• What is Active Directory?
Active Directory is the central location for configuration information, authentication requests, and information about all of the objects that are stored within your forest. Using Active Directory, you can efficiently manage users, computers, groups, printers, applications, and other directory-enabled objects from one secure, centralized location.
• What is LDAP?
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol for communications between LDAP Servers and LDAP clients. LDAP servers store "directories" which are access by LDAP clients.
LDAP is called lightweight because it is a smaller and easier protocol which was derived from the X.500 DAP (Directory Access Protocol) defined in the OSI network protocol stack.
LDAP servers store a hierarchical directory of information. In LDAP parlance, a fully-qualified name for a directory entry is called a Distinguished Name. Unlike DNS (Domain Name Service) FQDN's (Fully Qualified Domain Name), LDAP DN's store the most significant data to the right.
• Can you connect Active Directory to other 3rd-party Directory Services? Name a few options.
• Where is the AD database held? What other folders are related to AD?• What is the SYSVOL folder?
• Name the AD NCs and replication issues for each NC
• What are application partitions? When do I use them
• How do you create a new application partition
• How do you view replication properties for AD partitions and DCs?
• What is the Global Catalog?
• How do you view all the GCs in the forest?
• Why not make all DCs in a large forest as GCs?
• Trying to look at the Schema, how can I do that?
• What are the Support Tools? Why do I need them?
• What is LDP? What is REPLMON? What is ADSIEDIT? What is NETDOM? What is REPADMIN?
• What are sites? What are they used for?
• What’s the difference between a site link’s schedule and interval?
• What is the KCC?
• What is the ISTG? Who has that role by default?
• What are the requirements for installing AD on a new server?
• What can you do to promote a server to DC if you’re in a remote location with slow WAN link?
• How can you forcibly remove AD from a server, and what do you do later?
• Can I get user passwords from the AD database?
• What tool would I use to try to grab security related packets from the wire?
• Name some OU design considerations.
• What is tombstone lifetime attribute?
• What do you do to install a new Windows 2003 DC in a Windows 2000 AD?
• What do you do to install a new Windows 2003 R2 DC in a Windows 2003 AD?
• How would you find all users that have not logged on since last month?
• What are the DS* commands?
• What are the FSMO roles? Who has them by default? What happens when each one fails?
• I want to look at the RID allocation table for a DC. What do I do?
• What’s the difference between transferring a FSMO role and seizing one? Which one should you NOT seize? Why?
• How do you configure a “stand-by operation master” for any of the roles?
• How do you backup AD?
• How do you restore AD?
• How do you change the DS Restore admin password?
• Why can’t you restore a DC that was backed up 4 months ago?
• What are GPOs?
• What is the order in which GPOs are applied?
• Name a few benefits of using GPMC
.• What are the GPC and the GPT? Where can I find them?
• What are GPO links? What special things can I do to them?
• What can I do to prevent inheritance from above?
• How can I override blocking of inheritance?
• How can you determine what GPO was and was not applied for a user? Name a few ways to do that.
• A user claims he did not receive a GPO, yet his user and computer accounts are in the right OU, and everyone else there gets the GPO. What will you look for?
• Name some GPO settings in the computer and user parts.
• What are administrative templates?
• What’s the difference between software publishing and assigning?
• Can I deploy non-MSI software with GPO?
• You want to standardize the desktop environments (wallpaper, My Documents, Start menu, printers etc.) on the computers in one department. How would you do that?
Friday, April 24, 2009
Windows Server 2003 Interview Questions
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory is the central location for configuration information, authentication requests, and information about all of the objects that are stored within your forest. Using Active Directory, you can efficiently manage users, computers, groups, printers, applications, and other directory-enabled objects from one secure, centralized location.
What do you do if earlier application doesn’t run on Windows Server 2003?
When an application that ran on an earlier legacy version of Windows cannot be loaded during the setup function or if it later malfunctions, you must run the compatibility mode function. This is accomplished by right-clicking the application or setup program and selecting Properties –> Compatibility –> selecting the previously supported operating system.
If you uninstall Windows Server 2003, which operating systems can you revert to?
Win ME, Win 98, 2000, XP. Note, however, that you cannot upgrade from ME and Windows 98 to Windows 2003.
Where are the Windows NT Primary Domain Controller (PDC) and its Backup Domain Controller (BDC) in Server 2003?
The Active Directory replaces them. Now all domain controllers share a multimaster peer-to-peer read and write relationship that hosts copies of the Active Directory.
How Active Directory replication works in a domain setup?
Only the changes are replicated, once a domain controller has been established
The controller the change was made on (after five minutes of stablilty), notifies its replication partners that a change was made. It sends a change notification to these partners, but only notifies one partner every 30 seconds so it is not overwhelmed with update requests. Each controller, in turn, when it is updated, sends a change notice to its respective replication partners.
The replication partners each send an update request with a USN to the domain controller that the change was made on. The USN identifies the current state of the domain controller making the change. Each change has a unique USN. This way the domain controller that has the change knows the state of the domain controller requesting the changes and only the changes are required to be sent. The time on each controller, therefore, does not need to be synchronized exactly although timestamps are used to break ties regarding changes.
When should you create a forest?
Organizations that operate on radically different bases may require separate trees with distinct namespaces. Unique trade or brand names often give rise to separate DNS identities. Organizations merge or are acquired and naming continuity is desired. Organizations form partnerships and joint ventures. While access to common resources is desired, a separately defined tree can enforce more direct administrative and security restrictions.
How can you authenticate between forests?
Four types of authentication are used across forests: (1) Kerberos and NTLM network logon for remote access to a server in another forest; (2) Kerberos and NTLM interactive logon for physical logon outside the user’s home forest; (3) Kerberos delegation to N-tier application in another forest; and (4) user principal name (UPN) credentials.
What snap-in administrative tools are available for Active Directory?
Active Directory Domains and Trusts Manager, Active Directory Sites and Services , Active Directory Users and Computers, Active Directory Replication (optional, available from the Resource Kit), Active Directory Schema Master (optional, available from adminpak) ,DHCP,DNS,Group Policy Management Console (optional).
What types of classes exist in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory?
1. Structural class. The structural class is important to the system administrator in that it is the only type from which new Active Directory objects are created. Structural classes are developed from either the modification of an existing structural type or the use of one or more abstract classes.
2. Abstract class. Abstract classes are so named because they take the form of templates that actually create other templates (abstracts) and structural and auxiliary classes. Think of abstract classes as frameworks for the defining objects.
3. Auxiliary class. The auxiliary class is a list of attributes. Rather than apply numerous attributes when creating a structural class, it provides a streamlined alternative by applying a combination of attributes with a single include action.
4. 88 class. The 88 class includes object classes defined prior to 1993, when the 1988 X.500 specification was adopted. This type does not use the structural, abstract, and auxiliary definitions, nor is it in common use for the development of objects in Windows Server 2003 environments.
How do you delete a lingering object?
Windows Server 2003 provides a command called Repadmin that provides the ability to delete lingering objects in the Active Directory.
What is Global Catalog?
A global catalog server is a domain controller. it is a master searchable database that contains information about every object in every domain in a forest. The global catalog contains a complete replica of all objects in Active Directory for its host domain, and contains a partial replica of all objects in Active Directory for every other domain in the forest. It have two important functions:
o Provides group membership information during logon and authentication
o Helps users locate resources in Active Directory
How is user account security established in Windows Server 2003?
When an account is created, it is given a unique access number known as a security identifier (SID). Every group to which the user belongs has an associated SID. The user and related group SIDs together form the user account’s security token, which determines access levels to objects throughout the system and network. SIDs from the security token are mapped to the access control list (ACL) of any object the user attempts to access.
If I delete a user and then create a new account with the same username and password, would the SID and permissions stay the same?
No. If you delete a user account and attempt to recreate it with the same user name and password, the SID will be different.
What do you do with secure sign-ons in an organization with many roaming users? Credential Management feature of Windows Server 2003 provides a consistent single sign-on experience for users. This can be useful for roaming users who move between computer systems. The Credential Management feature provides a secure store of user credentials that includes passwords and X.509 certificates.
Where are the documents and settings for the roaming profile stored?
All the documents and environmental settings for the roaming user are stored locally on the system, and, when the user logs off, all changes to the locally stored profile are copied to the shared server folder. Therefore, the first time a roaming user logs on to a new system the logon process may take some time, depending on how large his profile folder is.
Active Directory is the central location for configuration information, authentication requests, and information about all of the objects that are stored within your forest. Using Active Directory, you can efficiently manage users, computers, groups, printers, applications, and other directory-enabled objects from one secure, centralized location.
What do you do if earlier application doesn’t run on Windows Server 2003?
When an application that ran on an earlier legacy version of Windows cannot be loaded during the setup function or if it later malfunctions, you must run the compatibility mode function. This is accomplished by right-clicking the application or setup program and selecting Properties –> Compatibility –> selecting the previously supported operating system.
If you uninstall Windows Server 2003, which operating systems can you revert to?
Win ME, Win 98, 2000, XP. Note, however, that you cannot upgrade from ME and Windows 98 to Windows 2003.
Where are the Windows NT Primary Domain Controller (PDC) and its Backup Domain Controller (BDC) in Server 2003?
The Active Directory replaces them. Now all domain controllers share a multimaster peer-to-peer read and write relationship that hosts copies of the Active Directory.
How Active Directory replication works in a domain setup?
Only the changes are replicated, once a domain controller has been established
The controller the change was made on (after five minutes of stablilty), notifies its replication partners that a change was made. It sends a change notification to these partners, but only notifies one partner every 30 seconds so it is not overwhelmed with update requests. Each controller, in turn, when it is updated, sends a change notice to its respective replication partners.
The replication partners each send an update request with a USN to the domain controller that the change was made on. The USN identifies the current state of the domain controller making the change. Each change has a unique USN. This way the domain controller that has the change knows the state of the domain controller requesting the changes and only the changes are required to be sent. The time on each controller, therefore, does not need to be synchronized exactly although timestamps are used to break ties regarding changes.
When should you create a forest?
Organizations that operate on radically different bases may require separate trees with distinct namespaces. Unique trade or brand names often give rise to separate DNS identities. Organizations merge or are acquired and naming continuity is desired. Organizations form partnerships and joint ventures. While access to common resources is desired, a separately defined tree can enforce more direct administrative and security restrictions.
How can you authenticate between forests?
Four types of authentication are used across forests: (1) Kerberos and NTLM network logon for remote access to a server in another forest; (2) Kerberos and NTLM interactive logon for physical logon outside the user’s home forest; (3) Kerberos delegation to N-tier application in another forest; and (4) user principal name (UPN) credentials.
What snap-in administrative tools are available for Active Directory?
Active Directory Domains and Trusts Manager, Active Directory Sites and Services , Active Directory Users and Computers, Active Directory Replication (optional, available from the Resource Kit), Active Directory Schema Master (optional, available from adminpak) ,DHCP,DNS,Group Policy Management Console (optional).
What types of classes exist in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory?
1. Structural class. The structural class is important to the system administrator in that it is the only type from which new Active Directory objects are created. Structural classes are developed from either the modification of an existing structural type or the use of one or more abstract classes.
2. Abstract class. Abstract classes are so named because they take the form of templates that actually create other templates (abstracts) and structural and auxiliary classes. Think of abstract classes as frameworks for the defining objects.
3. Auxiliary class. The auxiliary class is a list of attributes. Rather than apply numerous attributes when creating a structural class, it provides a streamlined alternative by applying a combination of attributes with a single include action.
4. 88 class. The 88 class includes object classes defined prior to 1993, when the 1988 X.500 specification was adopted. This type does not use the structural, abstract, and auxiliary definitions, nor is it in common use for the development of objects in Windows Server 2003 environments.
How do you delete a lingering object?
Windows Server 2003 provides a command called Repadmin that provides the ability to delete lingering objects in the Active Directory.
What is Global Catalog?
A global catalog server is a domain controller. it is a master searchable database that contains information about every object in every domain in a forest. The global catalog contains a complete replica of all objects in Active Directory for its host domain, and contains a partial replica of all objects in Active Directory for every other domain in the forest. It have two important functions:
o Provides group membership information during logon and authentication
o Helps users locate resources in Active Directory
How is user account security established in Windows Server 2003?
When an account is created, it is given a unique access number known as a security identifier (SID). Every group to which the user belongs has an associated SID. The user and related group SIDs together form the user account’s security token, which determines access levels to objects throughout the system and network. SIDs from the security token are mapped to the access control list (ACL) of any object the user attempts to access.
If I delete a user and then create a new account with the same username and password, would the SID and permissions stay the same?
No. If you delete a user account and attempt to recreate it with the same user name and password, the SID will be different.
What do you do with secure sign-ons in an organization with many roaming users? Credential Management feature of Windows Server 2003 provides a consistent single sign-on experience for users. This can be useful for roaming users who move between computer systems. The Credential Management feature provides a secure store of user credentials that includes passwords and X.509 certificates.
Where are the documents and settings for the roaming profile stored?
All the documents and environmental settings for the roaming user are stored locally on the system, and, when the user logs off, all changes to the locally stored profile are copied to the shared server folder. Therefore, the first time a roaming user logs on to a new system the logon process may take some time, depending on how large his profile folder is.
Active Directory Interview Questions
· What’s the difference between local, global and universal groups?
Domain local groups assign access permissions to global domain groups for local domain resources. Global groups provide access to resources in other trusted domains. Universal groups grant access to resources in all trusted domains.
· I am trying to create a new universal user group. Why can’t I?
Universal groups are allowed only in native-mode Windows Server 2003 environments. Native mode requires that all domain controllers be promoted to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory.
· What is LSDOU?
It’s group policy inheritance model, where the policies are applied to Local machines, Sites, Domains and Organizational Units.
· Why doesn’t LSDOU work under Windows NT?
If the NTConfig.pol file exist, it has the highest priority among the numerous policies.
· Where are group policies stored?
%SystemRoot%System32\GroupPolicy
· What is GPT and GPC?
Group policy template and group policy container.
· Where is GPT stored?
%SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\domainname\Policies\GUID
· You change the group policies, and now the computer and user settings are in conflict. Which one has the highest priority?
The computer settings take priority.
· You want to set up remote installation procedure, but do not want the user to gain access over it. What do you do?
gponame–> User Configuration–> Windows Settings–> Remote Installation Services–> Choice Options is your friend.
· What’s contained in administrative template conf.adm?
Microsoft NetMeeting policies
· How can you restrict running certain applications on a machine?
Via group policy, security settings for the group, then Software Restriction Policies.
· You need to automatically install an app, but MSI file is not available. What do you do?
A .zap text file can be used to add applications using the Software Installer, rather than the Windows Installer.
· What’s the difference between Software Installer and Windows Installer?
The former has fewer privileges and will probably require user intervention. Plus, it uses .zap files.
· What can be restricted on Windows Server 2003 that wasn’t there in previous products?
Group Policy in Windows Server 2003 determines a users right to modify network and dial-up TCP/IP properties. Users may be selectively restricted from modifying their IP address and other network configuration parameters.
· How frequently is the client policy refreshed? 90 minutes give or take.
· Where is secedit? It’s now gpupdate.
· You want to create a new group policy but do not wish to inherit.
Make sure you check Block inheritance among the options when creating the policy.
· What is "tattooing" the Registry?
The user can view and modify user preferences that are not stored in maintained portions of the Registry. If the group policy is removed or changed, the user preference will persist in the Registry.
· How do you fight tattooing in NT/2000 installations? You can’t.
· How do you fight tattooing in 2003 installations?
User Configuration - Administrative Templates - System - Group Policy - enable - Enforce Show Policies Only.
· What does IntelliMirror do?
It helps to reconcile desktop settings, applications, and stored files for users, particularly those who move between workstations or those who must periodically work offline.
· What’s the major difference between FAT and NTFS on a local machine?
FAT and FAT32 provide no security over locally logged-on users. Only native NTFS provides extensive permission control on both remote and local files.
· How do FAT and NTFS differ in approach to user shares? They don’t, both have support for sharing.
· Explan the List Folder Contents permission on the folder in NTFS.
Same as Read & Execute, but not inherited by files within a folder. However, newly created subfolders will inherit this permission.
· I have a file to which the user has access, but he has no folder permission to read it. Can he access it?
It is possible for a user to navigate to a file for which he does not have folder permission. This involves simply knowing the path of the file object. Even if the user can’t drill down the file/folder tree using My Computer, he can still gain access to the file using the Universal Naming Convention (UNC). The best way to start would be to type the full path of a file into Run… window.
· For a user in several groups, are Allow permissions restrictive or permissive?
Permissive, if at least one group has Allow permission for the file/folder, user will have the same permission.
· For a user in several groups, are Deny permissions restrictive or permissive?
Restrictive, if at least one group has Deny permission for the file/folder, user will be denied access, regardless of other group permissions.
· What hidden shares exist on Windows Server 2003 installation? Admin$, Drive$, IPC$, NETLOGON, print$ and SYSVOL.
· What’s the difference between standalone and fault-tolerant DFS (Distributed File System) installations?
The standalone server stores the Dfs directory tree structure or topology locally. Thus, if a shared folder is inaccessible or if the Dfs root server is down, users are left with no link to the shared resources. A fault-tolerant root node stores the Dfs topology in the Active Directory, which is replicated to other domain controllers. Thus, redundant root nodes may include multiple connections to the same data residing in different shared folders.
· We’re using the DFS fault-tolerant installation, but cannot access it from a Win98 box.
Use the UNC path, not client, only 2000 and 2003 clients can access Server 2003 fault-tolerant shares.
· Where exactly do fault-tolerant DFS shares store information in Active Directory? In Partition Knowledge Table, which is then replicated to other domain controllers.
· Can you use Start->Search with DFS shares? Yes.
· What problems can you have with DFS installed?
Two users opening the redundant copies of the file at the same time, with no file-locking involved in DFS, changing the contents and then saving. Only one file will be propagated through DFS.
· I run Microsoft Cluster Server and cannot install fault-tolerant DFS. Yeah, you can’t. Install a standalone one.
· Is Kerberos encryption symmetric or asymmetric? Symmetric.
· How does Windows 2003 Server try to prevent a middle-man attack on encrypted line?
Time stamp is attached to the initial client request, encrypted with the shared key.
· What hashing algorithms are used in Windows 2003 Server?
RSA Data Security’s Message Digest 5 (MD5), produces a 128-bit hash, and the Secure Hash Algorithm 1 (SHA-1), produces a 160-bit hash.
· What third-party certificate exchange protocols are used by Windows 2003 Server?
Windows Server 2003 uses the industry standard PKCS-10 certificate request and PKCS-7 certificate response to exchange CA certificates with third-party certificate authorities.
· What’s the number of permitted unsuccessful logons on Administrator account? Unlimited. Remember, though, that it’s the Administrator account, not any account that’s part of the Administrators group.
· If hashing is one-way function and Windows Server uses hashing for storing passwords, how is it possible to attack the password lists, specifically the ones using NTLMv1?
A cracker would launch a dictionary attack by hashing every imaginable term used for password and then compare the hashes.
· What’s the difference between
guest accounts in Server 2003 and other editions? More restrictive in Windows Server 2003.
· How many passwords by default are remembered when you check "Enforce Password History Remembered"? User’s last 6 passwords.
· What’s the difference between local, global and universal groups?
Domain local groups assign access permissions to global domain groups for local domain resources. Global groups provide access to resources in other trusted domains. Universal groups grant access to resources in all trusted domains.
· I am trying to create a new universal user group. Why can’t I?
Universal groups are allowed only in native-mode Windows Server 2003 environments. Native mode requires that all domain controllers be promoted to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory.
· What is LSDOU?
It’s group policy inheritance model, where the policies are applied to Local machines, Sites, Domains and Organizational Units.
· Why doesn’t LSDOU work under Windows NT?
If the NTConfig.pol file exist, it has the highest priority among the numerous policies.
· Where are group policies stored?
%SystemRoot%System32\GroupPolicy
· What is GPT and GPC?
Group policy template and group policy container.
· Where is GPT stored?
%SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\domainname\Policies\GUID
· You change the group policies, and now the computer and user settings are in conflict. Which one has the highest priority?
The computer settings take priority.
· You want to set up remote installation procedure, but do not want the user to gain access over it. What do you do?
gponame–> User Configuration–> Windows Settings–> Remote Installation Services–> Choice Options is your friend.
· What’s contained in administrative template conf.adm?
Microsoft NetMeeting policies
· How can you restrict running certain applications on a machine?
Via group policy, security settings for the group, then Software Restriction Policies.
· You need to automatically install an app, but MSI file is not available. What do you do?
A .zap text file can be used to add applications using the Software Installer, rather than the Windows Installer.
· What’s the difference between Software Installer and Windows Installer?
The former has fewer privileges and will probably require user intervention. Plus, it uses .zap files.
· What can be restricted on Windows Server 2003 that wasn’t there in previous products?
Group Policy in Windows Server 2003 determines a users right to modify network and dial-up TCP/IP properties. Users may be selectively restricted from modifying their IP address and other network configuration parameters.
· How frequently is the client policy refreshed? 90 minutes give or take.
· Where is secedit? It’s now gpupdate.
· You want to create a new group policy but do not wish to inherit.
Make sure you check Block inheritance among the options when creating the policy.
· What is "tattooing" the Registry?
The user can view and modify user preferences that are not stored in maintained portions of the Registry. If the group policy is removed or changed, the user preference will persist in the Registry.
· How do you fight tattooing in NT/2000 installations? You can’t.
· How do you fight tattooing in 2003 installations?
User Configuration - Administrative Templates - System - Group Policy - enable - Enforce Show Policies Only.
· What does IntelliMirror do?
It helps to reconcile desktop settings, applications, and stored files for users, particularly those who move between workstations or those who must periodically work offline.
· What’s the major difference between FAT and NTFS on a local machine?
FAT and FAT32 provide no security over locally logged-on users. Only native NTFS provides extensive permission control on both remote and local files.
· How do FAT and NTFS differ in approach to user shares? They don’t, both have support for sharing.
· Explan the List Folder Contents permission on the folder in NTFS.
Same as Read & Execute, but not inherited by files within a folder. However, newly created subfolders will inherit this permission.
· I have a file to which the user has access, but he has no folder permission to read it. Can he access it?
It is possible for a user to navigate to a file for which he does not have folder permission. This involves simply knowing the path of the file object. Even if the user can’t drill down the file/folder tree using My Computer, he can still gain access to the file using the Universal Naming Convention (UNC). The best way to start would be to type the full path of a file into Run… window.
· For a user in several groups, are Allow permissions restrictive or permissive?
Permissive, if at least one group has Allow permission for the file/folder, user will have the same permission.
· For a user in several groups, are Deny permissions restrictive or permissive?
Restrictive, if at least one group has Deny permission for the file/folder, user will be denied access, regardless of other group permissions.
· What hidden shares exist on Windows Server 2003 installation? Admin$, Drive$, IPC$, NETLOGON, print$ and SYSVOL.
· What’s the difference between standalone and fault-tolerant DFS (Distributed File System) installations?
The standalone server stores the Dfs directory tree structure or topology locally. Thus, if a shared folder is inaccessible or if the Dfs root server is down, users are left with no link to the shared resources. A fault-tolerant root node stores the Dfs topology in the Active Directory, which is replicated to other domain controllers. Thus, redundant root nodes may include multiple connections to the same data residing in different shared folders.
· We’re using the DFS fault-tolerant installation, but cannot access it from a Win98 box.
Use the UNC path, not client, only 2000 and 2003 clients can access Server 2003 fault-tolerant shares.
· Where exactly do fault-tolerant DFS shares store information in Active Directory? In Partition Knowledge Table, which is then replicated to other domain controllers.
· Can you use Start->Search with DFS shares? Yes.
· What problems can you have with DFS installed?
Two users opening the redundant copies of the file at the same time, with no file-locking involved in DFS, changing the contents and then saving. Only one file will be propagated through DFS.
· I run Microsoft Cluster Server and cannot install fault-tolerant DFS. Yeah, you can’t. Install a standalone one.
· Is Kerberos encryption symmetric or asymmetric? Symmetric.
· How does Windows 2003 Server try to prevent a middle-man attack on encrypted line?
Time stamp is attached to the initial client request, encrypted with the shared key.
· What hashing algorithms are used in Windows 2003 Server?
RSA Data Security’s Message Digest 5 (MD5), produces a 128-bit hash, and the Secure Hash Algorithm 1 (SHA-1), produces a 160-bit hash.
· What third-party certificate exchange protocols are used by Windows 2003 Server?
Windows Server 2003 uses the industry standard PKCS-10 certificate request and PKCS-7 certificate response to exchange CA certificates with third-party certificate authorities.
· What’s the number of permitted unsuccessful logons on Administrator account? Unlimited. Remember, though, that it’s the Administrator account, not any account that’s part of the Administrators group.
· If hashing is one-way function and Windows Server uses hashing for storing passwords, how is it possible to attack the password lists, specifically the ones using NTLMv1?
A cracker would launch a dictionary attack by hashing every imaginable term used for password and then compare the hashes.
· What’s the difference between
guest accounts in Server 2003 and other editions? More restrictive in Windows Server 2003.
· How many passwords by default are remembered when you check "Enforce Password History Remembered"? User’s last 6 passwords.
Technical Interview Questions –Windows
What is Active Directory Schema?
The Active Directory schema contains formal definitions of every object class that can be created in an Active Directory forest it also contains formal definitions of every attribute that can exist in an Active Directory object.
What is Global Catalog Server?
· A global catalog server is a domain controller it is a master searchable database that contains information about every object in every domain in a forest. The global catalog contains a complete replica of all objects in Active Directory for its host domain, and contains a partial replica of all objects in Active Directory for every other domain in the forest. It have two important functions:
o Provides group membership information during logon and authentication
o Helps users locate resources in Active Directory
What is NTDS.dit default size?
40 MB
What are the standard ports for SMTP, POP3,IMAP4,RPC,LDAPand Global catalog?SMTP – 25, POP3 – 110, IMAP4 – 143, RPC – 135, LDAP – 389, Global Catalog – 3268
What is a default gateway?
The exit-point from one network and entry-way into another network, often the router of the network.
Describe the lease process of DHCP?
· DHCP Server leases the IP addresses to the clients as follows: DORAD (Discover) : DHCP Client sends a broadcast packets to identify the dhcp server, this packet will contain the source MAC.O (Offer) : Once the packet is received by the DHCP server, the server will send the packet containing Source IP and Source MAC.R (Request) : Client will now contact the DHCP server directly and request for the IP address.A (Acknowledge) : DHCP server will send an acknowledge packet which contains the IP address.
The Active Directory schema contains formal definitions of every object class that can be created in an Active Directory forest it also contains formal definitions of every attribute that can exist in an Active Directory object.
What is Global Catalog Server?
· A global catalog server is a domain controller it is a master searchable database that contains information about every object in every domain in a forest. The global catalog contains a complete replica of all objects in Active Directory for its host domain, and contains a partial replica of all objects in Active Directory for every other domain in the forest. It have two important functions:
o Provides group membership information during logon and authentication
o Helps users locate resources in Active Directory
What is NTDS.dit default size?
40 MB
What are the standard ports for SMTP, POP3,IMAP4,RPC,LDAPand Global catalog?SMTP – 25, POP3 – 110, IMAP4 – 143, RPC – 135, LDAP – 389, Global Catalog – 3268
What is a default gateway?
The exit-point from one network and entry-way into another network, often the router of the network.
Describe the lease process of DHCP?
· DHCP Server leases the IP addresses to the clients as follows: DORAD (Discover) : DHCP Client sends a broadcast packets to identify the dhcp server, this packet will contain the source MAC.O (Offer) : Once the packet is received by the DHCP server, the server will send the packet containing Source IP and Source MAC.R (Request) : Client will now contact the DHCP server directly and request for the IP address.A (Acknowledge) : DHCP server will send an acknowledge packet which contains the IP address.
Networking
What is a NIC?
Ans: A network interface card, more commonly referred to as a NIC, is a device that allows computers to be joined together in a LAN, or local area network. Networked computers communicate with each other using a given protocol or agreed-upon language for transmitting data packets between the different machines, known as nodes. The network interface card acts as the liaison for the machine to both send and receive data on the LAN.
The most common language or protocol for LANs is Ethernet, sometimes referred to as IEEE 802.3.
Note: Ethernet is a standard communications protocol embedded in software and hardware devices, intended for building a local area network.
What is a MAC Address?
MAC address ( Media Access Control) is a unique value associated with a Network Interface Card. MAC address is also known as Hardware address or Physical Address. MAC address uniquely identifies a Network adaptor in the LAN.
MAC addresses are 48 bits in length.
When would you use a crosslink cable?
Cross link cables are used to connect a PC to PC, this cable is special because there are a few wires switched that allow the computer to send and receive data packets with Network card.
What is the difference between a Hub and a Switch?
A hub is typically the least expensive, least intelligent, and least complicated device than Switch. Its job is very simple: anything that comes in one port is sent out to the others. Every computer connected to the hub "sees" everything that every other computer on the hub sees. The hub itself is blissfully ignorant of the data being transmitted.
A switch does essentially what a hub does but more efficiently. By paying attention to the traffic that comes across it, it can "learn" where particular addresses are. For example, if it sees traffic from machine A coming in on port 2, it now knows that machine A is connected to that port and that traffic to machine A needs to only be sent to that port and not any of the others. The net result of using a switch over a hub is that most of the network traffic only goes where it needs to rather than to every port. On busy networks this can make the network significantly faster.
On which OSI layer can a router be found?
The OSI layer 2 and layer 3 router provides additional intelligence to networks by implementing the data link and network layers of the OSI model. The data link layer describes the logical organization of data bits transmitted on a particular medium; for example, this layer defines the framing, addressing, and cyclic redundancy checks of Ethernet packets. The network layer describes how a series of exchanges over various data links delivers data between any two nodes in a network and defines the addressing and routing structure of the Internet.
What is CSMA/CD?
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection) is the protocol used in Ethernet Network to ensure that only one network node is transmitting on the network wire at any one time.
What is multicast?
Multicasting may be used for streaming multimedia, video conferencing, shared white boards and more as the internet grows. Multicasting is still new to the internet and not widely supported by routers. New routing protocols are being developed to enable multicast traffic to be routed. Some of these routing protocols are:
Hierarchical Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (HDVMRP)
Multicast Border Gateway
Protocol Independent Multicast
An IP multicast address is in the range 224.0.0.0 through 239.255.255.255.
What is Broadcast?
Broadcast - A transmission to all interface cards on the network.
RFC 919 and 922 describe IP broadcast datagrams as,
Limited Broadcast - Sent to all NICs on the some network segment as the source NIC. It is represented with the 255.255.255.255 TCP/IP address. This broadcast is not forwarded by routers so will only appear on one network segment.
Direct broadcast - Sent to all hosts on a network. Routers may be configured to forward directed broadcasts on large networks. For network 192.168.0.0, the broadcast is 192.168.255.255.
Below mentioned are examples of broadcast
ARP on IP
DHCP on IP
Routing table updates. Broadcasts sent by routers with routing table updates to other routers.
The ethernet broadcast address in hexadecimal is FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF.
There are several types of IP broadcasting:
The IP limited broadcast address is 255.255.255.255. This broadcast is not forwarded by a router.
A broadcast directed to a network has a form of x.255.255.255 where x is the address of a Class A network. This broadcast may be forwarded depending on the router program.
A broadcast sent to all subnetworks. If the broadcast is 10.1.255.255 on network 10.1.0.0 and the network is subnetted with multiple networks 10.1.x.0, then the broadcast is a broadcast to all subnetworks.
A broadcast sent to a subnet in the form 10.1.1.255 is a subnet broadcast if the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.
What is the difference between TCP and UDP?
Describe some of the settings that are added by TCP and by UDP to the packet's header.
What are TCP Ports? Name a few.
What is a TCP Session?
What three elements make up a socket?
What will happen if you leave the default gateway information empty while manually configuring TCP/IP?
What will happen if you execute the following command: "arp –d *"?
What is ICMP?
When would you use the ping command with the "-t" switch?
Ans: A network interface card, more commonly referred to as a NIC, is a device that allows computers to be joined together in a LAN, or local area network. Networked computers communicate with each other using a given protocol or agreed-upon language for transmitting data packets between the different machines, known as nodes. The network interface card acts as the liaison for the machine to both send and receive data on the LAN.
The most common language or protocol for LANs is Ethernet, sometimes referred to as IEEE 802.3.
Note: Ethernet is a standard communications protocol embedded in software and hardware devices, intended for building a local area network.
What is a MAC Address?
MAC address ( Media Access Control) is a unique value associated with a Network Interface Card. MAC address is also known as Hardware address or Physical Address. MAC address uniquely identifies a Network adaptor in the LAN.
MAC addresses are 48 bits in length.
When would you use a crosslink cable?
Cross link cables are used to connect a PC to PC, this cable is special because there are a few wires switched that allow the computer to send and receive data packets with Network card.
What is the difference between a Hub and a Switch?
A hub is typically the least expensive, least intelligent, and least complicated device than Switch. Its job is very simple: anything that comes in one port is sent out to the others. Every computer connected to the hub "sees" everything that every other computer on the hub sees. The hub itself is blissfully ignorant of the data being transmitted.
A switch does essentially what a hub does but more efficiently. By paying attention to the traffic that comes across it, it can "learn" where particular addresses are. For example, if it sees traffic from machine A coming in on port 2, it now knows that machine A is connected to that port and that traffic to machine A needs to only be sent to that port and not any of the others. The net result of using a switch over a hub is that most of the network traffic only goes where it needs to rather than to every port. On busy networks this can make the network significantly faster.
On which OSI layer can a router be found?
The OSI layer 2 and layer 3 router provides additional intelligence to networks by implementing the data link and network layers of the OSI model. The data link layer describes the logical organization of data bits transmitted on a particular medium; for example, this layer defines the framing, addressing, and cyclic redundancy checks of Ethernet packets. The network layer describes how a series of exchanges over various data links delivers data between any two nodes in a network and defines the addressing and routing structure of the Internet.
What is CSMA/CD?
CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection) is the protocol used in Ethernet Network to ensure that only one network node is transmitting on the network wire at any one time.
What is multicast?
Multicasting may be used for streaming multimedia, video conferencing, shared white boards and more as the internet grows. Multicasting is still new to the internet and not widely supported by routers. New routing protocols are being developed to enable multicast traffic to be routed. Some of these routing protocols are:
Hierarchical Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (HDVMRP)
Multicast Border Gateway
Protocol Independent Multicast
An IP multicast address is in the range 224.0.0.0 through 239.255.255.255.
What is Broadcast?
Broadcast - A transmission to all interface cards on the network.
RFC 919 and 922 describe IP broadcast datagrams as,
Limited Broadcast - Sent to all NICs on the some network segment as the source NIC. It is represented with the 255.255.255.255 TCP/IP address. This broadcast is not forwarded by routers so will only appear on one network segment.
Direct broadcast - Sent to all hosts on a network. Routers may be configured to forward directed broadcasts on large networks. For network 192.168.0.0, the broadcast is 192.168.255.255.
Below mentioned are examples of broadcast
ARP on IP
DHCP on IP
Routing table updates. Broadcasts sent by routers with routing table updates to other routers.
The ethernet broadcast address in hexadecimal is FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF.
There are several types of IP broadcasting:
The IP limited broadcast address is 255.255.255.255. This broadcast is not forwarded by a router.
A broadcast directed to a network has a form of x.255.255.255 where x is the address of a Class A network. This broadcast may be forwarded depending on the router program.
A broadcast sent to all subnetworks. If the broadcast is 10.1.255.255 on network 10.1.0.0 and the network is subnetted with multiple networks 10.1.x.0, then the broadcast is a broadcast to all subnetworks.
A broadcast sent to a subnet in the form 10.1.1.255 is a subnet broadcast if the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.
What is the difference between TCP and UDP?
Describe some of the settings that are added by TCP and by UDP to the packet's header.
What are TCP Ports? Name a few.
What is a TCP Session?
What three elements make up a socket?
What will happen if you leave the default gateway information empty while manually configuring TCP/IP?
What will happen if you execute the following command: "arp –d *"?
What is ICMP?
When would you use the ping command with the "-t" switch?
Microsoft-based Operating Systems
Microsoft-based Operating Systems
What is the difference between a workgroup and a domain?
What are the major advantages of working in a domain model?
What types of operating system installation methods do you know?
What is an answer file?
How would you create an answer file for Windows XP? How would you create one for Windows Vista?
How do you perform an unattended installation on Windows XP?
What is Sysprep?
How do you use Sysprep?
What is the major difference between Newsid and Sysprep?
What is the function of the pagefile.sys file?
What is the function of the hiberfil.sys file?
What is the Registry?
How can you edit the Registry? Name at least 3 ways of doing that.
What should you do if you receive a message stating: "The following file is missing or corrupt: 'WINDOWS'SYSTEM32'CONFIG'SYSTEM"?
How would you repair an unsuccessful driver update?
When should you use each of the fallowing tools: System Restore, LKGC and Recovery Console?
How do you set different print priority for different users?
How can you reset user's passwords if you don't know his current password?
What's the difference between changing a user's password and resetting it?
You want to grant a user the right to perform backups – should you add him to the administrators group?
What is MMC?
What is gpedit.msc?
How would you use the MMC to manage other servers on your network?
You set a local policy for your Stand-alone XP Professional – would the local policy effects the administrators group?
What new in the Windows Vista Local Policy?
What is the difference between User Privileges and User Permissions?
What is Safe Mode?
Which logs can be found in Event Viewer?
What is msconfig? On which OS can it be found?
Can you upgrade XP Home Edition to Server 2003?
Which permission will you grant a user for a folder he need to be able to create and delete files in, if you do not want him to be able to change permissions for the folder?
What is the difference between clearing the "allow" permission and checking the "deny"?
What is the difference between a workgroup and a domain?
What are the major advantages of working in a domain model?
What types of operating system installation methods do you know?
What is an answer file?
How would you create an answer file for Windows XP? How would you create one for Windows Vista?
How do you perform an unattended installation on Windows XP?
What is Sysprep?
How do you use Sysprep?
What is the major difference between Newsid and Sysprep?
What is the function of the pagefile.sys file?
What is the function of the hiberfil.sys file?
What is the Registry?
How can you edit the Registry? Name at least 3 ways of doing that.
What should you do if you receive a message stating: "The following file is missing or corrupt: 'WINDOWS'SYSTEM32'CONFIG'SYSTEM"?
How would you repair an unsuccessful driver update?
When should you use each of the fallowing tools: System Restore, LKGC and Recovery Console?
How do you set different print priority for different users?
How can you reset user's passwords if you don't know his current password?
What's the difference between changing a user's password and resetting it?
You want to grant a user the right to perform backups – should you add him to the administrators group?
What is MMC?
What is gpedit.msc?
How would you use the MMC to manage other servers on your network?
You set a local policy for your Stand-alone XP Professional – would the local policy effects the administrators group?
What new in the Windows Vista Local Policy?
What is the difference between User Privileges and User Permissions?
What is Safe Mode?
Which logs can be found in Event Viewer?
What is msconfig? On which OS can it be found?
Can you upgrade XP Home Edition to Server 2003?
Which permission will you grant a user for a folder he need to be able to create and delete files in, if you do not want him to be able to change permissions for the folder?
What is the difference between clearing the "allow" permission and checking the "deny"?
PC Hardware
PC Hardware
What is FSB?
What are Vcore and Vi/o?
On what type of socket can you install a Pentium 4 CPU?
What is SMP?
Which Intel and AMD processors support SMP?
How do LGA sockets differ from PGA and SEC?
What is the difference between Pentium 4 and Pentium Core 2 Duo? Explain the new technology.
How does IRQ priority works?
What technology enables you to upgrade your computer's BIOS by simply using a software?
What happens if you dissemble the battery located on the Mother-Board?
How do L1, L2, and L3 work?
How should we install RAM on a Dual-Channel Motherboard?
What is the advantage of serial over parallel bus?
Is USB using serial or parallel bus? What about Firewire?
How much power is supplied to each USB port?
When should you change your bus-powered USB hub to a self-powered USB hub?
What is a UPS?
What is the difference between standby and online UPS?
What is LBA (in Hard-Disks)?
How many Hard Disks can you install on an E-IDE controller?
Can you configure two hard disks to use the Master setting on the same PC?
What is the difference between Narrow-SCSI and Wide-SCSI?
What is SAS?
What are the three main reasons for using RAID?
Is RAID 0 considered to be a redundant Solution? Why?
How many disks can be used for RAID 1?
How RAID 5 works?
What is the smallest number of disks required for RAID5?
What other types of RAID do you know?
What are the six steps for laser printing?
What is the difference between PCI-EX x1 and PCI-EX x16?
What is FSB?
What are Vcore and Vi/o?
On what type of socket can you install a Pentium 4 CPU?
What is SMP?
Which Intel and AMD processors support SMP?
How do LGA sockets differ from PGA and SEC?
What is the difference between Pentium 4 and Pentium Core 2 Duo? Explain the new technology.
How does IRQ priority works?
What technology enables you to upgrade your computer's BIOS by simply using a software?
What happens if you dissemble the battery located on the Mother-Board?
How do L1, L2, and L3 work?
How should we install RAM on a Dual-Channel Motherboard?
What is the advantage of serial over parallel bus?
Is USB using serial or parallel bus? What about Firewire?
How much power is supplied to each USB port?
When should you change your bus-powered USB hub to a self-powered USB hub?
What is a UPS?
What is the difference between standby and online UPS?
What is LBA (in Hard-Disks)?
How many Hard Disks can you install on an E-IDE controller?
Can you configure two hard disks to use the Master setting on the same PC?
What is the difference between Narrow-SCSI and Wide-SCSI?
What is SAS?
What are the three main reasons for using RAID?
Is RAID 0 considered to be a redundant Solution? Why?
How many disks can be used for RAID 1?
How RAID 5 works?
What is the smallest number of disks required for RAID5?
What other types of RAID do you know?
What are the six steps for laser printing?
What is the difference between PCI-EX x1 and PCI-EX x16?
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