Windows Server and MS Exchange interview questions

1. What is DHCP? How we configure DHCP?

2. What are the ways to configure DNS & Zones?
3. What are the types of backup? Explain each?
4. What are Levels of RAID 0, 1, 5? Which one is better & why?
5. What are FMSO Roles? List them.
6. Describe the lease process of the DHCP server.
7. Disaster Recovery Plan?
8. What is scope & super scope?
9. Differences between Win 2000 Server & Advanced Server?
10. Logical Diagram of Active Directory? What is the difference between child
domain & additional domain server?
11. FTP, NNTP, SMTP, KERBEROS, DNS, DHCP, POP3 port numbers?
12. What is Kerberos? Which version is currently used by Windows? How does
Kerberos work?

Microsoft Exchange Server interview questions

1. Distribution List?
2. GAL, Routing Group, Stm files, Eseutil & ininteg - what are they used for?
3. What is MIME & MAPI?
4. List the services of Exchange Server 2000?
5. How would you recover Exchange server when the log file is corrupted?

Posted in: Networking, Windows |

Responses to “Windows Server and MS Exchange interview questions”

On a recent interview i was asked “What is the maximum storage capacity for
Exchange standard version? What would you do if it reaches maximum
capacity?”

1. boot process in windows nt/xp/2000/2003

2. how do you configure memory dump if c:,d:,e: & paging file is configured so
and so way?
3. backups ? which is better, why and which to use when?
4. disaster recovery plan?
5. DHCP lease process
6. DNS zones, chronicle records what are they?
7. DHCP relay agent where to place it?
8. what is active directory compared to SAM?
9. what is GC? how many required for A Tree?
10. what is forest?
11. Group policies?
12. FSMO Roles?
I haved asked following question about Active directory 2000.

Can I changed password if my machince’s connectivity to DC who holds PDC

emulator role has been fails?

Exchange 2000 Server Standard Edition limits the database size to 16 gigabytes.

What is the diffence between SD-RAM and DD-RAM ?

can i change my Dc ip(dns,pref dns,gateway) while dc is working.

and can i give another ip.

(what happend if i give that ip and what happend about the replication of ther dc
when i am in suspend mode) ?

i have been asked if there is set of 30 harddisk configured for raid 5 if two
harddisk failed what about data

i have been asked if there is set of 30 harddisk configured for raid 5 if two
harddisk failed what about data

Tech Interviews comment by mohd.sameer

Hi,
Can anybody give me the answer of the mention questions.

1.How Can i Deploy the Latest Patched in Pc through G.P. wihtout having the
Admin Right in Pc.
2.How to remove the $sharing through G.P. in 1000 PCs.
3.In Raid 5,Suppose i have 5 HDD of 10-10 GB, After configuring the Raid how
much space do i have for utilise.
4.How Can i Resolve the Svr name through Nslookup.

Thanks & Regards,

Raj Narayan

What is difference between scope and superscope ?

Q) Can I changed password if my machince’s connectivity to DC who holds PDC

emulator role has been fails?
A) No You cant the password.

Q) i have been asked if there is set of 30 harddisk configured for raid 5 if two
harddisk failed what about data
A) It depends how u had configured ur RAID its only Raid5 or with with spare if
its only raid 5 then in raid5 if ur 2 nos of HDD goes then ur raid is gone.
Q) How Can i Deploy the Latest Patched in Pc through G.P. wihtout having the
Admin Right in Pc.
A) Create a batch file and place all the patches in the Netlogon, and deploy the
batch file through GP to all the pcs so the same should take affect after restarting
the pc.

Q) In Raid 5,Suppose i have 5 HDD of 10-10 GB, After configuring the Raid how
much space do i have for utilise.
A) -1 out of the total (eg- if u r using 5 u will get only 4 because 1 goes for
parity).

Q) How Can i Resolve the Svr name through Nslookup

A) what exactly u want to do, nslookup command will let u know through which
server u r getting routed, (eg- c:\nslookup then u will get ur domain name to
which u r getting routed. and if u want to get the name of the pc/server with the ip
address then u have to give the command c:\nbtstat -a ip xx-xx-xx-xx)

How Can i Deploy the Latest Patched in Pc through G.P. wihtout having the
Admin Right in Pc.
A) Create a batch file and place all the patches in the Netlogon, and deploy the
batch file through GP to all the pcs so the same should take affect after restarting
the pc.

the answer to the above question is incorrect.

you cannot deploy a batch file using group policy.

you can only publish or assign msi packages or Zap files. They are the only two
valid file formats allowable when using “intellimirror”. in active directory.

What are FMSO Roles? List them

ANS:Fsmo roles are server roles in a Forest
There are five types of FSMO roles
1-Scheema master
2-Domain naming master
3-Rid master
4-PDC Emullator
5-Infrastructure master

What is Kerberos? Which version is currently used by Windows? How does

Kerberos work?

what is the difference between 2k and 2k3?

what is the difference between dns and wins?

what is sysprep?

what is netlogon?

how many types of server?

(2) what is hotfrix.
(3)what is the difrences btwen 2k , 2k3 and xp?
(4)how many types DNS
(5)hOW MANY TYPES NET ADDRES?
(1)WHAT IS T-VOLI.
(7) WHICH PROTOCOL USED FOR SENDING MESSAGE.
(8) TELL ME WHY WE R USEING EXCHANGE SERVER?
(9) WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF DHCP?
(10) HOW DHCP CONFIGURE?
PLEASE SEND ALL ANS I NEED YOUR HELP .

what is hotfix.

It is hotfix, which microsoft realese whenever there is a bug or for updation of

Operating system.
(3)what is the difrences btwen 2k , 2k3 and xp?
Xp is a client operating system it cannot act as a server, 2k domain name cannot
be renamed, no shadow copying, 2k3 domain name can be renamed, shadow
copying is possible
(4)how many types DNS
I think there are about 7 types…
(1)WHAT IS T-VOLI.
Tivoli is montiroing tool
(7) WHICH PROTOCOL USED FOR SENDING MESSAGE.
SNMP
(9) WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF DHCP?
for providing ip address dynamically

*** What is the difference between Win2k Server and Win2k3?

1. We can’t rename domain in Win2k,u can rename in Win2k3

2. IIS 5.0 in Win2k and IIS 6.0 in Win2k3

3. No Volume Shadow Copying in Win2k, its available in Win2k3

4. Active Directory Federation Systems in Win2k3

Like that some other security features added in Win2k3, main features are above

***WHICH PROTOCOL USED FOR SENDING MAIL?

SMTP — Simple Mail Transfer Protocal is used to Sending mails.

***TELL ME WHY WE R USEING EXCHANGE SERVER?

This is a mail server.. we can use this Server to send mails in Intranet as well as
outside.

*** What is DHCP?

To assign ip addresses automatically.

*** DHCP relay agent where to place it?

DHCP Relay agent u need to place in Software Router.

*** what is forest?

Is a collection of trees. Tree is nothing but collection domains which is having

same name space.
domain contains domain controllers..
forest — Tree — Domain –

Don’t get confused.. Understand carefully.

*** what is GC? how many required for A Tree?

Global Catalog server is a Searchable Index book. With this we can find out any
object in the Active Directory.

Also it works as logon authentication for Group memberships.

We can have each domain controller in domain or only first domain controller in a
domain..

*** DNS zones, chronicle records what are they?

In Windows 2000 there are mainly 3 zones

Standard Primary — zone information writes in Txt file

Standard Secondary — copy of Primary
Active Directory Integrated– Information stores in Active Directory

in win2k3 one more zone is added that is Stub zone

–Stub is like secondary but it contains only copy of SOA records, copy of NS
records, copy of A records for that zone. No copy of MX, SRV records etc.,
With this Stub zone DNS traffic will be low

*** FSMO Roles?

Flexible Single Master Operation Roles

1. Domain Naming Master — Forest Wide Roles

2. Schema Master — Forest Wide Roles
3. RID Master — Domain Wide Roles
4. PDC Emulator — Domain Wide Roles
5. Infrastructure Master — Domain Wide Roles

RID Master — It assigns RID and SID to the newly created object like Users and
computers. If RID master is down (u can create security objects upto RID pools
are avialable in DCs) else u can’t create any object one its down

PDC emulator : It works as a PDC to any NT Bdcs in your environment

It works as Time Server (to maintain same time in your network)

It works to change the passwords, lockout etc.,

Infrastructure Master: This works when we are renaming any group member ship
object this role takes care.

Domain Naming Master : Adding / Changing / Deleting any Domain in a forest it

takes care

Schema Master : It maintains structure of the Active Directory in a forest.

*** FTP, NNTP, SMTP, KERBEROS, DNS, DHCP, POP3 port numbers?

FTP : 20, 21
(20 is for controlling, 21 is Transmitting)

NNTP : 119

SMTP : 25

Kerberos : 88

DNS : 53

DHCP : 67, 68
Pop3 : 110

*** What is Kerberos? Which version is currently used by Windows? How does
Kerberos work?

Kerberos is the user uthentication used in Win2000 and Win2003 Active

Directory servers

Kerberos version in 5.0

Port is : 88

Its more secure and encrypted than NTLM (NT authentication)

What is the new major feature introduced in Exchange 2003, which was not
included in Exchange 2000?

How can you recover a deleted mail box ?

what is the use of ESUtil.exe ?

What are the port Numbers for pop3, imap, smtp port, smtp over ssl, pop3 over
ssl, imap over ssl ?

Difference between Exchance 2003 and 2007?

what is RPC over Http ?

What is required for using RPC over Https with MS Outlook ?

If you have deleted the user, after you recreated the same user. How you will give
the access of previous mail box ?

What are the prequisite for installation of Exchange Server ?

What is the use of NNTP with exchange ?

If NNTP service get stoped, what features of exchange will be effected ?

Which protocol is used for Public Folder ?

How will take backup of Active Directory ?

What are the content of System State backup ?

there r more…. i’ll update soon…….

Describe the lease process of the DHCP server.

Ans : A DHCP lease is the amount of time that the DHCP server grants to the
DHCP client permission to use a particular IP address. A typical server allows its
administrator to set the lease time.

Disaster Recovery Plan?

Ans: Deals with the restoration of computer system with all attendent software
and connections to full functionality under a variety of damaging or interfering
external condtions.

Which protocol is used for Public Folder ?

ANS: SMTP

What is the use of NNTP with exchange ?

ANS: This protocol is used the news group in exchange.

How will take backup of Active Directory ?

Ans: Take the system state data backup. This will backup the active directory
database. Microsoft recomend only Full backup of system state database

What are the content of System State backup ?

The cotents are

Boot fles,system files
Active directory (if its done on DC)
Sysvol folder(if it done on DC)
Cerficate service ( on a CA server)
Cluster database ( on a clsture server)
registry
Performance couter configuration inormation
Coponet services class registration database

What are the prequisite for installation of Exchange Server ?

The pre requsite are

IIS
SMTP
WWW service
NNTP
.NET Framework
ASP.NET
Then run Forestprep
The run domainprep

bart said,
How Can i Deploy the Latest Patched in Pc through G.P. wihtout having the
Admin Right in Pc.
A) Create a batch file and place all the patches in the Netlogon, and deploy the
batch file through GP to all the pcs so the same should take affect after restarting
the pc.

the answer to the above question is incorrect.

you cannot deploy a batch file using group policy.

you can only publish or assign msi packages or Zap files. They are the only two
valid file formats allowable when using “intellimirror”. in active directory.

Actually you are incorrect as well. If you create a script and assign it to the
STARTUP script in a GPO applied to the COMPUTER and not the USER, then it
runs as a local administrator on the computer.

Where is active directory stored?

What is difference between scope and superscope ?

Scope in dhcp, where u can specify a range of IP Address which will be leased to
the dhcp clients.
Superscope is the combination of multiple scopes.

Describe the lease process of the DHCP server.

DHCP Server leases the IP addresses to the clients as follows :

DORA
D (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 recieved 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 ack packet which contains the IP
address.
The default lease period is 8 days.

What is the new major feature introduced in Exchange 2003, which was not
included in Exchange 2000?
1) RPC over HTTPS.
2) Volume Shadow Copy for backup.
3) Super upgrade tools like ExDeploy.
4) Improved security, including all those of IIS v 6.0.

Pl let me know if u still find more differnces.

What are the port Numbers for pop3, imap, smtp port, smtp over ssl, pop3
over ssl, imap over ssl ?

POP3 : 110
Standard IMAP4 : 143
SMTP : 25
pop3 over ssl : 992
imap over ssl : 993

What are the prequisite for installation of Exchange Server 2003?

* IIS
* SMTP services
* NNTP services
* ASP.NET
* www services
* .net framework

What is a smarthost?

A Exchange server is having bandwidth issues, explain how you would look
at fixing the issue?

What is Blue Screen Error? and when it comes?

What is clean Booting?
What is warm and cold booting?
Difference between clean Boot and safe mode?

What is warm and cold booting?

ans:A warm boot, accomplished by pressing the CTRL+ALT+DEL key

combination, restarts the computer through the INT19h ROM BIOS routine. This
warm-boot procedure usually does not go through the complete boot process;
generally, it skips the power-on self test (POST) to save time. In addition, a warm
boot frequently fails to reset all adapters in the computer’s adapter slots.

If you use the Reset button to cold boot the computer, it generally restarts the boot
process, including the POST. However, this procedure does not necessarily
discontinue power to the motherboard. If the power is not interrupted, the cold
boot may fail to reset all adapters in the computer’s adapter slots.

if u want any other clarification let me know

Differents between server 2k and 2k3

advandags inserver 2k3
1.domain renname.
2.domain controller rename
3.multi user propertis selet
4.administrator deleted and rename
5.IP v6 supported
6.Default APIPA
7.maximum group option disable
8.task manager extra two options.
9.security purpose (shutdow time and restart time ask question)
10.forest trust
11.IIS v6
12.shadow copy

About the new features in Exchange 2003:

1.Updated Outlook Web Access.

2.Updated VSAPI (Virus Scanning Application Programming Interface)

but in Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise, there are Specific Features which :

1.Eight-node Clustering using the Windows Clustering service in Windows

Server (Ent.&Datacenter)

2.Multiple storage groups.

3.X.400 connectors which supports both TCP/IP and X.25.

1) What is Global Catalog Server? Will it help if we have three Global Catalog
Servers in a single domain on various Child Domains? Whats the recommended
number of Global Catalog Servers by Microsoft?

2) What are the six different services which are installed while we are setting up a
new Domain Controller?

3) What is the protocol used which allows us to login into a domain?

4) If we block the ICMP protocol, which command will stop working?

5) Can we create a Recovery Disk for Domain Controller and all the softwares so
that in case there is a failure we can recover the domain or we can setup a new
domain on a different computer?

Please help me if anybody knows these answers.

1. What is the maximum storage capacity for Exchange standard version?

What would you do if it reaches maximum capacity?”

16GB.Once the store dismounts at the 16GB limit the only way to mount it again
is to use the 17GB registry setting. And even this is a temporary solution.
if you apply Exchange 2003 SP2 to your Standard Edition server, the database
size limit is initially increased to 18GB. Whilst you can go on to change this
figure to a value up to 75GB, it’s important to note that 18GB is the default
setting
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\{server
name}\Private-{GUID
It therefore follows that for registry settings that relate to making changes on a
public store, you’ll need to work in the following registry key:
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\{server
name}\Public-{GUID}

Under the relevant database, create the following registry information:

Value type: REG_DWORD
Value name: Database Size Limit in GB
Set the value data to be the maximum size in gigabytes that the database is
allowed to grow to. For the Standard Edition of Exchange, you can enter numbers
between 1 and 75. For the Enterprise Edition, you can enter numbers between 1
and 8000. Yes, that’s right, between 1GB and 8000GB or 8TB. Therefore, even if
you are running the Enterprise Edition of Exchange, you can still enforce overall
database size limits of, say, 150GB if you so desire.