MCSE Question Answers

1.  What is Directory Service?

A network service that identifies all resources on a network and makes them accessible to users and applications. Resources include e-mail addresses, computers, and peripheral devices such as printers. Ideally, the directory service should make the physical network topology and protocols transparent so that a user on a network can access any resource without knowing where or how it is physically connected.

A directory is similar to a database, but typically contains more descriptive, attribute-based data; that is, data read more often than it is written.

DAP: Directory Access Protocol

LDAP: Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

2.  What is Active Directory?

Active directory is the Directory Service of Microsoft which keeps Information about the entire Network Objects, such as Domain Controllers, Computers, Users, Groups, Shared Resources, Printers etc. We can say it is single unified view of entire networks objects and resources or it is Information Hub of the entire network.

3.  What are the Active Directory main features?

Active Directory enables single sign on to access resources on the network such as desktops, shared files, printers etc. Active Directory provides advanced security for the entire network and its resources. Active Directory is more scalable and flexible for administration.

4. What do you mean by Active Directory functional levels? How does it help an organization’s network functionality?

Functional levels help the coexistence of Active Directory versions such as, Windows NT, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server2008. The functional level of a domain or forest controls which advanced features are available in the domain or forest. Although lowest functional levels help to coexist with legacy Active Directory, it will disable some of the new features of Active Directory. But if you are setting up a new Active Directory environment with latest version of Windows Server and AD, you can set to the highest functional level, thus all the new AD functionality will be enabled.

5. What are the Domain and Forest functional levels of Windows Server 2003 AD?

Windows Server 2003 Domain Functional Levels: Windows 2000 mixed (Default), Windows 2000 native, Windows Server 2003 interim, and Windows Server 2003. Forest Functional Levels: Windows 2000 (default), Windows Server 2003interim, Windows Server.

6. What are the Domain and Forest functional levels of Windows Server 2008 AD?

Windows Server 2008 Domain Functional Levels: Windows 2000 Native, Windows Server 2003, WindowsServer2008, and Windows Server 2008R2.Forest Functional Levels: Windows 2000, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2.

7.  How to add additional Domain Controller in a remote site with slower WAN link?

It is possible to take a backup copy of existing Domain Controller, and restore it in Windows Server machine in the remote locations with slower WAN link.

8. How do we install Active Directory in Windows 7 and Windows 8 Computer?

Active Directory is designed for Server Operating System, and it cannot be installed on Windows 7.

9. What are the prerequisites to install Active Directory in a Server?

Windows Server Operating System. Free hard disk space with NTFS partition. Administrative privilege on the computer. Network connection with IP address,

Subnet Mask, Gateway and DNS address. A DNS server that can be installed along with first Domain Controller. Windows Server installation CD or i386 folder

10. What is FSMO roles? (Or what are Single Master Operations / Flexible Single Master Operations / Operations Master Role / SMO / OMR?)

Flexible Single-Master Operation (FSMO) roles, manage an aspect of the domain or forest, to prevent conflicts, which are handled by Single domain controllers in domain or forest. The tasks which are not suited to multi-master replication, There are 5 FSMO roles, and Schema Master and Domain naming master roles are handled by a single domain controller in a forest, and PDC, RID master and Infrastructure master roles are handled by a single domain controller in each domain.

11. Explain Infrastructure Master Role. What will be the impact if DC with Infrastructure Master Role goes down?

Infrastructure master role is a domain-specific role and its purpose is to ensure that cross-domain object references are correctly handled. For example, if you add a user from one domain to a security group from a different domain, the Infrastructure Master makes sure this is done properly. Infrastructure master does not have any functions to do in a single domain environment. If the Domain controller with Infrastructure master role goes down in a single domain environment, there will be no impact at all. Whereas, in a complex environment with multiple domains, it may impact creation and modification of groups and group authentication.

12. I want to promote a new additional Domain Controller in an existing domain. Which are the groups I should be a member of?

 You should be a member of Enterprise Admins group or the Domain Admins group. Also you should be member of local Administrators group of the member server which you are going to promote as additional Domain Controller.

13. Tell me one easiest way to check all the 5 FSMO roles. 

Use netdom query /domain: Your Domain FSMO command. It will list all the FSMO role handling domain controllers

14. Can I configure two RID masters in a domain?

No, there should be only one Domain Controller handling RID master role in a Domain.

15. Tell me one easiest way to check all the 5 FSMO roles. 

Use netdom query /domain: Your Domain FSMO command. It will list all the FSMO role handling domain controllers

16. Can I configure two RID masters in a domain?

No, there should be only one Domain Controller handling RID master role in a Domain.

17.Can I configure two Infrastructure Master Role in a forest? If yes, please explain.

 There should be only one Domain Controller handling Infrastructure master role in a domain. Hence if you have two domains in a forest, you can configure two Infrastructure masters, one in each domain

18. What will be the impact on the network if Domain Controller with PDC Emulator crashes?

If PDC emulator crashes, there will be immediate impact on the environment. User authentication will fail as password changes won’t get effected, and there will be frequent account lock out issues. Network time synchronization will be impacted. It will also impact DFS consistency and Group policy replication as well

19.What are the physical components of Active Directory?

Domain controllers and Sites. Domain controllers are physical computers which is running Windows Server operating system and Active Directory data base. Sites are a network segment based on geographical location and which contains multiple domain controllers in each site18.

20. What are the logical components of Active Directory?

Domains, Organizational Units, trees and forests are logical components of Active Directory

21.What are the Active Directory Partitions? (Or what are Active Directory Naming Contexts? Or what is AD NC?)

Active Directory database is divided into different partitions such as

Schema partition, Domain partition, and Configuration partition. Apart from these partitions, we can create Application partition based on the requirement.

22.What is group nesting?

Adding one group as a member of another group is called 'group nesting'. This will help for easy administration and reduced replication traffic.

23.Explain Group Types and Group Scopes?

Group types are categorized based on its nature. There are two group types: Security Groups and Distribution Groups. Security groups are used to apply permissions to resources whereas distribution groups are used to create Exchange server email communication groups. Group scopes are categorized based on the usage. There are three group types: Domain Local Group, Global Group and Universal Group.

24.What is the feature of Domain Local Group?

Domain local groups are mainly used for granting access to network resources. A Domain local group can contain accounts from any domain, global groups from any domain and universal groups from any domain. For example, if you want to grant permission to a printer located at Domain A, to 10 users from Domain B, then create a Global group in Domain B and add all 10 usersinto that Global group. Then, create a Domain local group at Domain A, andadd Global group of Domain B to Domain local group of Domain A, then, addDomain local group of Domain A to the printer(of Domain A) security ACL.

24.How will you take Active Directory backup?

Active Directory is backed up along with System State data. System state data includes Local registry, COM+, Boot files, NTDS.DIT and SYSVOL folder. System state can be backed up either using Microsoft's default NTBACKUP tool or third-party tools such as Symantec NetBackup, IBM Tivoli Storage Manager etc.

25. What are the Active Directory Restore types?

 There are two types of Active Directory restores, Authoritative restore and Non-Authoritative restore.

26. How is Authoritative Restore different from non-Authoritative Restore?

Non-Authoritative means, a normal restore of a single Domain controller incase that particular domain controller OS or hardware crashed. After non-authoritative restoration completed, compares its data base with peer domain controllers in the network and accepts all the directory changes that have been made since the backup. This is done through multi master replication. Whereas, in Authoritative restore, a restored data base of a Domain controller forcefully replicated to all the other domain controllers. Authoritative restore is performed to recover an active directory resource or object (e.g. an Organizational Unit) which accidentally deleted and it needs to be restored

27. Explain me, how to restore Active Directory using command line?

We can use NTDSUTIL command line to perform Authoritative restore of Active Directory. First, start a domain controller in 'Directory Service Restore Mode'. Then, restore the System State data of Domain controller using NTBACKUPtool. This is non-authoritative restore. Once non-authoritative restore is completed, we have to perform authoritative restore immediately before restarting the Domain Controller. Open command prompt and type NTDSUTIL and enter, then type authoritative restore and press enter, then type restore database and press enter, click OK and then click Yes. This will restore all the data in authoritative restore mode. If you want to restore only a specific object or sub-tree, you can type below command instead of 'restore database’. Restore subtree ou=OU_Name,dc=Domain_Name,dc=xxx

28. Tell me few switches of NTDSUTIL command.

Authoritative restore, Configurable settings, Partition management, Set DSRM Password etc.

29. What is a tombstone? What is the tombstone lifetime period?

A tombstone is a container object for deleted items from Active Directory database, even if objects are deleted, it will be kept hidden in the active directory data base for a specific period. This period is known as tombstone lifetime. Tombstone lifetime is 180 days on Windows Server 2003 SP1 and later versions of Windows Server.

30.What do you understand by Garbage Collection? Explain.

Garbage collection is a process of Active Directory. This process starts by removing the remains of previously deleted objects from the database. These objects are known as tombstones. Then, the garbage collection process deletes unnecessary log files. And the process starts a defragmentation thread to claim additional free space. The garbage collection process is running on all the domain controllers in an interval of 12 hours.

31. What is Lost and Found Container?

In multimaster replication method, replication conflicts can happen. Objects with replication conflicts will be stored in a container called 'Lost and Found ‘container. This container also used to store orphaned user accounts and other object

32. Where can I locate Lost and Found Container?

Lost and Found container can be viewed by enabling advanced features from View menu of Active Directory User and Computers MMC 

33. Is Lost and Found Container included in Windows Server 2008 AD?

 Yes, it is included

34.Have you ever installed Active Directory in a production environment?

[Never say no] We had set up an additional domain for a new subsidiary of the firm, and I was a member of the team who handled installation and configuration of domain controllers for the sub domain.[or] I was supporting an existing Active Directory network environment of the company, but I have installed and configured Active Directory in test environment several occasion

35.Do we use clustering in Active Directory? Why?

No one installs Active Directory in a cluster. There is no need of clustering a domain controller. Because Active Directory provides total redundancy with two or more servers

36.What is Active Directory Recycle Bin?

Active Directory Recycle bin is a feature of Windows Server 2008 AD. It helps to restore accidentally deleted Active Directory objects without using a backedup AD database, rebooting domain controller or restarting any services

37.What is RODC? Why do we configure RODC?

Read only domain controller (RODC) is a feature of Windows Server 2008 Operating System. RODC is a read only copy of Active Directory database and it can be deployed in a remote branch office where physical security cannot be guaranteed. RODC provides more improved security and faster log on time for the branch office

38.How do you check currently forest and domain functional levels? Say both GUI and Command line.

 To find out forest and domain functional levels in GUI mode, open ADUC, right click on the domain name and take properties. Both domain and forest functional levels will be listed there. TO find out forest and domain functional levels, you can use DSQUERY command.

39. Explain Knowledge Consistency Checker (KCC)

KCC can be expanded as Knowledge Consistency Checker. It is a protocol process running on all domain controllers, and it generates and maintains the replication topology for replication within sites and between sites.

40. What are the tools used to check and troubleshoot replication of Active Directory?

We can use command line tools such as repadmin and dcdiag. GUI toolREPLMON can also be used for replication monitoring and troubleshooting.

41. What is SYSVOL folder used for?

SYSVOL is a folder exits on each domain controller, which contains Active Directory related files and folders. SYSVOL mainly stores important elements of Group Policy Objects and scripts, and it is being replicated among domain controllers using File Replication Service (FRS).

42.What is the use of Kerberos in Active Directory? Which port is used for Kerberos communication?

Kerberos is a network authentication protocol. Active Directory uses Kerberos for user and resource authentication and trust relationship functionality. Kerberos uses port number 88

43.Which version of Kerberos is used for Windows 2000/2003 and 2008 Active Directory?

All versions of Windows Server Active Directory use Kerberos 5

44. Please name few port numbers related to Active Directory.LDAP-389,DNS-53,DHCP-67,68,

Kerberos 88, SMB 445

45. What is an FQDN?

FQDN can be expanded as Fully Qualified Domain Name. It is a hierarchy of a domain name system which points to a device in the domain at its left most end

46.Tell me few DS commands and its usage. 

Dsadd - to add an object to the directory, Dsget - displays requested properties of an object in AD, Dsmove - Used to move one object from one location to another in the directory, DS query - To query specific objects.

47.Explain Active Directory tree and forest.

A tree in Active Directory is a collection of one or more domains which are interconnected and sharing global resources each other. If a tree has more than one domain, it will have contiguous namespace. When we add a new domain in an existing tree, it will be called a child domain. A forest is a collection of one or more trees which trust each other and sharing a common schema. It also shares common configuration and global catalog. When a forest contains more than one tree, the trees will not form a contiguous namespace.

48.What are Intersite and Intrasite replication?

Replication between domain controllers inside a single site is called Intrasite replication, whereas replication between domain controllers located indifferent sites is called Intersite replication. Intrasite replication will be very frequent, whereas Intersite replication will be with specific interval and in a controlled fashion just to preserve network bandwidth

49.What is shortcut trust?

Shortcut trust is a manually created transitive trust which is configured to enable fast and optimized authentication process. For example, If we create short cut trust between two domains of different trees, they can quickly authenticate each other without traveling through the entire parent domains. Short cut trust can be either one-way or two-way

50.What is selective Authentication?

Selective authentication is generally used in forest trust and external trusts.Selective authentication is a security setting which allows administrators togrant access to shared resources in their organization’s forest to a limited setof users in another organization’s forest. Selective authentication method candecide which groups of users in a trusted forest can access shared resources inthe trusting forest.

51.Give me brief explanation of different types of Active Directory trusts.

Trusts can be categorized by its nature. There can be two-way trust or one-waytrust,implicit or explicit trust, transitive or non transitive trust. Trust can becategorized by types, such as parent and child, tree root trust, external trust,realm trust forest trust and shortcut trust.

52.Have you heard of ADAC?

ADAC- Active Directory Administrative Center is a new GUI tool came with Windows Server 2008 R2, which provides enhanced data management experience to the admin. ADAC helps administrators to perform common Active Directory object management task across multiple domains with the same ADAC instance.

53.What is the use of ADSIEDIT? How do we install it in Windows Server 2003 AD?

ADSIEDIT- Active Directory Service Interfaces Editor is a GUI tool which is used to perform advanced AD object and attribute management. This Active Directory tool helps us to view objects and attributes that are not visiblethrough normal Active Directory Management Consoles. ADSIEDIT can bedownloaded and installed along with Windows Server 2003 Support Tools.

54. I am unable to create a Universal Security group in my Active Directory? Whatwill be the possible reason?

 This is due to domain functional level. If domain functional level of WindowsServer 2003 AD is Windows 2000 Mixed, Universal Group option will be greyedout. You need to raise domain functional level to Windows 2000 native or above

55.What is ADMT? What is it used for?

ADMT - Active Directory Migration Tool, is a tool which is used for migrating Active Directory objects from one domain to another. ADMT is an effective tool that simplifies the process of migrating users, computers, and groups to new domains

56.What do you mean by Lingering Objects in AD? How to remove Lingering Objects?

When a domain controller is disconnected for a period that is longer than the tombstone life time, one or more objects that are deleted from Active Directory on all other domain controllers may remain on the disconnected domain controller. Such objects are called lingering objects. Lingering objects can be removed from Windows Server 2003 or 2008 using REPADMIN utility

57.Explain Global Catalog. What kind of AD infrastructure makes most use of GlobalCatalog?

The Global catalog is a container which contains a searchable partial replica of all objects from all domains of the forest, and full replica of all objects from thedomain where it is situated. The global catalog is stored on domain controllersthat have been designated as global catalog servers and is distributed throughmultimaster replication. Global catalogs are mostly used in multidomain,multisite and complex forest environment, where as Global catalog does notfunction in a single domain forest.

58.Global Catalog and Infrastructure master roles cannot be configure in same Domain Controller. Why?

In a forest that contains only a single Active Directory domain, there is no harmin placing both GC and Infrastructure master in same DC, becauseInfrastructure master does not have any work to do in a single domainenvironment. But in a forest with multiple and complex domain structure, theinfrastructure master should be located on a DC which is not a Global Catalogserver. Because the global catalog server holds a partial replica of every objectin the forest, the infrastructure master, if placed on a global catalog server, willnever update anything, because it does not contain any references to objectsthat it does not hold.

59.How do you check all the GCs in the forest?

Command line method: nslookup gc._msdcs.<forest root DNS Domain Name>,nltest /dsgetdc:corp /GC. GUI method: Open DNS management, and under‘Forward Lookup Zone’, click on GC container. To check if a server is GC or not,go to Active Directory Sites and Services MMC and under ‘Servers’ folder, takeproperties of NTDS settings of the desired DC and find Global Catalog option ischecked59.

60. How many objects can be created in Active Directory? (both 2003 and 2008)

As per Microsoft, a single AD domain controller can create around

2.15 billion objects during its lifetime.

61.Can you explain the process between a user providing his Domain credential to his workstation and the desktop being loaded? Or how the AD authenticationworks?

When a user enters a user name and password, the computer sends the username to the KDC. The KDC contains a master database of unique long termkeys for every principal in its realm. The KDC looks up the user's master key(KA), which is based on the user's password. The KDC then creates two items:a session key (SA) to share with the user and a Ticket-Granting Ticket (TGT). The TGT includes a second copy of the SA, the user name, and an expirationtime. The KDC encrypts this ticket by using its own master key (KKDC), whichonly the KDC knows. The client computer receives the information from theKDC and runs the user's password through a one-way hashing function, whichconverts the password into the user's KA. The client computer now has asession key and a TGT so that it can securely communicate with the KDC. Theclient is now authenticated to the domain and is ready to access otherresources in the domain by using the Kerberos protocol.

62.What is LDAP?

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an Internet standard protocolwhich is used as a standard protocol for Active Directory functions. It runsdirectly over TCP, and can be used to access a standalone LDAP directoryservice or to access a directory service that is back-ended by X.500.

63.Which is default location of Active Directory? What are the main files related to AD?

Active Directory related files are by default located at %SystemRoot%\ntdsfolder. NTDS.DIT is the main Active Directory database file. Apart from thisother files such as EDB.LOG, EDB.CHK, RES1.LOG, TEMP.EDB etc. are alsolocated at the same folder.

64.In a large forest environment, why we don’t configure all Domain Controllers as GCs?

Global Catalog servers produce huge traffic related to the replicationprocess.There for making all the domain controllers in the forest as GlobalCatalog servers will cause network bandwidth poroblem. GCs should be placedbased on Network bandwidth and user or application requirement.

Question 65:- What is DACL?

Ans :-  DACL stand for Discretionary Access Control List. In DACL basically permission entry is available of any user in the network

Question 66:- What is SACL?

Ans :- SACL stand for System Access Control List. In SACL basically auditing entry is available of any user in the network.

Question 67:- What is MSI?

Ans :- MSI file is basically use for deploying or installation of any application in the network.

Question 68:- What is MST?

Ans :- MST file is basically using for repairing of any application in the network.

Question 69:- What is zap file?

Ans :- ZAP is basically use for that application, which do not have the MSI file. We create a text file with zap extension for deploying or installation purpose of any application in the network.

Question 70:- What is ace?

Ans :-  Ace stand for access control entry.

Question 71:- What is operation master role?

Ans :-  Operation master role is available on domain controller in the network.

There are five types of operation master role inside the active directory

1. Schema Master – Schema Master Is responsible for changes of schema, updating of schema in the Network.

2. Domain Naming Master – Domain Naming Master Is Responsible For adding or removing a domain inside the forest.

3. RID Master – RID Master provides RID no. of each D.C in the Network. Every D.C is having a one id no, it is called RID NO. domain—rid, object—S.I.D.

4. PDC Emulator – It is basically use For Previous version Of Windows 2000 Clients in The Network. PDC Emulator Work as an emulator for previous version of Windows 2000 Clients in the network.

PDC – Primary Domain Controller

BDC – Backup Domain Controller

5. Infrastructure Operation Master – Infrastructure Operation Master Role provides uniqueness of any object inside the forest.

Infrastructure operation master role. Updates references to objects and group membership from other domain In the Network.

Question 72:- What is dedicated server?

Ans :- A dedicated server functions as a server only not as a client. As For Example—Domain Controller.

Question 73:- What is bridgehead server?

Ans :-  A bridgehead server is a central point in the site that is responsible for replication from another site.