Windows Server 2003 interview and certification questions
- 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)
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