.

• Consider implementing automation tools for easier mana...read more

Networking is the practice of connecting computers and other devices to share resources and information.

• Networking involves the use of hardware such as routers, switches, and cables to create a network.

• It also involves the use of software protocols like TCP/IP to enable communication between devices.

• Networking allows for sharing of resources such as files, printers, and internet connections among connected devices.

• Examples of networking technologies include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, a...read more

cd stands for change directory. It is a command used in command-line interfaces to navigate between directories.

• cd is used to change the current working directory in a command-line interface

• It is commonly used in operating systems like Unix, Linux, and Windows

• cd followed by a directory name or path changes the current directory to the specified one

• cd .. moves up one level in the directory hierarchy

• cd / takes you to the root directory

Types of networking include LAN, WAN, MAN, WLAN, PAN, SAN, CAN, and VPN.

• LAN (Local Area Network) - connects devices within a limited area like a home or office

• WAN (Wide Area Network) - connects devices over a large geographical area

• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) - covers a larger area than LAN but smaller than WAN

• WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) - uses wireless technology to connect devices in a limited area

• PAN (Personal Area Network) - connects devices within an individua...read more