Network Engineer Interview Questions

§  General Knowledge Questions
o   Describe the OSI model.
o   What is the difference between a repeater, bridge, router?
§  relate this to the OSI model
o   Describe an Ethernet switch and where it fits into the OSI model.
§  What is a VLAN?
o   Relate WDM/ATM/SONET to the OSI model.
o   Explain how to configure a host network interface (e.g. IP address, netmask, broadcast address)?
o   Describe Ethernet packet contents: min./max. size, header.
o   Describe TCP/IP and its protocols.
o   Describe ATM and what are its current advantages and disadvantages.
§  Describe SONET
o   What are the maximum distances for CAT5 cabling?
o   Which contacts of an RJ-45 connector are used for 10BaseT? 100BaseT? 1000BaseT?
o   Describe UDP and TCP and the differences between the two.
o   What is your current IP address?
o   Describe what a broadcast storm is.
o   Describe what a runt, a giant, and a late collision are and what causes each of them.
o   How do you distinguish a DNS problem from a network problem?
o   Describe the Bandwidth Delay problem.
o   What is CDP?

§  Network Troubleshooting 
o   Explain how traceroute, ping, and tcpdump work and what they are used for?
§  Describe a case where you have used these tools to troubleshoot.
o   What is the last major networking problem you troubleshot and solved on your own in the last year?
o   What LAN analyzer tools are you familiar with and describe how you use them to troubleshoot and on what media and network types.

§  Routing
o   Explain the contents of a routing table (default route, next hop, etc.)
o   What routing protocols have you configured?
§  describe the commands to set up a route
§  what routing problems have you troubleshot
o   How do you display a routing table on a Cisco?  on a host?
§  How do you use a routing table and for what?
o   What is a route flap?
o   What is a metric?
o   When do you use BGP, IGRP, OSPF, Static Routes?

§  Network Security
o   What do you see as current networking security issues (e.g. NFS mounting, spoofing, one time passwords, etc.)?
o   Describe a routing filter and what it does.
o   Describe an access list and what it does.
o   What are some examples of protocols used for VPN connections?

§  Network Management
o   What is a network management system?
o   Describe how SNMP works.
o   What is a MIB?

§  Previous Work
o   Describe the working environment you are currently in, e.g. frequent
interruptions, frequent priority shifting, team or individual.
o   What do you use to write documentation?  Editor?  Mail reader?
o   What platform (s) do you currently work on at your desk?
o   How do you manage multiple concurrent high-level projects?
o   Describe a recent short-term stressful situation and how you managed it.
o   How do you manage a long term demanding stressful work environment?
o   Have you worked in an assignment-based environment, e.g. work request/
trouble-ticket system, and if so, describe that environment.

§  Programming 
o   What applications have you written in C, JAVA, PERL, or other languages.

§  Network Statistics and Measurement 
o   Describe what network statistics or measurement tools you are familiar with and how you have used them.

§  Wireless 
o   Describe how 802.11b works and the advantages and disadvantages of using it.
o   Describe how WEP works and its strengths and weaknesses
o   Describe what a VPN is and how it works.

§  VoIP 
o   Describe how VoIP works.
o   Describe methods of QoS.
o   Describe the difference between the Integrated Services and the Differentiated Services QoS models.
o   How does the ToS bit work?
o   What is a voice codec?
o   What is a dial plan and what does it do?
o   What is a Mean Opinion Score (MoS)?
o   Describe the basic boot up sequence for an IP phone."

§  Optical
o   Describe what WDM is and how it works.
o   What's the difference between DWDM and CWDM? Why would each be used?
o   What is an EDFA? What does it do? How does it work?
o   How many dB's of attenuation results in 50% of a signal is getting thru? 10%?
o   What's a typical attenuation for SM fiber at 1310 nM? 1550nM?
§  RAS
o   What is a RAS and how does it work?
o   Describe the current modem standard and how it works.
o   Describe what a PRI is and how it works.

§  Project Management 
o   Describe a long term, large scale project you managed.
o   What is your experience with scheduling and project management?
§  What computer packages have you used?
§  What tools have you used?
o   How many staff have you directly managed?

§  Training/Presentations
o   How would you train other engineers/technicians on network troubleshooting?
o   What is the last formal training you have had including seminars,
tutorials, classes, etc.?
o   What conferences have you attended in the last two years?
o   What periodicals do you read on a regular basis?
o   What professional organizations do you belong to and participate in?

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...