http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/topquestions.mspx?wt.

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http://www.techinterviews.com/?p=229

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?

1. 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?”
2. 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?

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 ?

1. 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) ?

1. 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

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.

What is difference between scope and superscope ?

1. 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)

1. 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.

1. 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

1. 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 .

1. 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

1. *** 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)

1. 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 ?

1. 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.

1. 7. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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

1. 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

Where is active directory stored?

1. 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

1. 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.
 1. 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.

1. 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

1. What are the prequisite for installation of Exchange Server 2003?

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

1. 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?

1. 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.

1. 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

1. 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?

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.

1. Correction:
 Q) Can I changed password if my machince’s connectivity to DC who holds PDC
emulator role has been fails?
A) YES YOU CAN. However, the change will only take place on the DC you are
currently connected to. legacy clients, such as NT4, require the PDC emulator. But 2000
and up only require access to a writeable DC, which by default, all DCs are writeable.
The PDC emulator is responsible for replicating any changes made on other domain
controllers to the other DCs in the domain. As such, if the PDC emulator is offline, then a
change on one DC will not take be “seen” on another DC. So the client may have logon
issues if it attempts to use another DC

1. To Recover a Deleted Mailbox

1.In Exchange System Manager, locate the mailbox store that contains the disconnected
mailbox.
2. Click the Mailboxes object under the mailbox store.
3. If the mailbox is not already marked as disconnected (the mailbox icon appears with a
red X), right-click the Mailboxes object, and then click Cleanup Agent.
4.Right-click the disconnected mailbox, click Reconnect, and then select the appropriate
user from the dialog box that appears.
5.Click OK.

1. What are the types of backup? Explain each?

backup refers to making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to
restore the original after a data loss event. These additional copies are typically called
“backups.”

Types of Backup

Full backup is the starting point for all other types of backup and contains all the data in
the folders and files that are selected to be backed up. Because full backup stores all files
and folders, frequent full backups result in faster and simpler restore operations.
Remember that when you choose other backup types, restore jobs may take longer.

Differential backup contains all files that have changed since the last FULL backup. The
advantage of a differential backup is that it shortens restore time compared to a full
backup or an incremental backup. However, if you perform the differential backup too
many times, the size of the differential backup might grow to be larger than the baseline
full backup.

Incremental backup stores all files that have changed since the last FULL,
DIFFERENTIAL OR INCREMENTAL backup. The advantage of an incremental backup
 is that it takes the least time to complete. However, during a restore operation, each
incremental backup must be processed, which could result in a lengthy restore job.

Mirror backup is identical to a full backup, with the exception that the files are not
compressed in zip files and they can not be protected with a password. A mirror backup
is most frequently used to create an exact copy of the backup data. It has the benefit that
the backup files can also be readily accessed using tools like Windows Explorer

1. What are FMSO Roles? List them.

FMSO Roles FSMO roles are server roles in a Forest

There are five types of FSMO 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 Roles1-

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.

1. What is MIME & MAPI?

MIME Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions It defines non-ASCII message formats.

MAPI Messaging Application Programming Interface It’s the programming interface for
email

1. What is Disater Recovery ?

Disaster recovery is the process, policies and procedures of restoring operations critical to
the resumption of business, including regaining access to data (records, hardware,
 software, etc.), communications (incoming, outgoing, toll-free, fax, etc.), workspace, and
other business processes after a natural or human-induced disaster

1. What is scope & super scope?

A DHCP scope is a valid range of IP addresses which are available for assignments or
lease to client computers on a particular subnet. In a DHCP server, you configure a scope
to determine the address pool of IPs which the server can provide to DHCP clients.

DHCP superscope only assigns addresses from one subscope

1. FTP, NNTP, SMTP, KERBEROS, DNS, DHCP, POP3 port numbers?

FTP : 21,20

NNTP : 119

SMTP : 25

Kerberos : 88

DNS : 53

DHCP : 67, 68

Pop3 : 110

1. Distribution List?

Distribution list is a term sometimes used for a function of email clients where lists of
email addresses are used to email everyone on the list at once. This can be referred to as
an electronic mailshot. It differs from a mailing list, electronic mailing list or the email
option found in an Internet forum as it is usually for one way traffic and not for
coordinating a discussion. In effect, only members of a distribution list can send mails to
the list.

1. what is hotfix ?
 A hotfix is code (sometimes called a patch) that fixes a bug in a product.

1. 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 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 ack packet which contains the IP address.

Q: in exchange 2k3server standard edition and enterprise edition how many user can be
created
A: in exchange 2k3 server standard edition 200 to 250 user can be created
in exchange 2k3 server enterprise edition
more than 700 user can be created

1. : what are the minimum hardware requirment for installation of exchange 2k3 server

A: the minimum hardware requirment for 2k3exchange server is:-

1 processor piii compatible (minimum)

2 cd rom 64 x
3 ram 256(minimum)512(recommand)
4 display vga/svga
5 hdd space 500mb+200md
6 file formate ntfs

1. what are the minimum software requirment for installation of exchange 2k3 server

a: the minimum software requirment for exchange2k3 server is :-

1 dot.net framework 1.1 and 2.0
2 asp.net
3 smtp (simple mail transfer protocol)
4 nntp (network news transfer protocol)
5 wwwp (world wide web publication)
6 iis 6.0(internet information services)