20 Microsoft Exchange Server Interview Questions and Answers

Microsoft Exchange Server is a software program that helps organizations manage their email, calendar and contact information. If you are applying for a position that involves Exchange Server, it is important to be prepared for questions about your knowledge and experience with the program. In this article, we review some common Exchange Server interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

Microsoft Exchange Server Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Microsoft Exchange Server interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is Microsoft Exchange Server?

Microsoft Exchange Server is a mail server and calendaring server developed by Microsoft. It runs exclusively on Windows Server operating systems.

2. How do you configure Exchange server to send and receive email messages?

In order to configure Exchange server to send and receive email messages, you will need to first set up an account with a valid email address. Once you have done this, you will need to open the Exchange Management Console and go to the ‘Recipient Configuration’ section. From here, you will need to click on the ‘Mailbox’ tab and then click on the ‘New Mailbox’ button. This will open the ‘New Mailbox’ wizard. From here, you will need to select the ‘User Mailbox’ option and click ‘Next’. On the next page, you will need to enter the email address for the new mailbox and click ‘Next’. On the final page, you will need to click ‘Finish’ to complete the process.

3. Where are the default mailboxes stored in an Exchange server?

The default mailboxes are stored in the \Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Mailbox folder.

4. How many types of databases can be created using Exchange?

There are two types of databases that can be created using Exchange: the public folder database and the mailbox database.

5. What’s the difference between a mailbox database and public folder database?

A mailbox database stores the actual mailboxes for users, while a public folder database stores public folders that can be accessed by anyone.

6. Can you explain what an offline address book is?

An offline address book is a copy of an address book that is stored on a user’s computer. This allows the user to access the address book even when they are not connected to the network.

7. Is it possible to create multiple offline address books with Exchange? If yes, how?

Yes, it is possible to create multiple offline address books with Exchange. To do this, you will need to create a new offline address book and then specify which address lists and public folders you want to include in it. You can then set this new offline address book as the default for your users.

8. What is Outlook Web App (OWA)?

Outlook Web App is a web-based email client that allows users to access their Microsoft Exchange Server email accounts from any web browser. OWA provides all of the same features as the desktop version of Outlook, including the ability to send and receive email, create and manage calendar events, and add contacts.

9. What is Outlook on the web?

Outlook on the web is a web-based interface for Microsoft Outlook that allows users to access their email, calendar, and contacts from any internet-connected device. It can be used as an alternative to the Outlook desktop application, or as a complement to it.

10. How does one access their OWA account from another device other than a desktop?

One can access their OWA account from another device by downloading the Microsoft Outlook app and signing in with their OWA credentials.

11. How does one share a calendar with someone else using OWA?

To share a calendar with someone else using OWA, you will need to open the calendar, click on the Share button, and then enter the email address of the person with whom you wish to share. You can then choose what level of access to grant them, and whether or not to send them an email notification of the share.

12. What’s the best way to migrate mailboxes from older versions of Exchange to newer ones?

The best way to migrate mailboxes from older versions of Exchange to newer ones is to use a tool like Microsoft’s Exchange Server Migration Wizard. This tool will help you to automatically migrate all of your mailboxes and data from an older Exchange server to a newer one, and will make sure that everything is properly configured and working on the new server.

13. What are some common issues faced by users when migrating from old Exchange servers to new ones?

One common issue is that users may experience increased latency when sending and receiving emails. Another is that users may find that their email folders and messages are not organized in the same way as they were on the old server. Finally, users may encounter problems with email attachments not being compatible with the new server.

14. What is a disconnected mailbox?

A disconnected mailbox is a mailbox that has been disconnected from an Exchange server, but whose data is still being retained on the server. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as if a user leaves the company or if their mailbox is being migrated to a new server. When a mailbox is disconnected, the user will no longer be able to access it, but the data will still be there in case it needs to be accessed later.

15. What do you understand about the concept of throttling in Exchange?

Throttling is a process that helps to regulate and manage server resources in Exchange. By throttling certain activities, the server is able to stay within its resource limits and avoid overloading. This can help to improve server performance and stability.

16. What are the differences between Exchange Online Protection and Exchange Hosted Filtering?

Exchange Online Protection is a cloud-based service that provides protection against spam and malware for all users of a Microsoft Exchange Server. Exchange Hosted Filtering is a service that provides spam and virus filtering for Exchange Server users who have their own mail servers.

17. Can you give me some examples of third-party software that integrates well with Exchange?

Some examples of software that integrates well with Microsoft Exchange Server are:

-G Suite from Google
-Zimbra Collaboration Suite
-Kerio Connect
-Zarafa

18. What’s your opinion on hosting an Exchange server in house or going for cloud-based solutions like Office 365?

There are pros and cons to both hosting an Exchange server in house and going for cloud-based solutions like Office 365. One advantage of hosting an Exchange server in house is that you have more control over the server and can customize it to better fit your needs. However, this also means that you are responsible for maintaining the server and ensuring that it is always up and running, which can be a lot of work. Cloud-based solutions like Office 365 take care of all the maintenance and updates for you, but you may not have as much control over the server and how it is configured. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which option is best for your organization.

19. What is the main advantage of using an edge transport server role?

The main advantage of using an edge transport server role is that it helps to protect your internal Exchange server from outside threats. By placing the edge transport server in a DMZ, you can create a barrier between your internal network and the outside world, which can help to prevent attacks and reduce the risk of data breaches.

20. What is the Client Access Role?

The Client Access Role is a role in Microsoft Exchange Server that is responsible for handling all client connections to the server, whether it is via Outlook, webmail, or mobile devices. This role is essential in ensuring that all users are able to connect to the Exchange Server and access their email, calendar, and contacts.