• What is an IP address?

• What is a subnet mask?

• What is ARP?
• What is ARP Cache Poisoning?
• What is the ANDing process?
• What is a default gateway? What happens if I don't have one?
• Can a workstation computer be configured to browse the Internet and yet NOT
have a default gateway?
• What is a subnet?
• What is APIPA?
• What is an RFC? Name a few if possible (not necessarily the numbers, just the
ideas behind them)
• What is RFC 1918?
• What is CIDR?
• You have the following Network ID: 192.115.103.64/27. What is the IP range for
your network?
• You have the following Network ID: 131.112.0.0. You need at least 500 hosts per
network. How many networks can you create? What subnet mask will you use?
• You need to view at network traffic. What will you use? Name a few tools
• How do I know the path that a packet takes to the destination?
• What does the ping 192.168.0.1 -l 1000 -n 100 command do?
• What is DHCP? What are the benefits and drawbacks of using it?
• Describe the steps taken by the client and DHCP server in order to obtain an IP
address.
• What is the DHCPNACK and when do I get one? Name 2 scenarios.
• What ports are used by DHCP and the DHCP clients?
• Describe the process of installing a DHCP server in an AD infrastructure.
• What is DHCPINFORM?
• Describe the integration between DHCP and DNS.
• What options in DHCP do you regularly use for an MS network?
• What are User Classes and Vendor Classes in DHCP?
• How do I configure a client machine to use a specific User Class?
• What is the BOOTP protocol used for, where might you find it in Windows
network infrastructure?
• DNS zones – describe the differences between the 4 types.
• DNS record types – describe the most important ones.
• Describe the process of working with an external domain name
• Describe the importance of DNS to AD.
• Describe a few methods of finding an MX record for a remote domain on the
Internet.
• What does "Disable Recursion" in DNS mean?
• What could cause the Forwarders and Root Hints to be grayed out?
• What is a "Single Label domain name" and what sort of issues can it cause?
• What is the "in-addr.arpa" zone used for?
• What are the requirements from DNS to support AD?
• How do you manually create SRV records in DNS?
• Name 3 benefits of using AD-integrated zones.
• What are the benefits of using Windows 2003 DNS when using AD-integrated
zones?
• You installed a new AD domain and the new (and first) DC has not registered its
SRV records in DNS. Name a few possible causes.
• What are the benefits and scenarios of using Stub zones?
• What are the benefits and scenarios of using Conditional Forwarding?
• What are the differences between Windows Clustering, Network Load Balancing
and Round Robin, and scenarios for each use?
• How do I work with the Host name cache on a client computer?
• How do I clear the DNS cache on the DNS server?
• What is the 224.0.1.24 address used for?
• What is WINS and when do we use it?
• Can you have a Microsoft-based network without any WINS server on it? What
are the "considerations" regarding not using WINS?
• Describe the differences between WINS push and pull replications.
• What is the difference between tombstoning a WINS record and simply deleting
it?
• Name the NetBIOS names you might expect from a Windows 2003 DC that is
registered in WINS.
• Describe the role of the routing table on a host and on a router.
• What are routing protocols? Why do we need them? Name a few.
• What are router interfaces? What types can they be?
• In Windows 2003 routing, what are the interface filters?
• What is NAT?
• What is the real difference between NAT and PAT?
• How do you configure NAT on Windows 2003?
• How do you allow inbound traffic for specific hosts on Windows 2003 NAT?
• What is VPN? What types of VPN does Windows 2000 and beyond work with
natively?
• What is IAS? In what scenarios do we use it?
• What's the difference between Mixed mode and Native mode in AD when dealing
with RRAS?
• What is the "RAS and IAS" group in AD?
• What are Conditions and Profile in RRAS Policies?
• What types or authentication can a Windows 2003 based RRAS work with?
• How does SSL work?
• How does IPSec work?
• How do I deploy IPSec for a large number of computers?
• What types of authentication can IPSec use?
• What is PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) in IPSec?
• How do I monitor IPSec?
• Looking at IPSec-encrypted traffic with a sniffer. What packet types do I see?
• What can you do with NETSH?
• How do I look at the open ports on my machine?
« Windows Server 2003 interview and certification questions
Windows Server 2003 IIS and Scripting interview questions »

Windows Server 2003 Active Directory

and Security questions
By admin | December 7, 2003

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. What is LSDOU? It’s group policy inheritance model, where the policies are
applied to Local machines, Sites, Domains and Organizational Units.
4. Why doesn’t LSDOU work under Windows NT? If the NTConfig.pol file exist,
it has the highest priority among the numerous policies.
5. Where are group policies stored? %SystemRoot%System32\GroupPolicy
6. What is GPT and GPC? Group policy template and group policy container.
7. Where is GPT stored? %SystemRoot
%\SYSVOL\sysvol\domainname\Policies\GUID
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. What’s contained in administrative template conf.adm? Microsoft NetMeeting
policies
11. How can you restrict running certain applications on a machine? Via group
policy, security settings for the group, then Software Restriction Policies.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. How frequently is the client policy refreshed? 90 minutes give or take.
16. Where is secedit? It’s now gpupdate.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. How do you fight tattooing in NT/2000 installations? You can’t.
20. How do you fight tattooing in 2003 installations? User Configuration -
Administrative Templates - System - Group Policy - enable - Enforce Show
Policies Only.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. How do FAT and NTFS differ in approach to user shares? They don’t, both
have support for sharing.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. What hidden shares exist on Windows Server 2003 installation? Admin$,
Drive$, IPC$, NETLOGON, print$ and SYSVOL.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. Where exactly do fault-tolerant DFS shares store information in Active
Directory? In Partition Knowledge Table, which is then replicated to other
domain controllers.
32. Can you use Start->Search with DFS shares? Yes.
33. 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.
34. I run Microsoft Cluster Server and cannot install fault-tolerant DFS. Yeah,
you can’t. Install a standalone one.
35. Is Kerberos encryption symmetric or asymmetric? Symmetric.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. What’s the difference between guest accounts in Server 2003 and other
editions? More restrictive in Windows Server 2003.
42. How many passwords by default are remembered when you check "Enforce
Password History Remembered"? User’s last 6 passwords.

 How do you double-boot a Win 2003 server box? The Boot.ini file is set as read-
only, system, and hidden to prevent unwanted editing. To change the Boot.ini timeout
and default settings, use the System option in Control Panel from the Advanced tab and
select Startup.
 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
98 to Windows Server 2003.
 How do you get to Internet Firewall settings? Start –> Control Panel –> Network
and Internet Connections –> Network Connections.
 What are the Windows Server 2003 keyboard shortcuts? Winkey opens or closes
the Start menu. Winkey + BREAK displays the System Properties dialog box. Winkey +
TAB moves the focus to the next application in the taskbar. Winkey + SHIFT + TAB
moves the focus to the previous application in the taskbar. Winkey + B moves the focus
to the notification area. Winkey + D shows the desktop. Winkey + E opens Windows
Explorer showing My Computer. Winkey + F opens the Search panel. Winkey + CTRL +
F opens the Search panel with Search for Computers module selected. Winkey + F1
opens Help. Winkey + M minimizes all. Winkey + SHIFT+ M undoes minimization.
Winkey + R opens Run dialog. Winkey + U opens the Utility Manager. Winkey + L
locks the computer.
 What is Active Directory? Active Directory is a network-based object store and
service that locates and manages resources, and makes these resources available to
authorized users and groups. An underlying principle of the Active Directory is that
everything is considered an object—people, servers, workstations, printers, documents,
and devices. Each object has certain attributes and its own security access control list
(ACL).
 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 long does it take for security changes to be replicated among the domain
controllers? Security-related modifications are replicated within a site immediately.
These changes include account and individual user lockout policies, changes to password
policies, changes to computer account passwords, and modifications to the Local Security
Authority (LSA).
 What’s new in Windows Server 2003 regarding the DNS management? When
DC promotion occurs with an existing forest, the Active Directory Installation Wizard
contacts an existing DC to update the directory and replicate from the DC the required
portions of the directory. If the wizard fails to locate a DC, it performs debugging and
reports what caused the failure and how to fix the problem. In order to be located on a
network, every DC must register in DNS DC locator DNS records. The Active Directory
Installation Wizard verifies a proper configuration of the DNS infrastructure. All DNS
configuration debugging and reporting activity is done with the Active Directory
Installation Wizard.
 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 Manager,
Active Directory Users and Group Manager, Active Directory Replication (optional,
available from the Resource Kit), Active Directory Schema Manager (optional, available
from adminpak)
 What types of classes exist in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory?

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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? The Global Catalog authenticates network user logons and
fields inquiries about objects across a forest or tree. Every domain has at least one GC
that is hosted on a domain controller. In Windows 2000, there was typically one GC on
every site in order to prevent user logon failures across the network.
 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.
 Anything special you should do when adding a user that has a Mac? "Save
password as encrypted clear text" must be selected on User Properties Account Tab
Options, since the Macs only store their passwords that way.
 What remote access options does Windows Server 2003 support? Dial-in, VPN,
dial-in with callback.
 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.
 Where are the settings for all the users stored on a given machine? \Document
and Settings\All Users
 What languages can you use for log-on scripts? JavaScipt, VBScript, DOS batch
files (.com, .bat, or even .exe)

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?

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"?

Networking

• What is a NIC?
• What is a MAC Address?
• When would you use a crosslink cable?
• What are the main advantages and disadvantages of Fiber-Optic-based networks?
• What is the difference between a Hub and a Switch?
• On which OSI layer can a router be found?
• What is CSMA/CD?
• What is multicast?
• What is Broadcast?
• 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?
• What command-line tool would help you discover for which port numbers your
computer is listening?
• What is APIPA? How would you recognize it?
• What is a Cyclic Redundancy Check?
• What would you type in at a command prompt to view the IP settings for the
computer that you are sitting at?
• What command would you type in at a command prompt to view the IP address
of the remote computer?
• What is the W Value for class B?
• What is the Net ID of an IP Address of 18.9.25.3 with Subnet Mask of 255.0.0.0?
• What is CIDR?
• What is 255.255.255.255 used for?
• What is the maximum number of hosts for a Class B Network?
• What is the (default) class type of 195.152.12.1?
• What is the subnet mask for 10.0.10.1/17?
• What is the result when changing from a subnet mask of 255.255.224.0 to a
subnet mask of 255.255.240.0?
• How can you access a shared folder from a remote computer? Name at least 3
methods.

• Windows server questions

• What is Active Directory?

• What is LDAP?
• Where is the AD database held? What other folders are related to AD?
• Talk about all the AD-related roles in Windows Server 2008/R2.
• What are the new Domain and Forest Functional Levels in Windows Server
2008/R2?
• What is the SYSVOL folder?
• What are the AD naming contexts (partitions)s and replication issues for each
NC?
• What are application partitions?
• What applications or services use AD application partitions? Name a couple.
• How do you create a new application partition?
• 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 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?
• Talk about GCs and Universal Groups.
• Describe the time synchronization mechanism in AD.
• What is ADSIEDIT? What is NETDOM? What is REPADMIN?
• What is DCDIAG? When would you use it?
• ...
• 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?
• Talk about sites and GCs.
• Talk about sites and Exchange Server 2007/2010.
• ...
• What is GPO?
• Describe the way GPO is applied throughout the domain.
• What can you do to prevent inheritance from above?
• How can you override blocking of inheritance?
• Name some of the major changes in GPO in Windows Server 2008.
• What are ADM files? What replaced them in Windows Server 2008?
• What's the GPO repository? How do you use it?
• What are GPO Preferences?
• Which client OSs can use GPO Preferences?
• What are GPO Templates?
• What are WMI Filters?
• What is the concept behind GPO Filtering?
• 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?
• 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?
• ...
• What are the major changes in AD in Windows Server 2008?
• What are the major changes in AD in Windows Server 2008 R2?
• What is the AD Recycle Bin? How do you use it?
• What is tombstone lifetime attribute?
• What are AD Snapshots? How do you use them?
• What is Offline Domain Join? How do you use it?
• What are Fine-Grained Passwords? How do you use them?
• Talk about Restartable Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server
2008/R2. What is this feature good for?
• What are the changes in auditing in Windows Server 2008/R2?
• ...
• 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?
• Talk about PowerShell and AD.
• ...
• How do you backup AD?
• How do you restore AD?
• Talk about Windows Backup and AD backups.
• How do you change the DS Restore admin password?
• Why can't you restore a DC that was backed up 7 months ago?
• What's NTDSUTIL? When do you use it?
• ...
• What are RODCs?
• What are the major benefits of using RODCs?
• How do you install an RODC?
 • Talk about RODCs and passwords.
• What is Read Only DNS?
• What happens when a remote site with an RODC loses connectivity to the main
site?
• ...
• Talk about Server Core and AD.
• How do you promote a Server Core to DC?
• ...
• What are the FSMO roles? Who has them by default? What happens when each
one fails?
• How can you tell who holds each FSMO role? Name a 2-3 of methods.
• What FSMO placement considerations do you know of?
• You want to look at the RID allocation table for a DC. What do you need to do?
• What's the difference between transferring a FSMO role and seizing one? Which
one should you NOT seize? Why?

Technical Interview Questions – Active Directory

• What is Active Directory?

• What is LDAP?
• 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's the difference between LDIFDE and CSVDE? Usage considerations?
• What are the FSMO roles? Who has them by default? What happens when each
one fails?
• What FSMO placement considerations do you know of?
• 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 a few differences in Vista GPOs
• 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?