Troubleshooting Interview Questions and Answers

Troubleshooting Interview Questions for Freshers

Q1. Name three steps used to Troubleshoot FTP server-related problems?

The three steps to Troubleshoot FTP server problems are:-

a.) Test basic connectivity with ping.

b.) Check with Nmap if the ports are open (20 and 21). 

c.) Check if a firewall is restricting traffic to the server.

Q2. What are the common networking issues?

Some of the common networking issues are:-

a.) Cable Issue: The cable that links two devices can become faulty, shorter, or physically damaged.

b.) Connectivity Issue: The device's associated or configured port or interface may be physically down or malfunctioning, prohibiting communication between the source and destination hosts.

c.) Software Issue: Due to software compatibility issues and version mismatches, the transmission of IP data packets between the source and destination is disrupted.

d.) Network IP Issue: Poor setting of IP addresses, subnet masks, and routing IP to the next hop will prevent the source from reaching the target IP over the network.

Q3. What is Network Troubleshooting Procedure?

Before troubleshooting any issue, ensure you understand what it is, how it occurred, who it affects, and how long it has been present. Rather than wasting time on ineffective fixes, you'll have a far better chance of swiftly fixing the problem if you gather the necessary information and clarify the problem. 

You can always start troubleshooting with these simple network troubleshooting steps to help diagnose and fix the problem.

a.) Hardware Inspection: To begin, inspect to see that the hardware installed on a computer, server, laptop, or other similar device is connected, switched on, and operational. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a twisted cord, a power outage, or an unplugged cord; in these cases, network troubleshooting isn't essential.

b.) Ipconfig: Ipconfig can be used to view TCP/IP network configuration values, discard current IP and DHCP settings, and refresh DHCP settings on a device.

c.) Ping and Tracert: The ping command allows you to send a signal to another device, which will respond with a response to the sender if it is operational. The ping command uses an echo request, which is an ICMP component (Internet Control Message Protocol). When you ping a device, you're making an echo request, and if the device is active or online, you'll get an echo back. The tracert command shows every step a packet takes on its way to its destination.

d.) DNS Check: To see if the server you're using has any problems, use the nslookup command. The nslookup command is used to search up DNS records for a domain name or IP address. Because DNS servers store IP addresses and domain names, you may use the nslookup command to search for information in DNS records. If you notice terms on your screen like timed out, service failure, refused, or network is unreachable, the problem is with the DNS, not your network.

e.) Malware and Viruses Check: Malware and Viruses Check is performed to determine if something is stopping certain apps from connecting to the network and working properly. This could be because your antivirus program is outdated or because your network is experiencing problems that your antivirus software is blocking.

f.) Database logs: If your database or database connections aren't working properly, these logs will help you find out what's wrong. It's possible that it's not working properly, causing problems to spread and the network to slow down.

Q4. What is a protocol analyzer?

A protocol analyzer is a powerful tool for locating network issues. It's the software that intercepts and captures data packets as they travel between the source and the destination. If the system is slow, it can, for example, check for latency and other networking issues, which will aid in diagnosing the root cause.

Also see, Software Testing here.

Q5. What is netstat utility?

The popular uses of the netstat command are Incoming and outgoing connections, routing tables, port listening, and use statistics. The netstat command displays network and protocol statistics in graphs. The status of TCP and UDP endpoints and routing table, and interface information are displayed in table format. The netstat command is used, for example, to check the status of a host's listening port or to determine if remote hosts are connected to a local host on a given port. The netstat command can also be used to see if a host's services are linked to specified active ports.

Q6. What do you know about Ping?

A Ping is a tool that may be used to see if an IP address is connected to another TCP/IP computer. It's a piece of computer network administration software that determines a host's reach on an IP network. It works with practically any networking-capable operating system, as well as the majority of embedded network administration software.

Q7. What is Domain?

A domain is a form of a Computer Network in which all user accounts, machines, printers, and other security principles are stored in a central database on one or more domain controller clusters. A workgroup,  on the other hand, is a peer-to-peer LAN network that allows computers to share files and printers. A domain or workgroup can include computers and other networking devices. On the other hand, each configuration employs a distinct approach to network resource management.

The major difference between a domain and a workgroup is that in a domain, network administrators use servers to manage all of the domain's computers, whereas, in a workgroup, no single machine has control over another. Furthermore, devices in a domain might be connected to multiple local networks, whereas all devices in a workgroup are on the same LAN or subnet.

Q8. What is Safe Mode?

Some program errors may be caused by OS settings or other system issues. In both Windows and Mac operating systems, Safe Mode is a troubleshooting environment. Safe Mode turns off non-essential applications and processes, making it easier to isolate problems. Run the troublesome software whenever your system is in Safe Mode and try to duplicate the problems you were having in regular mode. If you don't have the same problem in safe mode, it's more likely that the problem is caused by your operating system or another software rather than the app you're troubleshooting.

Q9. What is BIOS?

BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. BIOS is one of the most common uses for Flash memory. The BIOS allows a computer to do specified tasks as soon as it is turned on. The BIOS' main job is to monitor and regulate the early stages of a computer's boot process, ensuring that the operating system is properly loaded into memory. BIOS is essential to the operation of most modern computers, and knowing how to use it might help you solve issues with your machine.

Also see, Embedded Interview Questions

Q10. What is Ghost Imaging?

Ghost Imaging, often known as cloning, is a software-driven backup procedure. It transfers the contents of a hard drive to another server as a single compressed file or a collection of files known as an image. It can also restore a ghost image to its original state if necessary. It's frequently used during OS reinstallation.

The objective of Ghost Imaging is important for two reasons:-

a.) To make it possible to clone a system onto another.

b.) To recover a system quickly.

It's frequently used to set up Tablets, Notebooks, or Servers groups quickly. It also allows you to transfer files from one computer or disk to another.

Q11. What is Cache Memory? 

Cache memory is a kind of memory that functions as a buffer between the CPU and the RAM. It is a high-speed memory. The frequently requested instructions and data are kept in cache memory for convenient and speedy access.

It is available in three levels: L1, L2, and L3. In most cases, L1 is present in the CPU chip. For the CPU to read, it is the smallest and fastest of all. It has a size range of 8 to 64 kilobytes. The other two cache memories are larger than L1, but accessing them takes longer.

Also read about, 8085 Microprocessor Pin Diagram

Q12. State the difference between SDK and an API.

The difference between SDK and API is mentioned in the table below:-

Q13. Which counters will be used to identify CPU contention while debugging a VM's CPU performance issues?

The ESXTOP tool is used to assess an ESXi host's memory, CPU, and network utilization. It's a great tool for VMware administrators to use when dealing with performance issues. You'll need the vSphere Client and putty and SSH sessions to set up ESXTOP. The counters percent RDY, MLMTD, and CSTP are used to assess CPU performance.

Q14. Assume a virtual machine is unexpectedly shut off. Which VM log files should be examined to troubleshoot the problem?

If this happens, an administrator should look at the vmware.log and hostd.log log files to see what's happening. The agent that controls and configures the ESXi host and its virtual machines is documented in the hostd.log log files, while the vmare.log log files keep track of virtual machine and ESX host activity.

Q15. What should you do if you are unable to download an important file due to its large size?

The problem of a file being too large for a USB drive can be easily solved by switching the detachable drive's file system from FAT32 to a more modern system like exFAT or NTFS.

Before you start, check the USB drive you're about to replace for any important files you own and copy them to a different location (such as the PC or another removable drive). This is critical since changing a drive's file system wipes out all of its data.

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Troubleshooting Interview Questions for Experienced

Q16. What is a Gateway?

A gateway is a hardware device that serves as a gate between networks, such as a firewall, server, or router. It enables data or traffic to travel between networks. A gateway is a node that sits at the network's edge and protects the rest of the network's nodes.

Before entering or leaving the network, all data must pass through the gateway node. A gateway can also convert data from the outside network into a protocol or format that all internal network devices can comprehend.

Q17. What are upper layer faults, and how do you fix them?

If you've looked into physical connectivity, local connectivity, IP connectivity, and routing issues and still can't find a solution, the problem could be in the transport and application layer protocol.

A fault can occur for a variety of reasons, including:-

a.) The data link has been broken.

b.) A packet filter or firewall blocks incoming and outgoing traffic.

c.) A specific service on the server is unavailable.

d.) There could be a problem with authentication and access between the client and the server host.

e.) Incompatibility or mismatches in software between the source and destination hosts.

Q18. A computer is connected to port 23 of the switch. The switch has determined the mac address of the PC. The port has now been shut down. Will the switch remember the mac address?

The switch will not remember the mac-address. The mac address is saved in a database kept in the switch. The mac address is erased from the switch's database when the port is switched off.

Q19. What exactly do you mean by Chipset? How is it different from Processor and Motherboard?

A chipset is one of the computer's processing units. It's a collection of integrated circuits regulating data flow between the processor and other components. This is a collection of microchips that work together to execute one or more functions. Chipset is a built-in feature of Motherboard. 

Let's look at how it differs from the processor and the motherboard:-

Processor: A processor is a core integrated circuit block that performs functions according to the instructions of a computer program. It is based on the system's logic, arithmetic, and input/output.

Motherboard: All other components, including the CPU, memory, and sockets for external connectors, are found on the Motherboard.

Q20. What is a heat sink, and how does it function in a system?

A heat sink is a component that lowers a device's temperature. It is utilized on the microprocessor, and the computer will automatically shut down if it malfunctions.

Q21. What is DRAM, and how does it function in a system?

Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) is an acronym for Dynamic Random-Access Memory. It's a sort of semiconductor memory that stores the data or program code that a computer processor requires to run. DRAM is a form of random access memory (RAM) commonly found in computers, workstations, and servers. SRAM, VRAM, SGRAM, DDR-SDRAM, and the types of DRAM exist.

Q22. What is SATA, and how does it function in a system?

SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. It is a high-speed computer bus interface that transfers data between the central circuit board of a computer and storage devices such as hard disks and optical drives. SATA was created to replace the PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment) interface, which had been used for a long time. 

Read more, Python Interview Questions

Q23. How to troubleshoot IP-related problems?

We'll use the PING and TRACEROUTE tools to diagnose the cause and location of the problem if we can't reach the destination IP address and can't find a route to the next hop using the TCP/IP protocol suite at any point in the network.

Some general steps to troubleshoot IP-related network issues are as follows:-

a.) To begin, identify the device pair that is experiencing connectivity troubles between the source and destination hosts.

b.) Once you've discovered the devices using the tools, the failure could be due to a physical connectivity issue. Examine all of the physical connections along the way as a result.

c.) There may be a difficulty with LAN connectivity if you work in a LAN network. As a result, make sure your LAN connections are secure. The source may be unable to communicate with the destination IP because the local port is faulty or unavailable.

d.) One of the causes of the problem could be a router connectivity issue when travelling over multiple channels to reach the destination. As a result, double-check that the router is configured correctly at each intermediary hop.

e.) Take a look at the various configuration possibilities.

Q24. How do you troubleshoot problems with local connectivity?

If you notice a widespread problem with LAN connectivity, you should take the following steps to determine and resolve the root cause:-

a.) If the destination and source have the same subnet mask, ping the destination IP.

b.) If the destination is on a different subnet mask, ping the router's gateway IP address.

c.) If both pings fail, check the configuration parameters to see if the subnet mask and route to the destination are defined correctly in the routing table.

d.) Once you've completed the configuration phase and verified everything is in order, check if your source host can ping another hop in the LAN network other than the destination host or route.

e.) You may be unable to ping another device for various reasons. It could also be a configuration issue, a physical connectivity issue, or an issue with repeated IP address entry.

Q25. When does the “Disc Error” message appear?

The Non-System Disk Error or Disk Error message appears when the computer BIOS cannot detect a bootable operating system on any of the storage media included in the notebook computer's boot path.

Also check out Embedded C Interview Questions

Conclusion

In this article, we have extensively discussed the Troubleshooting Interview Questions and their solutions. We hope we can solve your doubts regarding the Troubleshooting interview questions, as with the above 25 questions, you will have a fair idea about the topics to prepare to crack the Troubleshooting interview.

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