10+ Senior Network Administrator Interview Questions and Answers

The feasible distance matrix component is chosen to prefer the less preferred route over the successor route in EIGRP route manipulation.

• The feasible distance is the metric used by EIGRP to determine the best route to a destination.

• By manipulating the feasible distance, a network engineer can influence the selection of routes.

• To prefer a less preferred route over the successor route, the network engineer can increase the feasible distance of the successor route.

• This can be ac...read more

Policy-based routing (PBR) allows for routing decisions based on defined policies rather than traditional routing protocols.

• PBR allows network administrators to define specific criteria for routing decisions, such as source IP address, application type, or packet size.

• PBR can be used to route traffic over specific paths based on policies set by the administrator, such as sending VoIP traffic over a low-latency link.

• PBR is often used in scenarios where traditional routing prot...read more

OSPF LSA types include Router LSA, Network LSA, Summary LSA, and ASBR Summary LSA, each serving a specific purpose in building the OSPF database.

• Router LSA: Generated by each router to describe its directly connected links.

• Network LSA: Generated by DR to describe the network and its attached routers.

• Summary LSA: Generated by ABR to advertise routes between areas.

• ASBR Summary LSA: Generated by ASBR to advertise external routes into OSPF domain.

• Different LSAs contribute to OSPF...read more

STP prevents switching loops by creating a loop-free logical topology and blocking redundant paths.

• STP creates a loop-free logical topology by placing certain ports in blocking state to prevent loops.

• RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) improves upon STP by reducing convergence time and introducing alternate port roles.

• MSTP (Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol) improves upon STP by allowing for multiple spanning tree instances, each with its own root bridge.

I ensure clear communication and alignment between clients and internal teams by establishing regular meetings, setting clear expectations, utilizing project management tools, and providing updates.

• Establish regular meetings with clients and internal teams to discuss project progress and address any issues

• Set clear expectations and goals for all parties involved to ensure everyone is on the same page

• Utilize project management tools such as Trello or Asana to track tasks and d...read more

SDWAN is a software-defined approach to managing wide area networks, providing centralized control and automation.

• SDWAN uses software to manage and optimize network traffic across multiple connections, including MPLS, broadband, and LTE.

• BGP attributes are used to control routing decisions in SDWAN, allowing for dynamic path selection based on network conditions.

• OSPF LSAs are used to exchange routing information between SDWAN devices, allowing for efficient network topology di...read more

An IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network using the Internet Protocol for communication.

• IP address stands for Internet Protocol address

• It is a logical address assigned to devices on a network

• It is a unique number separated by dots, such as 192.168.0.24

When handling a high-priority incident in a production environment, I follow a structured approach to quickly resolve the issue.

• Immediately assess the severity of the incident and prioritize based on impact

• Notify relevant stakeholders and create a dedicated communication channel for updates

• Gather all necessary information such as logs, error messages, and recent changes

• Formulate a plan of action with clear steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue

• Implement the plan while ke...read more

Topology refers to the physical arrangement of computer system nodes connected to each other via communication medium.

• Topology determines how devices are connected in a network

• Common topologies include bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid

• Each topology has its own advantages and disadvantages

• Topology affects network performance, scalability, and fault tolerance

HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) provides network redundancy by allowing multiple routers to work together as a virtual router.

• HSRP enables high availability by allowing a group of routers to present a single virtual IP address to clients.

• In case the active router fails, HSRP automatically switches to a standby router, ensuring minimal downtime.

• For example, if Router A is the active router and it fails, Router B takes over as the active router without user intervention.

• HSRP...read more

VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) is a Cisco protocol used to manage VLAN configurations across multiple switches.

• VTP allows for centralized management of VLANs, reducing configuration errors.

• It operates in three modes: Server, Client, and Transparent.

• In Server mode, switches can create, delete, and modify VLANs.

• Client mode switches receive VLAN information but cannot make changes.

• Transparent mode switches do not participate in VTP but forward VTP messages.