If you’re preparing for an IT support, system administrator, or security role, mastering Active Directory interview questions is crucial.
Whether you’re an experienced professional or a fresher, understanding Active Directory concepts like domain controllers, SYSVOL, forests, Kerberos, and Group Policies can set you apart in any technical interview.
In this guide, we cover the most commonly asked Active Directory interview questions along with detailed answers to help you succeed.
Introduction to Active Directory
First, let’s quickly understand the basics:
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft’s directory service that stores information about users, computers, and resources. It helps manage network security and permissions centrally.
Most Asked Active Directory Interview Questions
1. What is Active Directory?
Answer:
Active Directory is a centralized database that manages and stores information about network objects such as users, computers, printers, and groups. It provides authentication, authorization, and directory services in a Windows environment.
2. What is a domain controller?
Answer:
A Domain Controller (DC) is a server that responds to authentication requests and verifies users on computer networks. It hosts a copy of the Active Directory database and manages security.
3. Define SYSVOL Folder.
Answer:
SYSVOL stands for System Volume. It’s a set of files and folders that reside on the domain controller and are necessary for Active Directory to function. It stores important data like Group Policy Objects and scripts.
4. Define the term Forest in Active Directory.
Answer:
A Forest is the topmost logical container in Active Directory that contains multiple domains. It shares a common schema, configuration, and global catalog.
5. What are lingering objects?
Answer:
Lingering objects are outdated AD objects that remain on a domain controller after replication failures. They can cause authentication and replication issues.
6. What is Kerberos?
Answer:
Kerberos is the default authentication protocol in Active Directory. It uses secret-key cryptography and tickets to securely authenticate users and services.
7. What is LDAP?
Answer:
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an open protocol used to access and maintain distributed directory information services like Active Directory.
8. Define Active Directory Schema.
Answer:
The schema defines the structure of data in AD. It specifies what types of objects exist (users, groups) and the attributes associated with them.
9. Define Azure Active Directory.
Answer:
Azure Active Directory is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service, allowing employees to access internal and external resources securely.
10. Explain Domains in Active Directory.
Answer:
A Domain in AD is a logical group of network objects (users, computers) sharing the same Active Directory database.
11. What is the Group Policy?
Answer:
Group Policy is a feature that controls the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. It enforces security settings and configurations across a network.
12. Explain Forest.
Answer:
As discussed earlier, a Forest is a collection of multiple domains that trust each other, sharing a common configuration and schema.
13. What is Infrastructure Master?
Answer:
The Infrastructure Master is a FSMO role that updates references from objects in its domain to objects in other domains.
14. What are Azure Directory Domain Services?
Answer:
Azure AD Domain Services provides managed domain services like domain join, group policy, and LDAP without deploying domain controllers.
15. What are FSMO roles?
Answer:
FSMO (Flexible Single Master Operation) roles are critical domain roles:
- Schema Master
- Domain Naming Master
- RID Master
- PDC Emulator
- Infrastructure Master
Each role has specific responsibilities for smooth domain operations.
16. Explain Mixed Mode.
Answer:
Mixed Mode allows both Windows NT domain controllers and Windows 2000/2003 controllers to coexist in an Active Directory environment.
17. Explain subnet.
Answer:
A subnet is a segment of a network defined by an IP address range. Active Directory uses subnets to associate IP addresses with sites for efficient resource location.
18. How does Active Directory authentication work?
Answer:
Authentication in Active Directory uses Kerberos protocol. When a user logs in, a Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) is issued, verifying the user’s identity across the network.
19. How to configure the DHCP server?
Answer:
To configure DHCP in Windows Server:
- Install DHCP server role
- Create a DHCP scope
- Activate the scope
- Authorize the DHCP server in Active Directory
DHCP assigns IP addresses automatically to client machines.
20. Name the Components of Active Directory.
Answer:
- Domain
- Forest
- Organizational Unit (OU)
- Site
- Subnet
- Global Catalog
- Schema
21. What is RID Master?
Answer:
The RID Master allocates blocks of unique IDs (Relative Identifiers) to domain controllers for creating new security principals like users or groups.
22. What are Authoritative and Non-authoritative Restorations?
Answer:
- Authoritative Restoration: Forces replication of restored objects across the domain.
- Non-authoritative Restoration: Restores from backup but allows newer changes from replication partners to overwrite it.
23. What is an Organizational Unit (OU)?
Answer:
An OU is a container within a domain where you can group users, groups, computers, and other OUs. It helps apply Group Policy and manage permissions.
People Also Ask
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory is Microsoft’s directory service used for managing users, computers, and network resources in a Windows environment.
What is a domain controller?
A domain controller authenticates users and enforces security policies in a Windows Server domain.
Define SYSVOL Folder.
SYSVOL stores server copy of domain’s public files like scripts and policies necessary for Active Directory operations.
Define Forest in AD.
A Forest is the highest-level container that can hold multiple domains with trust relationships in Active Directory.
What are lingering objects?
Lingering objects are outdated objects left behind after replication issues between domain controllers.
Conclusion
Mastering these Active Directory interview questions will give you an edge in your upcoming interviews.
Make sure you understand not just the definitions, but also real-world scenarios involving Active Directory components like domains, forests, FSMO roles, and Group Policies.
Practice well, stay confident, and you’ll be ready to land your next big opportunity!