Top 100 Windows Server Interview Questions and Answers

Whether you’re aiming for a role as a System Administrator, IT Support Specialist, DevOps Engineer, or Cloud Infrastructure Professional, strong knowledge of Windows Server is a must. It remains one of the most widely used server operating systems in corporate environments and forms the backbone of many on-premise and hybrid infrastructures.

Interviews for Windows Server-related roles often include a mix of technical, conceptual, and scenario-based questions, ranging from basic tasks like user creation and GPO management to more advanced topics like Active Directory architecture, DNS configurations, and disaster recovery planning.

This blog compiles the top 100 Windows Server interview questions and answers, carefully selected to help you.

About Windows Server

Windows Server is Microsoft’s enterprise-grade server operating system, built specifically to manage corporate IT environments. Unlike desktop operating systems like Windows 10 or 11, which are designed for individual users, Windows Server is optimized to provide backend infrastructure and services that power networks, applications, data, and security across organizations.

First released in 2003, Windows Server has evolved through multiple versions (2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, and now 2022), each introducing improved support for cloud integration, virtualization, automation, and hybrid IT environments.

Key features of Windows Server include:

Today, Windows Server is used by businesses of all sizes to host web applications, run file and database servers, manage enterprise networks, and enforce security policies.

Whether deployed on-premises, in hybrid setups, or within cloud environments like Microsoft Azure, Windows Server remains one of the most critical technologies in enterprise IT.

Windows Server Interview Questions and Answers

Below you’ll find 100 carefully selected interview questions, grouped by topic and difficulty level. This structure allows you to focus on the areas that matter most for your role—whether you’re a beginner brushing up on core concepts or an experienced system administrator preparing for advanced scenario-based questions.

We begin with the basics of Windows Server to help lay the foundation.

Basic Windows Server Concepts (Q1–Q15)

These questions cover the foundational elements of Windows Server, including editions, versions, core features, and fundamental roles. Mastering these basics is essential for any role involving server administration or infrastructure management.

Q1. What is Windows Server?

Answer: Windows Server is a server operating system developed by Microsoft that is designed to manage enterprise networks, host services, and provide infrastructure-level support for applications. It offers features like centralized identity management, resource sharing, network administration, and virtualization. Unlike Windows desktop editions, it is built for scalability, reliability, and support of multiple users and processes in a secure environment.

Q2. What are the different editions of Windows Server?

Answer: Windows Server comes in several editions to suit different business needs. The Standard edition is suited for small-to-medium-sized businesses that need basic virtualization and server roles. The Datacenter edition is built for large-scale deployments and includes unlimited virtualization rights, making it ideal for data centers. The Essentials edition is targeted at small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices, offering a simplified management interface. Azure Edition is optimized for virtualized workloads in Microsoft Azure and supports features like hot patching and SMB over QUIC.

Q3. What are server roles in Windows Server?

Answer: Server roles are predefined functions that a Windows Server can be configured to perform. Examples include Active Directory Domain Services (for identity management), DNS Server (for name resolution), DHCP Server (for automatic IP address assignment), File and Storage Services (for shared file access), and Web Server (IIS) for hosting websites. Each server can host one or multiple roles depending on its function in the network.

Q4. What is the difference between a server operating system and a client operating system?

Answer: A server operating system like Windows Server is built to manage network resources and serve multiple clients. It handles tasks such as authentication, data storage, remote access, and security enforcement. A client operating system like Windows 10 is designed for individual users and typically consumes resources provided by a server. Client systems do not manage networks but rather rely on servers for services like domain logins, file access, and application hosting.

Q5. What is Active Directory and why is it important?

Answer: Active Directory (AD) is a directory service provided by Windows Server that stores information about users, computers, groups, and other objects in a network. It allows administrators to manage permissions, enforce security policies, and organize resources in a structured and centralized manner. AD is critical in enterprise environments because it simplifies authentication, access control, and resource management.

Q6. What is the role of DNS in a Windows Server environment?

Answer: DNS, or Domain Name System, is a service that resolves domain names to IP addresses. In a Windows Server environment, DNS is closely integrated with Active Directory. It allows users to access resources using readable names (e.g., server1.company.local) instead of numerical IP addresses. DNS is essential for service location, domain joins, and application connectivity across the network.

Q7. What is the purpose of the DHCP role in Windows Server?

Answer: The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) role is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network. It also provides other configuration information such as subnet masks, gateways, and DNS server addresses. Using DHCP simplifies IP address management, reduces errors from manual configuration, and ensures efficient network operation.

Q8. What is the difference between a domain, a workgroup, and a forest in Windows Server?

Answer: A domain is a centralized network model where resources and user accounts are managed through Active Directory. A workgroup is a decentralized model, typically used in small networks, where each computer is managed independently. A forest is a collection of one or more domains that share a common schema and global catalog but operate as separate administrative entities. Forests are used in large organizations that require multiple isolated domains under one umbrella.

Q9. What is the Windows Admin Center?

Answer: Windows Admin Center is a web-based management tool developed by Microsoft for administering Windows Server environments. It consolidates various administrative tasks such as managing servers, clusters, virtual machines, and Windows 10 PCs into a single interface. It supports features like certificate management, storage configuration, and performance monitoring without relying on Remote Desktop or MMC consoles.

Q10. What is Hyper-V and how is it used in Windows Server?

Answer: Hyper-V is Microsoft’s built-in virtualization platform that allows administrators to create and manage virtual machines on Windows Server. It supports features like live migration, resource allocation, virtual networking, and storage provisioning. Hyper-V is widely used for testing, isolating applications, server consolidation, and reducing hardware costs by running multiple virtual servers on a single physical machine.

Q11. What are the system requirements for installing Windows Server?

Answer: System requirements vary by version, but the general minimum includes a 64-bit processor with at least 1.4 GHz speed, 512 MB to 2 GB RAM (depending on GUI or core install), and at least 32 GB of available disk space. For practical deployments, higher specs are recommended, especially if roles like Hyper-V, DNS, or AD DS will be installed. Requirements also depend on whether it’s a Server Core or Desktop Experience installation.

Q12. What is the difference between Server Core and Desktop Experience installations?

Answer: Server Core is a minimal installation option for Windows Server that does not include a traditional desktop GUI. It is used for performance optimization and reduced attack surface, mainly managed via PowerShell or remote tools. Desktop Experience includes the full graphical interface, allowing for local administration with GUI tools. Server Core is preferred for production servers, while Desktop Experience is more suitable for admins unfamiliar with command-line management.

Q13. What is the purpose of Group Policy in Windows Server?
Answer: Group Policy is a feature in Windows Server that allows administrators to define and enforce settings across users and computers in an Active Directory environment. These settings can control everything from security configurations to desktop appearance. Group Policy helps ensure consistency, compliance, and security across all networked devices by applying rules automatically when users log in or computers boot up.

Q14. What is the difference between NTFS and Share permissions?

Answer: NTFS permissions are applied at the file system level and provide detailed control over how users can interact with files and folders (read, write, modify, etc.). Share permissions are applied when a folder is shared over the network and govern access at the network level. When both are in effect, the most restrictive permission applies. For example, if NTFS allows full access but share permission is read-only, users will only have read access.

Q15. How is Windows Server licensed?

Answer: Windows Server is typically licensed based on either the number of physical cores in a server or through client access licenses (CALs). Core-based licensing requires a minimum of 8 cores per processor and 16 cores per server. Additionally, each user or device accessing the server requires a separate CAL. There are also subscription-based and cloud-hosted licensing options, especially with integration into Microsoft Azure.

Active Directory (Q16–Q30)

This section covers the core concepts and administration tasks related to Active Directory (AD)—one of the most important services in any Windows Server environment. These questions are common in interviews for system administrators, support engineers, and IT infrastructure roles.

Q16. What is Active Directory and what does it do?

Answer: Active Directory is a directory service developed by Microsoft that provides centralized management of users, computers, groups, and other resources in a network. It allows administrators to authenticate and authorize users, enforce security policies, and control access to resources. AD structures data hierarchically and uses domains, organizational units, and forests to organize and manage enterprise environments.

Q17. What is a domain controller?

Answer: A domain controller is a server that runs the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role. It is responsible for authenticating users, enforcing security policies, and replicating directory data across other domain controllers in the domain. Every login request, access control decision, and resource lookup typically involves communication with a domain controller.

Q18. What are FSMO roles in Active Directory?

Answer: FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operations) roles are special functions assigned to specific domain controllers to avoid conflicts and ensure consistency in the Active Directory environment. There are five roles: Schema Master, Domain Naming Master, RID Master, PDC Emulator, and Infrastructure Master. These roles are divided into forest-wide and domain-wide scopes and are critical for AD functionality.

Q19. What is the difference between a forest and a domain in Active Directory?

Answer: A domain is a logical group of objects (such as users and computers) that share the same Active Directory database. A forest is the top-level container that includes one or more domains that share a common schema and global catalog. While domains may have independent security policies and trust boundaries, all domains in a forest are connected and can communicate through transitive trusts.

Q20. What is an Organizational Unit (OU)?

Answer: An Organizational Unit is a container in Active Directory used to organize users, groups, and computers logically. OUs help administrators delegate administrative tasks, apply group policies selectively, and structure the directory in a way that reflects the organization’s hierarchy. Unlike domains, OUs do not create a security boundary.

Q21. What is the Global Catalog in Active Directory?

Answer: The Global Catalog is a distributed data repository that contains a searchable, partial representation of all objects in every domain within a forest. It helps users and applications quickly locate resources, regardless of the domain in which they reside. Domain controllers hosting the Global Catalog respond to queries about objects throughout the forest.

Q22. How does Active Directory replication work?

Answer: Active Directory uses multi-master replication to ensure that directory changes made on one domain controller are automatically propagated to others. Within a site, replication is frequent and fast. Between sites, replication is scheduled and often compressed to conserve bandwidth. This ensures consistency across the AD infrastructure.

Q23. What is the SYSVOL folder?

Answer: SYSVOL is a shared directory on domain controllers that contains public files necessary for Group Policy and scripts to function. These include logon scripts, policy definitions, and other AD-related data. SYSVOL is automatically replicated between domain controllers using DFS Replication (DFSR) in modern versions of Windows Server.

Q24. What are the default user containers in Active Directory?

Answer: By default, Active Directory includes built-in containers like Users and Computers where new objects are created if no Organizational Units are specified. These containers are functional but do not support Group Policy application directly. It’s best practice to create custom OUs and move objects into them for better manageability.

Q25. What are Active Directory Sites and why are they important?

Answer: Sites in Active Directory represent physical locations, typically aligned with geographical or network boundaries. They help optimize replication traffic and authentication requests by directing users to the nearest domain controller. Configuring sites properly ensures efficient bandwidth usage and better performance in multi-location environments.

Q26. What is a trust relationship in Active Directory?

Answer: A trust relationship is a connection between two domains that allows users in one domain to access resources in another. Trusts can be one-way or two-way and are either transitive (automatically extend to other domains) or non-transitive (specific to the two domains involved). Trusts are essential in multi-domain and multi-forest environments.

Q27. What is the difference between domain local, global, and universal groups?

Answer: Domain local groups are used to assign permissions to resources within the same domain. Global groups are used to group users from the same domain and can be assigned permissions in any domain. Universal groups can contain users and groups from any domain in the forest and can be used to assign permissions across domains. Understanding these scopes is essential for proper access control.

Q28. What are Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and how do they relate to Active Directory?

Answer: GPOs are collections of settings that control the environment of user and computer accounts in Active Directory. They are linked to OUs, domains, or sites and are applied in a specific order: local, site, domain, and OU. GPOs are powerful tools for managing system configurations, software deployment, and security settings across the network.

Q29. What is Active Directory Recycle Bin?

Answer: The Active Directory Recycle Bin allows administrators to recover deleted AD objects such as users, groups, or OUs without requiring a full system restore. It preserves all linked attributes and restores objects in their original state. This feature must be enabled manually and is available in forests operating at Windows Server 2008 R2 functional level or higher.

Q30. How can you back up and restore Active Directory?

Answer: Active Directory can be backed up using Windows Server Backup or third-party tools. A full server or system state backup includes AD data. To restore, you can use Authoritative Restore (to restore specific AD objects) or Non-Authoritative Restore (to recover the domain controller to a previous state and sync from other DCs). Regular backups are critical for disaster recovery.

Group Policy (Q31–Q40)

Group Policy is a central feature of Windows Server that allows administrators to manage configurations for users and computers across a network. This section covers how Group Policy Objects (GPOs) work, how they are applied, and how to troubleshoot them—topics that often appear in both technical and scenario-based interviews.

Q31. What is Group Policy in Windows Server?

Answer: Group Policy is a feature that allows administrators to control and enforce configurations on user and computer accounts within an Active Directory environment. It enables centralized management of security settings, software installation, desktop configurations, and network policies. Group Policy helps maintain consistency and security across an organization’s IT infrastructure.

Q32. What is a Group Policy Object (GPO)?

Answer: A Group Policy Object is a set of configuration settings created using the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). GPOs are linked to containers such as sites, domains, or organizational units (OUs) and are used to apply specific rules or policies to the users or computers within those containers. Each GPO contains two sections: user configuration and computer configuration.

Q33. How are GPOs applied in Active Directory?

Answer: GPOs follow a specific order of application: first the local computer policy, followed by site-level GPOs, then domain-level GPOs, and finally OU-level GPOs. If there are multiple GPOs at the same level, they are applied in the order specified in the Group Policy Management Console. The final settings seen by the user or computer are the result of all applicable GPOs, with the last applied settings taking precedence unless blocked or overridden.

Q34. What is the difference between a GPO link and a GPO?

Answer: A GPO is the actual set of policies and settings, whereas a GPO link is the association between that GPO and a container like a site, domain, or OU. You can link the same GPO to multiple containers, and the link can be enabled or disabled without deleting the GPO itself. This makes policy management more flexible and modular.

Q35. What is the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)?

Answer: The Group Policy Management Console is a graphical tool provided by Microsoft to create, edit, and manage GPOs in an Active Directory environment. GPMC allows administrators to view existing GPOs, link them to appropriate containers, manage security filtering, and delegate permissions for policy editing and application.

Q36. What is Group Policy inheritance?

Answer: Group Policy inheritance refers to the process where child containers (like OUs) automatically inherit GPOs applied to parent containers (like domains or higher-level OUs). Unless inheritance is blocked or policies are explicitly overridden, settings from parent GPOs will flow down to child objects. This hierarchical structure allows for consistent policy enforcement across the organization.

Q37. How can you block Group Policy inheritance?

Answer: You can block inheritance at the OU level by selecting the “Block Inheritance” option in the Group Policy Management Console. This prevents GPOs from parent containers (like domains) from applying to that OU. However, GPOs marked as “Enforced” at the parent level will still apply, even if inheritance is blocked.

Q38. What does it mean to enforce a GPO?

Answer: Enforcing a GPO ensures that its settings take precedence over other GPOs and cannot be overridden by child containers. When a GPO is enforced, it applies even if Block Inheritance is enabled at the OU level. This is useful when you want to make certain policies mandatory across all departments or branches.

Q39. What is the Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP)?

Answer: The Resultant Set of Policy is the final set of policies applied to a user or computer after all applicable GPOs have been evaluated. It shows how the various settings from multiple GPOs combine and what the end result is. RSoP can be generated using tools like the gpresult command or the RSoP wizard in GPMC, and it is helpful for troubleshooting Group Policy issues.

Q40. How do you troubleshoot Group Policy issues?
To troubleshoot Group Policy, you can use the gpresult /h command to generate a detailed report of applied GPOs and settings. You can also use Event Viewer to check for policy application errors, and the Group Policy Operational log to track processing. Ensuring proper replication, permissions, and network connectivity is also essential when troubleshooting policy problems.

DNS & DHCP (Q41–Q55)

This section focuses on two critical networking roles in Windows Server: DNS (Domain Name System) and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). These services are foundational for any network, and interviewers often ask about configuration, troubleshooting, and integration with Active Directory.

Q41. What is DNS and why is it important in a Windows Server environment?

Answer: DNS, or Domain Name System, is a service that translates human-readable domain names (like server01.company.local) into IP addresses (like 192.168.1.10). In a Windows Server environment, DNS is tightly integrated with Active Directory. Services such as logins, group policy processing, and domain controller location rely on DNS to function correctly. Without a functioning DNS, many domain-related services would fail.

Q42. What is a DNS zone?

Answer: A DNS zone is a portion of the DNS namespace that is managed as a single administrative unit. It contains DNS records such as A, CNAME, MX, and SRV that define hostnames, aliases, mail servers, and services. There are different types of zones, including primary (read/write), secondary (read-only), and stub (partial replica). In AD-integrated environments, zones are often stored within Active Directory and benefit from multi-master replication.

Q43. What is a forward lookup zone and a reverse lookup zone?

Answer: A forward lookup zone translates domain names into IP addresses. For example, querying “server01” might return 192.168.1.10. A reverse lookup zone does the opposite—it maps IP addresses to domain names, helping identify which host owns a specific IP. Reverse lookups are commonly used in logging and authentication scenarios.

Q44. What is DHCP and what role does it play in a network?

Answer: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a service that automatically assigns IP addresses and related network configuration to client devices. It eliminates the need for manual IP configuration and helps ensure that each device has a unique and valid IP address, along with subnet masks, gateways, and DNS server details.

Q45. What is a DHCP scope?

Answer: A DHCP scope is a range of IP addresses that the DHCP server can assign to clients on a particular subnet. It defines not just the address range but also lease duration, excluded addresses, and options like DNS servers and default gateways. Each scope serves a specific logical or physical segment of the network.

Q46. What is a DHCP reservation and when would you use it?

Answer: A DHCP reservation is a configuration that ensures a specific client always receives the same IP address from the DHCP server. This is typically used for devices that need a consistent IP, such as printers, servers, or network appliances, but are still managed by DHCP instead of being manually configured.

Q47. What is the purpose of DHCP lease time?

Answer: The lease time is the duration for which a DHCP client is allowed to use an assigned IP address. After the lease expires, the client must renew it. Short lease times are useful for dynamic environments where devices join and leave frequently, while longer leases are suitable for stable networks to reduce renewal traffic.

Q48. What are the different types of DNS records?

Answer: Common DNS record types include:

• A (Address) – maps a hostname to an IPv4 address
• AAAA – maps a hostname to an IPv6 address
• CNAME – alias for another hostname
• MX – mail exchange server
• SRV – used to locate domain controllers and services in AD
• PTR – used in reverse lookup zones to map IP to hostname

Q49. What is dynamic DNS (DDNS) and how does it work with DHCP?

Answer: Dynamic DNS allows DHCP clients to automatically update their DNS records when they receive a new IP address. In a Windows Server environment, this integration ensures that name resolution remains accurate, even as IPs change. DHCP can be configured to update DNS records on behalf of clients that do not support dynamic updates.

Q50. What is the difference between an authoritative and a non-authoritative DNS server?

Answer: An authoritative DNS server holds the original source records for a DNS zone. It is the definitive source of information for that domain. A non-authoritative server, such as a DNS resolver, retrieves information from cache or queries authoritative servers but does not manage the data directly.

Q51. What is a DHCP relay agent?

Answer: A DHCP relay agent forwards DHCP requests from clients on a different subnet to a central DHCP server. Since DHCP is a broadcast-based protocol and doesn’t cross routers by default, relay agents are necessary in routed networks to ensure clients on different subnets can receive IP configuration.

Q52. What is DNS scavenging?

Answer: DNS scavenging is the process of automatically removing stale or outdated DNS records from a zone. This helps keep the DNS database clean and prevents issues caused by leftover records from devices that are no longer on the network. Scavenging must be configured carefully to avoid accidentally removing active records.

Q53. How do you prevent IP address conflicts in DHCP?

Answer: To prevent conflicts, ensure that static IP addresses are assigned outside the DHCP scope range or are reserved within the DHCP server. You should also avoid duplicate scopes across multiple servers and configure DHCP conflict detection, which pings an address before leasing it to confirm it’s not in use.

Q54. What is a DNS forwarder?

Answer: A DNS forwarder is a DNS server configured to forward queries it cannot resolve locally to another DNS server, typically an external one such as Google DNS or a corporate upstream server. This helps optimize DNS resolution and can be used to control which DNS servers are responsible for external lookups.

Q55. What is the purpose of DHCP failover?

Answer: DHCP failover ensures high availability and reliability by allowing two DHCP servers to share lease information and provide redundant service. If one server fails, the other can continue assigning and renewing leases without disruption. Modes include load balancing and hot standby depending on the use case.

User and Access Management (Q56–Q65)

Managing users, groups, and permissions is at the heart of system administration in Windows Server. This section covers key concepts related to account management, permission structures, and secure access—essential topics in almost every Windows Server interview.

Q56. What is the difference between a user account and a computer account in Active Directory?

Answer: A user account represents an individual person and is used to authenticate and authorize access to resources like files, printers, and applications. It stores personal settings, group memberships, and credentials. A computer account, on the other hand, represents a computer in the domain and is used to authenticate the machine during logon, enabling it to participate in the domain and receive policies and permissions.

Q57. What are user profiles and how are they managed in Windows Server?

Answer: A user profile contains personalized desktop settings, configurations, and application data for a user. Profiles can be local (stored on the user’s machine), roaming (stored on a network share and available on multiple machines), or mandatory (read-only profiles that reset after logout). Administrators can configure profile paths via Active Directory and use folder redirection to manage where user data is stored.

Q58. What are security groups and what are they used for?

Answer: Security groups are used to assign permissions to multiple users at once. Instead of assigning rights individually, administrators can add users to a group and grant that group access to resources like shared folders, printers, or applications. This simplifies management and ensures consistent access control. Groups can be domain local, global, or universal, depending on the scope of their use.

Q59. What is the difference between NTFS permissions and Share permissions?

Answer: NTFS permissions are applied at the file system level and offer granular control over files and folders, such as read, write, modify, and full control. Share permissions apply when accessing folders over the network. When both are used together, the most restrictive permission takes precedence. For example, if NTFS allows full control but share permission is read-only, users accessing over the network will have read-only access.

Q60. How can you reset a user password in Active Directory?

Answer: To reset a user password, open Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC), locate the user account, right-click it, and select “Reset Password.” You’ll be prompted to enter the new password and optionally force the user to change it at next logon. This is a common task performed by helpdesk and support teams.

Q61. What is the principle of least privilege and why is it important?

Answer: The principle of least privilege means giving users only the minimum access they need to perform their tasks. This reduces the risk of accidental damage, data breaches, and unauthorized access. For example, a marketing employee should not have administrative access to financial systems. Enforcing this principle helps improve security and compliance.

Q62. How can you temporarily elevate user privileges in Windows Server?

Answer: One way to temporarily elevate privileges is by using Group Membership changes that are reversed after task completion or by assigning administrative rights using Just-in-Time (JIT) access with tools like Microsoft’s Privileged Access Management. Another approach is using the “Run as administrator” feature for launching tools without permanently granting admin rights.

Q63. What is User Account Control (UAC)?

Answer: User Account Control is a security feature in Windows that helps prevent unauthorized changes to the system by prompting for confirmation or administrator credentials when elevated permissions are required. It helps protect both users and the system from malware and unintentional system changes.

Q64. How do you disable a user account without deleting it?

Answer: In Active Directory Users and Computers, you can right-click on a user account and select “Disable Account.” This prevents the user from logging in while preserving the account’s settings, group memberships, and permissions. It’s commonly used during employee leave periods or investigations.

Q65. How can you audit user logon activity in Windows Server?

Answer: To audit user logon activity, enable logon auditing through Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Audit Policy. You can then view logon attempts in Event Viewer under the Security log. This helps track login patterns, detect unauthorized access, and investigate security incidents.

Server Roles and Features (Q66–Q75)

Windows Server includes a wide range of built-in roles and features designed to support enterprise operations—from web hosting to file sharing, virtualization, patch management, and more. This section focuses on identifying and understanding the key server roles and how they are used in real-world infrastructure.

Q66. What is the difference between a server role and a feature in Windows Server?

Answer: A server role is a major function performed by a Windows Server installation, such as acting as a Domain Controller, DNS server, or Web server. Roles define what the server does in a network. A feature, on the other hand, is an additional capability that supports or enhances the roles—like Failover Clustering or .NET Framework. Features do not define the server’s primary purpose but add to its functionality.

Q67. What is the purpose of the File and Storage Services role?

Answer: The File and Storage Services role enables file sharing, storage management, and data deduplication. It supports technologies like SMB for file sharing, DFS for distributed file systems, and NTFS/ReFS for advanced storage management. This role is commonly used in environments where central file access, storage quotas, or volume shadow copies are needed.

Q68. What is the Web Server (IIS) role and when would you use it?

Answer: The Web Server (IIS) role allows the Windows Server to host websites, web applications, and services. IIS supports protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and WebDAV, and can be used to deploy ASP.NET, PHP, and static websites. It’s commonly used for internal tools, company websites, or application backends in enterprise environments.

Q69. What is Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)?

Answer: WSUS is a role that enables administrators to manage the distribution of Microsoft updates and hotfixes to computers in a network. It allows for centralized control over what updates are approved, when they’re installed, and which systems receive them. This helps maintain patch compliance and reduces bandwidth by downloading updates once and distributing them internally.

Q70. What is Hyper-V and what are its key use cases?

Answer: Hyper-V is Microsoft’s native hypervisor that allows you to create and manage virtual machines on a physical server. It supports features like live migration, virtual networking, checkpoints, and dynamic memory. Hyper-V is widely used for consolidating workloads, setting up test environments, and supporting failover clustering for high availability.

Q71. What is the purpose of the Print and Document Services role?

Answer: The Print and Document Services role allows centralized management of printers, print servers, and print queues. It supports sharing printers across the network, applying access control, managing drivers, and monitoring usage. It’s useful in office environments where multiple users need access to networked printing resources.

Q72. What is the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) role?

Answer: Remote Desktop Services allows users to remotely access full desktop environments or specific applications hosted on a Windows Server. RDS is useful in terminal server environments, thin client deployments, and scenarios where centralized management of user sessions is needed. It includes roles like RD Session Host, RD Gateway, and RD Licensing.

Q73. What is Failover Clustering in Windows Server?

Answer: Failover Clustering is a feature that allows multiple servers (nodes) to work together to provide high availability for critical applications and services. If one node fails, another node takes over automatically. It’s commonly used with roles like Hyper-V, SQL Server, and File Servers to ensure minimal downtime and business continuity.

Q74. What is Network Policy and Access Services (NPAS)?

Answer: NPAS is a role that includes services such as Network Policy Server (NPS), Health Registration Authority, and Host Credential Authorization Protocol (HCAP). It provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting for network access using RADIUS. It’s commonly used in VPN and wireless network scenarios for secure access control.

Q75. How can you install roles and features on Windows Server?

Answer: Roles and features can be installed using the Server Manager GUI, PowerShell, or DISM. In Server Manager, use the “Add Roles and Features” wizard to walk through the setup. With PowerShell, you can use commands like Install-WindowsFeature Web-Server to install IIS or Install-WindowsFeature AD-Domain-Services for Active Directory. Automation through PowerShell is ideal for scripting installations in larger deployments.

PowerShell and Automation (Q76–Q85)

PowerShell is an essential tool for Windows Server administration. It allows administrators to automate repetitive tasks, manage configurations, and perform advanced scripting across multiple systems. This section focuses on PowerShell basics, commonly used cmdlets, and scripting concepts that often appear in interviews.

Q76. What is PowerShell and why is it important for Windows Server administration?

Answer: PowerShell is a task-based command-line shell and scripting language designed specifically for system administration. It allows administrators to automate configuration tasks, manage server roles, and retrieve system information across many machines. PowerShell provides access to .NET and WMI, making it more powerful than traditional command-line tools and highly effective for managing modern IT environments.

Q77. What is the difference between PowerShell and Command Prompt?

Answer: Command Prompt (CMD) is a basic command-line interface that supports a limited set of commands for system-level operations. PowerShell, on the other hand, is object-oriented and supports complex scripting, pipelines, and access to system APIs. While CMD works primarily with text, PowerShell works with objects, allowing for more powerful and precise automation.

Q78. What are cmdlets in PowerShell?

Answer: Cmdlets are lightweight, built-in PowerShell commands used to perform specific tasks. They follow a Verb-Noun naming convention, such as Get-Service, Start-Process, or Set-Item. Cmdlets are the building blocks of PowerShell scripts and can be combined in pipelines to perform complex tasks with minimal code.

Q79. How do you get a list of all installed Windows features using PowerShell?

Answer: You can use the Get-WindowsFeature cmdlet to list all available and installed features on a Windows Server. The output shows which features are enabled and which are not, making it easy to script the installation or removal of roles using PowerShell.

Q80. What is a PowerShell pipeline and how does it work?

Answer: A PowerShell pipeline allows you to pass the output of one cmdlet as the input to another cmdlet using the | (pipe) symbol. This enables chaining multiple commands together efficiently. For example, Get-Process | Where-Object {$_.CPU -gt 100} filters processes using more than 100 units of CPU.

Q81. How can you automate task scheduling with PowerShell?

Answer: PowerShell can be used to create and manage scheduled tasks using cmdlets like New-ScheduledTask, Register-ScheduledTask, and Set-ScheduledTask. You can define the script to run, the trigger (such as time or event), and conditions for execution, allowing for complete automation of maintenance and monitoring routines.

Q82. What is the purpose of the Get-Help command?

Answer: Get-Help provides detailed documentation for PowerShell cmdlets, functions, and scripts. It includes syntax, parameter explanations, examples, and usage notes. For instance, Get-Help Get-Service -Examples shows how to use the Get-Service cmdlet in real scenarios, making it an excellent learning and reference tool.

Q83. How can you manage remote servers using PowerShell?

Answer: PowerShell supports remote management using PowerShell Remoting with the Enter-PSSession and Invoke-Command cmdlets. This allows administrators to run commands on remote servers as if they were local, enabling centralized automation and configuration across multiple systems.

Q84. What is a PowerShell script and how do you run it?

Answer: A PowerShell script is a text file with a .ps1 extension that contains a series of cmdlets and logic for automation. You can run a script by navigating to its location in PowerShell and executing it using .\scriptname.ps1. Scripts may require execution policy adjustments using Set-ExecutionPolicy.

Q85. What is the difference between Write-Host, Write-Output, and Write-Verbose?

• Write-Host displays messages directly to the console and is not part of the output stream.
• Write-Output sends data through the output stream and can be used in pipelines.
• Write-Verbose is used for optional debugging or informational messages and is only shown when verbose mode is enabled. Choosing the correct one depends on whether you’re displaying, piping, or debugging output.

Performance, Backup, and Recovery (Q86–Q92)

This section covers essential topics around monitoring system performance, configuring backups, and planning for disaster recovery. These questions test your ability to keep Windows Server environments running efficiently and to recover from unexpected failures.

Q86. What tools are available in Windows Server for performance monitoring?

Answer: Windows Server includes several tools for monitoring system performance. The most common are Task Manager for real-time stats, Performance Monitor (PerfMon) for detailed custom tracking, and Resource Monitor for analyzing CPU, disk, memory, and network usage. Administrators can set up data collector sets in PerfMon to capture performance trends and generate reports over time.

Q87. What are some common performance counters used to monitor a server?

Answer: Useful performance counters include:

• Processor: % Processor Time (CPU usage)
• Memory: Available MBytes and Pages/sec
• LogicalDisk: % Free Space and Avg. Disk Queue Length
• Network Interface: Bytes Total/sec
• System: Processor Queue Length
  These counters help diagnose CPU bottlenecks, memory shortages, disk I/O issues, and network congestion.

Q88. What is Windows Server Backup and what does it do?

Answer: Windows Server Backup is a built-in tool that allows administrators to perform full server backups, system state backups, volume-level, or file-level backups. It supports scheduled backup jobs, and backups can be saved to local drives, external storage, or network shares. It’s commonly used for disaster recovery and rollback scenarios.

Q89. What is a system state backup?

Answer: A system state backup captures key system configuration files necessary to restore critical services like Active Directory, the registry, boot files, and the COM+ database. It’s essential for domain controllers and servers with special roles, as it allows the system to be recovered to a known-good state in case of failure.

Q90. What is the difference between a full backup and an incremental backup?

Answer: A full backup copies all selected files and data every time it runs, regardless of whether files have changed. An incremental backup only copies files that have changed since the last backup. While full backups take longer and require more storage, incremental backups are faster and more efficient but rely on previous backups for recovery.

Q91. How do you recover Active Directory from a backup?

Answer: To restore Active Directory, reboot the domain controller into Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) and use Windows Server Backup to perform a system state restore. You can choose between non-authoritative (normal recovery) or authoritative restore (force-restores specific AD objects across replication partners). It’s critical to follow proper recovery procedures to avoid AD inconsistencies.

Q92. What is shadow copy and how is it used in Windows Server?

Answer: Shadow copy is a feature that creates point-in-time snapshots of files on a volume, allowing users and admins to recover previous versions of files without restoring from backup. It is especially useful for file servers, where users accidentally delete or overwrite files. Shadow copies can be configured per volume and scheduled for regular snapshots.

Security and Hardening (Q93–Q97)

Security is a top priority for any server administrator. This section focuses on techniques and best practices to protect Windows Server environments from unauthorized access, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities. These questions are commonly asked to assess your practical knowledge of server security.

Q93. What are some best practices for securing a Windows Server?

Answer: Best practices include regularly applying system updates and patches, using the principle of least privilege when assigning permissions, disabling unnecessary services, enforcing strong password policies, and enabling firewalls. You should also audit logs, use antivirus/antimalware solutions, restrict RDP access, and implement role-based access control.

Q94. What is the Windows Defender Firewall and how is it managed?

Answer: Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in tool that helps control incoming and outgoing network traffic on a Windows Server. It can be managed through the GUI or via Group Policy, PowerShell, or the netsh command. Administrators can create inbound and outbound rules, define allowed ports and applications, and apply profiles based on network location.

Q95. What is BitLocker and how can it be used on servers?

Answer: BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that protects data by encrypting the entire drive. On Windows Server, BitLocker can be used to secure sensitive data, particularly on portable or backup drives. It requires TPM (Trusted Platform Module) or a USB startup key and can be managed via the Control Panel, Group Policy, or PowerShell.

Q96. What is audit policy in Windows Server?

Answer: Audit policy allows administrators to log and review security-relevant activities such as logon attempts, file access, policy changes, and privilege use. These settings are configured through Group Policy under Security Settings > Advanced Audit Policy Configuration. Events are recorded in the Security log in Event Viewer and are vital for detecting suspicious activity.

Q97. How do you prevent brute-force attacks on a Windows Server?

Answer: To mitigate brute-force attacks, you can configure account lockout policies that temporarily disable accounts after several failed logon attempts. This is done through Group Policy settings. Additionally, enabling logging and alerts, limiting RDP access to specific IPs, using complex passwords, and implementing two-factor authentication further strengthens server security.

Scenario-Based & Behavioral Questions (Q98–Q100)

These questions are designed to test how you apply your technical knowledge in real-world situations. Interviewers often use scenarios to evaluate your decision-making, problem-solving approach, and communication skills under pressure.

Q98. A user reports they cannot access a shared folder they had access to yesterday. How would you troubleshoot this?

Answer: First, verify the user’s network connectivity and ensure they are logged into the domain. Check whether the shared folder is accessible from another machine. Then, confirm that the share and NTFS permissions are intact and that the user account hasn’t been moved or disabled. Also check for recent Group Policy changes, DNS resolution issues, or expired credentials. Review Event Viewer for related errors and test access using an admin account for comparison.

Q99. Your domain controller is down and users cannot log in. What are your immediate steps?

Answer: Check whether other domain controllers are available and responding to login requests. If the affected server is the only DC, verify power, hardware, and network connectivity. Attempt to boot into Directory Services Restore Mode for diagnostics. Use tools like dcdiag and netlogon.log to check replication and DNS health. If necessary, perform a system state restore from backup or seize FSMO roles from another healthy DC if the failed one cannot be recovered.

Q100. How would you explain Active Directory to a non-technical stakeholder?

Answer: Active Directory is like a digital employee directory combined with access control. It stores information about all the people, computers, and resources in a company and decides who can access what. For example, when someone logs into their computer at work, Active Directory checks if they’re allowed and gives them access to the right files, emails, and applications—based on their department and role.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a Windows Server interview isn’t just about memorizing answers—it’s about understanding the concepts well enough to apply them in real-world scenarios. That’s why structured interview preparation—organized by topic and skill level—can make all the difference. It helps you identify your strengths, uncover weak spots, and build confidence in both technical and behavioral discussions.

While reading through questions is helpful, nothing beats hands-on practice. Set up a Windows Server lab or virtual machine using Hyper-V, VirtualBox, or even a cloud platform like Azure. Try deploying roles, managing users, and running PowerShell commands yourself. Real experience will reinforce your knowledge and prepare you for practical questions and live assessments.