10 SharePoint 2007 Administrator Interview Questions and Answers

SharePoint 2007 remains a critical platform for many organizations, providing robust solutions for document management, collaboration, and workflow automation. Despite newer versions being available, many enterprises continue to rely on SharePoint 2007 due to its stability and the extensive customization it offers. Mastery of this platform requires a deep understanding of its architecture, features, and administrative capabilities.

This article offers a curated selection of interview questions tailored for SharePoint 2007 Administrator roles. Reviewing these questions will help you solidify your knowledge, address potential gaps, and confidently demonstrate your expertise in managing and optimizing SharePoint environments.

SharePoint 2007 Administrator Interview Questions and Answers

1. Describe the architecture of SharePoint 2007.

SharePoint 2007 architecture is designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing organizations to manage content, collaborate, and share information effectively. The architecture is composed of several key components:

• Web Front End (WFE) Servers: These servers handle user requests, render web pages, and serve content. They process incoming HTTP requests and pass them to the appropriate application servers.
• Application Servers: These servers host core services and applications like Excel Services, Search, and Business Data Catalog, handling business logic and processing tasks.
• Database Servers: SharePoint uses SQL Server to store configuration data, content, and metadata, ensuring data integrity and availability.
• Shared Services Provider (SSP): The SSP provides shared services to multiple SharePoint sites, such as search and user profiles, allowing for centralized management.
• Site Collections and Sites: A site collection is a group of websites under a common top-level site, used to organize and manage content.
• Content Databases: These databases store the actual content, such as documents and lists. Each site collection is associated with a content database.

2. What are Content Types in SharePoint 2007 and how are they used?

Content Types in SharePoint 2007 encapsulate attributes, metadata, workflows, and behaviors associated with items in lists and libraries, providing a reusable framework for managing content consistently.

A Content Type can include:

• Columns (metadata fields)
• Document templates
• Workflows
• Information management policies

By defining a Content Type, you ensure that all items of a particular type share the same settings and behaviors. For example, a “Contract” Content Type might include specific metadata fields, a document template, and a workflow for approval.

Content Types are used to:

• Standardize the creation and management of similar content across different lists and libraries.
• Facilitate the application of consistent metadata and workflows.
• Enable the reuse of settings and structures, reducing repetitive configuration.

3. How would you deploy a custom web part in SharePoint 2007?

Deploying a custom web part in SharePoint 2007 involves several steps:

• Develop the Web Part: Create the custom web part using Visual Studio, writing the necessary code and compiling it into a .dll file.
• Package the Web Part: Package the web part into a SharePoint Solution Package (.wsp file), including the web part assembly, resource files, and a manifest file.
• Deploy the Solution Package: Deploy the .wsp file to the SharePoint server using the Central Administration site or the STSADM command-line tool.
• Add the Web Part to the Web Part Gallery: Add the web part to the Web Part Gallery of the site collection where it will be used.
• Add the Web Part to a Page: Add the custom web part to a SharePoint page by editing the page and selecting the web part from the Web Part Gallery.

4. What steps would you take to troubleshoot a failing SharePoint Timer Job?

To troubleshoot a failing SharePoint Timer Job, follow these steps:

1. Check Timer Job Status: Review the Timer Job status in the Central Administration site to identify if the job is stuck or failed.
2. Review ULS Logs: Use tools like ULS Viewer to analyze logs for errors or warnings related to the Timer Job.
3. Event Viewer Logs: Check the Windows Event Viewer for system-level errors or warnings affecting the Timer Job.
4. Timer Service Status: Ensure the SharePoint Timer Service (SPTimerV4) is running on all servers, restarting if necessary.
5. Job Configuration: Verify the Timer Job’s configuration settings and schedule.
6. Permissions: Check if the account running the Timer Job has the necessary permissions.
7. Custom Code: Review any custom code involved in the Timer Job for potential issues.
8. Resource Availability: Ensure sufficient system resources are available for the Timer Job.

5. How do you configure and manage Shared Services Providers (SSP) in SharePoint 2007?

Shared Services Providers (SSP) in SharePoint 2007 centralize and manage shared services across multiple sites. Configuring and managing SSPs involves:

• Creating an SSP: Set up a new SSP in the Central Administration site, specifying the web application for the SSP administration site and My Site host.
• Configuring Services: Configure the services the SSP will provide, such as search settings and user profile import settings.
• Managing Permissions: Manage permissions to ensure only authorized users can access and modify SSP settings.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly monitor and maintain the SSP to ensure optimal performance.

6. How would you optimize the performance of a SharePoint 2007 farm?

Optimizing the performance of a SharePoint 2007 farm involves several strategies:

1. Hardware Optimization:

• Ensure servers meet recommended hardware specifications.
• Use a dedicated SQL Server for databases to avoid resource contention.
• Implement load balancing across multiple front-end web servers.

2. Software Configuration:

• Configure SQL Server for optimal performance with appropriate settings and indexing.
• Use the 64-bit version of SharePoint and SQL Server for larger memory spaces.
• Regularly update and patch SharePoint and SQL Server.

3. SharePoint Best Practices:

• Limit the number of web parts on a page to reduce load times.
• Use object and output caching to improve page rendering times.
• Monitor logs and performance counters to identify performance bottlenecks.
• Optimize large lists and libraries with indexing and filtered views.

4. Database Maintenance:

• Perform regular database maintenance tasks like re-indexing and updating statistics.
• Use SQL Server maintenance plans to automate tasks.

5. Network Optimization:

• Ensure robust network infrastructure to handle traffic.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to offload static content.

7. What are the best practices for securing a SharePoint 2007 environment?

Securing a SharePoint 2007 environment involves several best practices:

• Authentication and Authorization: Use strong authentication methods and implement role-based access control (RBAC).
• Data Encryption: Enable SSL/TLS for data transmission and consider encrypting sensitive data in the database.
• Patch Management: Regularly apply security patches and updates to SharePoint and related software.
• Backup and Recovery: Implement a robust backup and recovery strategy and regularly test the backup process.
• Monitoring and Auditing: Enable logging and monitoring to track access and changes, using auditing tools to review logs.
• Least Privilege Principle: Grant users the minimum necessary privileges and avoid using administrative accounts for daily operations.
• Secure Configuration: Disable unnecessary services and features, ensuring the environment is configured securely.

8. How do you monitor the health and performance of a SharePoint 2007 farm?

Monitoring the health and performance of a SharePoint 2007 farm involves several practices and tools:

• SharePoint Health Analyzer: Use the built-in Health Analyzer to monitor the farm’s health and receive recommendations for resolving issues.
• Event Logs: Regularly check Windows Event Logs for errors and warnings affecting performance and health.
• Performance Monitor: Track key performance counters related to SharePoint using Windows Performance Monitor.
• Usage Reports: Utilize SharePoint’s usage reports to understand farm usage, including site usage and search queries.
• SQL Server Monitoring: Monitor the health and performance of the SQL Server instance, checking for slow-running queries and ensuring successful backups.
• Third-Party Tools: Consider using third-party tools for advanced monitoring and reporting capabilities.

9. How do you plan and execute disaster recovery for a SharePoint 2007 farm?

Planning and executing disaster recovery for a SharePoint 2007 farm involves several steps:

• Assessment and Documentation: Assess the current environment and document the entire farm configuration, including customizations and dependencies.
• Backup Strategy: Develop a comprehensive backup strategy, including regular backups of databases and configuration settings.
• Recovery Plan: Create a detailed recovery plan outlining steps to restore the farm in the event of a disaster.
• Testing: Regularly test the disaster recovery plan to ensure it works as expected.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Continuously monitor the environment for potential issues and maintain the disaster recovery plan to reflect changes.

10. Describe the process of configuring and optimizing search in SharePoint 2007.

Configuring and optimizing search in SharePoint 2007 involves several steps and best practices:

First, configure the search service by setting up the search service application, creating content sources, and defining crawl schedules. Content sources specify the locations the search service will index, while crawl schedules determine indexing frequency.

Next, configure search scopes to allow users to narrow search results to specific content subsets, helping them find relevant information more quickly.

Optimizing search performance includes managing the search index, monitoring and maintaining it for accuracy, and configuring crawl rules to exclude unnecessary content. Use property mappings to improve search result relevance.

Configure search settings at the site collection and site levels, including setting up search centers, customizing search results pages, and configuring search refiners. Search centers provide a centralized location for searches, while search refiners help filter results based on specific criteria.