15 Windows Administration Interview Questions and Answers

Windows Administration is a critical skill in managing and maintaining the IT infrastructure of many organizations. It involves overseeing the installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of Windows servers and systems, ensuring they run efficiently and securely. With the widespread use of Windows in enterprise environments, proficiency in Windows Administration is highly valued and often a key requirement for IT roles.

This guide offers a curated selection of interview questions designed to test your knowledge and problem-solving abilities in Windows Administration. By familiarizing yourself with these questions and their answers, you can enhance your readiness for technical interviews and demonstrate your expertise in managing Windows-based systems.

Windows Administration Interview Questions and Answers

1. How do you create a new user account using the command line?

To create a new user account using the command line in Windows, use the net user command. This command allows administrators to manage user accounts on a computer.

Example:

net user username password /add

To add the new user to a specific group, use the net localgroup command:

net localgroup Administrators newuser /add

2. Write a PowerShell script to list all running processes on a local machine.

To list all running processes on a local machine using PowerShell, use the Get-Process cmdlet. This retrieves information about the processes running on a computer.

# PowerShell script to list all running processes
Get-Process

3. How do you configure NTFS permissions to allow a user read-only access to a folder?

To configure NTFS permissions for read-only access to a folder:

1. Right-click the folder and select “Properties.”
2. Go to the “Security” tab.
3. Click “Edit” to change permissions.
4. Click “Add” to include a new user or group.
5. Enter the user or group name and click “OK.”
6. Check the “Read” box under “Allow” and ensure other boxes are unchecked.
7. Click “Apply” and “OK.”

4. Write a PowerShell script to check if a specific service is running on multiple remote servers.

To check if a specific service is running on multiple remote servers using PowerShell, use Get-Service with Invoke-Command.

Example:

$servers = @("Server1", "Server2", "Server3")
$serviceName = "YourServiceName"

foreach ($server in $servers) {
    Invoke-Command -ComputerName $server -ScriptBlock {
        param ($serviceName)
        $service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName
        if ($service.Status -eq 'Running') {
            Write-Output "$($env:COMPUTERNAME): $serviceName is running."
        } else {
            Write-Output "$($env:COMPUTERNAME): $serviceName is not running."
        }
    } -ArgumentList $serviceName
}

5. How do you configure Windows Server Backup to perform a full backup every Sunday?

To configure Windows Server Backup for a full backup every Sunday:

1. Open Windows Server Backup from Administrative Tools.
2. Select “Backup Schedule” to create a new schedule.
3. Choose “Full server” backup.
4. Set frequency to “Once a week” and select Sunday.
5. Specify the backup destination.
6. Review and confirm the schedule.

Alternatively, use PowerShell:

$backupPolicy = New-WBPolicy
$volume = Get-WBVolume -VolumePath "C:\"
Add-WBVolume -Policy $backupPolicy -Volume $volume
$backupTarget = New-WBBackupTarget -NetworkPath "\\BackupServer\BackupShare"
Add-WBBackupTarget -Policy $backupPolicy -Target $backupTarget
Set-WBSchedule -Policy $backupPolicy -Schedule (Get-Date -Hour 2 -Minute 0 -Second 0 -DayOfWeek Sunday)
Set-WBPolicy -Policy $backupPolicy

6. Explain the process of creating a new virtual machine in Hyper-V.

Creating a new virtual machine in Hyper-V involves:

1. Open Hyper-V Manager.
2. Click “New” and select “Virtual Machine.”
3. Follow the wizard to specify the name, memory, networking, and hard disk.
4. Install an operating system.
5. Review and finish.

Alternatively, use PowerShell:

New-VM -Name "NewVM" -MemoryStartupBytes 2GB -VHDPath "C:\VMs\NewVM\NewVM.vhdx" -SwitchName "Default Switch"

7. Describe how to configure WSUS to automatically approve critical updates.

To configure WSUS for automatic approval of critical updates:

1. Open WSUS Administration Console.
2. Navigate to “Options” and click “Automatic Approvals.”
3. Click “New Rule” and specify criteria for automatic approval.
4. Optionally, specify target computer groups.
5. Click “OK” to create the rule.

8. How do you set up Network Load Balancing for a web application?

To set up Network Load Balancing (NLB) for a web application:

1. Install the NLB feature on all servers.
2. Create an NLB cluster and add servers.
3. Specify the cluster IP address and parameters.
4. Define port rules for traffic distribution.
5. Ensure the web application is configured on all servers.
6. Test the NLB setup.

9. Explain how to use Performance Monitor to track CPU usage over time.

To track CPU usage over time using Performance Monitor:

1. Open Performance Monitor.
2. Select “Performance Monitor” under “Monitoring Tools.”
3. Add “% Processor Time” from the “Processor” category.
4. To log data, create a new data collector set under “Data Collector Sets.”
5. Start the data collector set.

10. Explain the role of Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) in a Windows environment.

Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) enables Single Sign-On (SSO) and secure identity federation. It allows users to authenticate once and access multiple applications across different domains. AD FS uses a claims-based authentication model, issuing security tokens with user information for authorization decisions.

11. What are the key considerations when setting up a failover cluster in Windows Server?

Key considerations for setting up a failover cluster in Windows Server:

– Ensure compatible hardware and network configuration.
– Use shared storage solutions like SAN or iSCSI.
– Choose the appropriate quorum model.
– Run the Cluster Validation Wizard.
– Use tools like Failover Cluster Manager for management.
– Implement security best practices.

12. Explain the importance of auditing and monitoring in a Windows Server environment.

Auditing and monitoring in a Windows Server environment are essential for:

– Identifying unauthorized access and potential security breaches.
– Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
– Managing performance and resource utilization.
– Troubleshooting issues with historical records.
– Creating accountability for user activities.

13. Describe the process of implementing BitLocker Drive Encryption on a Windows Server.

Implementing BitLocker Drive Encryption on a Windows Server involves:

1. Ensure the server meets hardware requirements, such as TPM.
2. Enable BitLocker through the management console.
3. Configure recovery options, saving the recovery key securely.
4. Complete the encryption process.

14. Explain how to configure a DNS server to resolve names for a new domain.

To configure a DNS server for a new domain:

1. Install the DNS Server Role.
2. Create a new forward lookup zone.
3. Set zone properties and add DNS records.
4. Optionally, configure a reverse lookup zone.
5. Update DNS server settings.
6. Test the configuration.

15. Describe the process of creating a scheduled task that runs a script daily at 2 AM.

To create a scheduled task that runs a script daily at 2 AM:

1. Open Task Scheduler.
2. Click “Create Basic Task.”
3. Name the task and set the trigger to “Daily” at 2:00 AM.
4. Define the action to start a program, specifying the script path.
5. Configure additional settings if needed.
6. Finish and save the task.