MCSA – WINDOWS SERVER Practice Questions & Quiz

The MCSA – Windows Server certification validates your ability to manage, maintain, and troubleshoot Windows Server environments. To help aspirants prepare better, here are 25 MCQs with answers and explanations covering core concepts of installation, configuration, Active Directory, networking, and server administration.

MCQs on MCSA – WINDOWS SERVER

1. Which version of Windows Server introduced Nano Server?

a) Windows Server 2008

b) Windows Server 2012

c) Windows Server 2016

d) Windows Server 2019

Answer: c) Windows Server 2016

Explanation: Nano Server was a lightweight, headless deployment option introduced in Windows Server 2016.

2. What is the default port number for LDAP communication in Active Directory?

a) 443

b) 389

c) 636

d) 53

Answer: b) 389

Explanation: LDAP uses port 389 for unsecured connections and 636 for secure LDAP over SSL.

3. Which role is required to set up a DHCP server in Windows Server?

a) Active Directory Domain Services

b) DNS Server

c) DHCP Server

d) File and Storage Services

Answer: c) DHCP Server

Explanation: Installing the DHCP role enables the server to lease IP addresses dynamically.

4. In Windows Server, what does FSMO stand for?

a) Flexible Single Master Operations

b) Fast Server Management Options

c) File System Master Operations

d) Flexible System Master Objects

Answer: a) Flexible Single Master Operations

Explanation: FSMO roles are crucial for Active Directory to avoid conflicts during replication.

5. Which PowerShell cmdlet is used to create a new Active Directory user?

a) Add-ADUser

b) New-ADUser

c) Set-ADUser

d) Install-ADUser

Answer: b) New-ADUser

Explanation: New-ADUser is the command used for creating new users in Active Directory.

6. What is the default interval for Group Policy refresh on a domain computer?

a) 30 minutes

b) 60 minutes

c) 90 minutes

d) 120 minutes

Answer: c) 90 minutes

Explanation: By default, Group Policy refresh occurs every 90 minutes with a random offset of 0–30 minutes.

7. Which RAID level provides both mirroring and striping?

a) RAID 0

b) RAID 1

c) RAID 5

d) RAID 10

Answer: d) RAID 10

Explanation: RAID 10 combines the fault tolerance of mirroring with the performance of striping.

8. What is the maximum number of domain controllers recommended in a single domain?

a) 5

b) 10

c) No strict limit

d) 20

Answer: c) No strict limit

Explanation: There is no strict limit, but hardware and replication performance define practical boundaries.

9. Which feature allows administrators to install updates without rebooting immediately?

a) Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

b) Hotpatching

c) Cluster-Aware Updating

d) Deferred Restart

Answer: b) Hotpatching

Explanation: Hotpatching lets updates be applied without rebooting, reducing downtime.

10. In Windows Server, what is Hyper-V primarily used for?

a) File storage

b) Virtualization

c) Security monitoring

d) DNS resolution

Answer: b) Virtualization

Explanation: Hyper-V allows running multiple virtual machines on a single physical server.

11. Which tool is commonly used for monitoring system performance in Windows Server?

a) Event Viewer

b) Task Scheduler

c) Performance Monitor

d) Device Manager

Answer: c) Performance Monitor

 Explanation: Performance Monitor tracks CPU, memory, disk, and network usage in real time.

12. The SYSVOL folder in Windows Server is used for?

a) DNS caching

b) Group Policy and logon scripts

c) DHCP leases

d) File replication for DFS

Answer: b) Group Policy and logon scripts

Explanation: SYSVOL is a shared directory that stores AD policies and scripts.

13. Which command is used to force a Group Policy update immediately?

a) gpedit.msc

b) gpupdate /force

c) gpmc.msc

d) gpresult /r

Answer: b) gpupdate /force

Explanation: This command forces Group Policy to refresh instantly.

14. Which Windows Server feature ensures high availability for applications?

a) DFS

b) Failover Clustering

c) Hyper-V Replica

d) Windows Deployment Services

Answer: b) Failover Clustering

Explanation: Failover clustering allows applications and services to remain online if one server fails.

15. What type of DNS zone holds a read-only copy of records?

a) Primary Zone

b) Secondary Zone

c) Stub Zone

d) Reverse Lookup Zone

Answer: b) Secondary Zone

Explanation: Secondary zones provide redundancy by storing read-only copies of DNS data.

16. What is the function of Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)?

a) File encryption

b) Network traffic monitoring

c) Issuing and managing digital certificates

d) Managing storage quotas

Answer: c) Issuing and managing digital certificates

Explanation: AD CS provides a PKI infrastructure for certificate-based authentication.

17. Which Windows Server edition supports the largest number of Hyper-V VMs?

a) Standard Edition

b) Datacenter Edition

c) Essentials Edition

d) Foundation Edition

Answer: b) Datacenter Edition

Explanation: The Datacenter edition provides unlimited virtualization rights for VMs.

18. Which Windows Server feature allows central management of updates?

a) WSUS

b) SCCM

c) DISM

d) Patch Guard

Answer: a) WSUS

Explanation: Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) allows administrators to approve and deploy updates.

19. In DHCP, what is a "scope"?

a) A set of reserved IP addresses

b) A range of IP addresses available for lease

c) A backup configuration

d) A DNS forwarding option

Answer: b) A range of IP addresses available for lease

Explanation: A DHCP scope defines the range of IPs a server can assign to clients.

20. Which log in Event Viewer shows failed login attempts?

a) System Log

b) Security Log

c) Application Log

d) Setup Log

Answer: b) Security Log

Explanation: Security logs capture login attempts, policy changes, and access violations.

21. Which protocol is used for time synchronization in Windows Server?

a) NTP

b) SNMP

c) SMTP

d) ICMP

Answer: a) NTP

Explanation: Network Time Protocol ensures consistent system time across servers.

22. What is the maximum size of a Windows Server ReFS volume?

a) 64 TB

b) 256 TB

c) 1 PB

d) 35 PB

Answer: d) 35 PB

Explanation: ReFS (Resilient File System) supports volumes of up to 35 petabytes.

23. Which command resets the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password?

a) ntdsutil

b) netdom

c) repadmin

d) dcdiag

Answer: a) ntdsutil

Explanation: ntdsutil is used for AD maintenance, including resetting the DSRM password.

24. What is the function of DFS Replication (DFSR)?

a) Backup solution

b) File synchronization across servers

c) Group Policy replication

d) Hyper-V storage replication

Answer: b) File synchronization across servers

Explanation: DFSR replicates files across multiple servers for availability and redundancy.

25. Which tool provides a centralized console for managing multiple servers?

a) Server Manager

b) Event Viewer

c) Hyper-V Manager

d) PowerShell ISE

Answer: a) Server Manager

Explanation: Server Manager helps admins configure roles, features, and monitor multiple servers.

Conclusion

The MCSA – Windows Server certification is the gateway to mastering server administration, Active Directory, virtualization, and network management. These MCQs will help learners strengthen their concepts and prepare effectively for real-world scenarios. Consistent practice is essential for achieving success in certification and career advancement. With TrainingX’s expert-led MCSA training, you can gain practical skills, clear your certification with confidence, and take your IT career to the next level. Enroll today and start your journey toward success.