Active Directory Group Policy Interview

Questions
Find below best group policy interview questions asked in windows server, active directory and
system admin interviews. The answers provide you immense knowledge on group policies and
you can use these answers for latest windows 2008 and 2012 servers.
1. Why should we use Group Policy?

For deploying software

We can apply security

For controlling Users environment, settings, per computer settings

To manage desktop environment (To standardize environment)

To modify the registry

2. What is Group policy object?

We call the actual unit that we are creating, deleting, managing, working with is called Group
Policy object. Group Policy objects have two components:

Group Policy container

Group Policy template

3. What is Group policy container?

It is the container in the Active Directory where the Group Policy can be applied. (i.e., either
Organizational unit or Domain or Site)
4. What is Group policy template?
When you create a group policy container automatically a template will be created in the hard
drive, in sysvol folder of the Domain Controller that is called Group Policy template.
5. Where is Group policy template stored?
Group Policy template stored in sysvol folder.

6. How to create a Group Policy?

Start >Programs >Administrative tools ->Active Directory Users and computers ->Right click
on the container on which you want to apply Group Policy->Select properties-> Click on Group
Policy tab->Click on New

7. What are the steps do we have when we are creating Group Policy?
There are two steps, one is creating Group policy and linking to the container. Generally we
create the group policy at container only so when you click on New it creates and links the GPO
to that container at a time. Suppose if you want to link a group policy object to a container which
is already created click on Add select the group policy.
8. What are the buttons available on Group policy tab in properties of a container?

New (Creates new GPO)

Add (links a GPO to this container which has created already)

Edit (Edits the existing GPO)

Delete Deletes the GPO

Options (here you get the following check boxes): (i) No override Prevent other GPO
from overriding policy set in this one; and (ii) Disabled This GPO is not applicable to
this container

Properties

Note: When you are deleting a GPO it asks two things:

Remove the link from this list

Remove the link and delete the GPO permanently

9. What is no override option in GPO?

Generally the policies set at one level will be overridden in other level, so if dont want to
override this policy under the sub levels of this one you can set this.
Ex: If you set No override at Domain level then that GPO will be applied through out the
Domain, even though you have the same policy differently at OU level.
10. What is Block inheritance of GPO and where it is?

The Block inheritance GPO option blocks the group policies inheriting from the top level, and
takes effect of this present GPO.
Right click on the container > click on Group Policy go to properties >on the bottom of the
General tab you will find Block inheritance check box
Ex: If you select Block inheritance at OU level then no policy from the Domain level, or Site
level or local policy will not applied to this OU.
11. You have set the No override option at Domain level and Block inheritance at OU level.
Which policy will take effect?
If you have set both then No override wins over the Block inheritance. So No override will take
effect.
12. What are the options that are available when you click on option button on general tab?

General

Disable computer configuration settings (The settings those are set under computer
configuration of this GPO will not take effect.)

Disable user configuration settings (The settings those are set under User configuration of
this GPO will not take effect.)

Links (Displays the containers which have links to this GPO)

Security (With security option you can set level of permissions and settings to the
individual users and groups. Ex: If you want to disable this GPO to a particular user on
this container, on security tab select that user and select the deny check box for apply the
Group Policy. Then the GPO will not take effect to that user even though he is in that
container.)

13. What will you see in the Group Policy snap in?
You will see two major portions, and under those you have sub portions, they are

Computer Configuration

Software settings

Software installations

Windows settings

Administrative templates

User configuration

Software settings

Software installations

Windows settings

Administrative templates

Note: Administrative templates are for modifying the registry of windows 2000 clients.
14. What is the hierarchy of Group Policy?

Local policy

Site Policy

Domain Policy

OU Policy

Sub OU Policy (If any are there)

15. Who can create site level Group Policy?

Enterprise Admin
16. Who can create Domain lever Group Policy?
Domain Admin

17. Who can create Organization Unit lever Group Policy?

Domain Admin
18. Who can create Local Group Policy?
Local Administrator or Domain Administrator
19. What is the Refresh interval for Group Policy?

Refresh interval for Domain Controllers is 5 minutes, and the refresh interval for all other
computers in the network is 45 minutes (this one doubt).
20. Why do we need to manage and control desktop environment?

To decrease support time

Eliminate potential for problems

One standard environment to support

Eliminate distractions

To increase productivity

21. What is Group policy loop back process? How to set it?
Start >programs >Administrative tools >Active Directory users and computers >Right click
on the container >click on Group policy tab >Click on edit >click on Computer settings
>click on Administrative templates >system >Group policy >click on User group policy loop
back processing mode > click OK > Select enable
22. What are the players that are involved in deploying software?

Group Policy: Within GP we specify that this software application gets installed to this
particular computer or to this particular user.

Active Directory: Group Policy will be applied somewhere in Active Directory.

Microsoft Installer service

Windows installer packages: The type of package that can be used by Group Policy to
deploy applications is .msi packages i.e., Microsoft Installer packages.

23. What is the package that can be used to deploy software through Group Policy?
Windows installer packages (.msi files)
24. What is Microsoft installer service?
Microsoft Installer Service runs on the client machines in the Windows 2000 domain. It installs
the minimum amount of an application, as you extend functionality it installs the remaining part
of application. It is responsible for installing software in the client. It is also responsible for
modifying, upgrading, applying service packs.

25. What is Local security policy, Domain security policy, and Domain controller security
policy in the administrative tools?

Local Security policy: This is group policy applied to local machine

Domain Security Policy: Group Policy applied at domain level

Domain Controller Security Policy: Group Policy applied at domain controller level.

26. What are the design considerations for Group policy?

The following should be considered for designing group policies.

Minimize linking: Because there may be a chance deleting the original one with seeing
who else are using this GPO. Minimizing linking for simplicity.

Minimum number of GPOs: Microsoft suggests that one GPO with 100 settings will
process faster than 100 GPOs each with one setting. This is for performance.

Delegate

Minimize filtering: To keep simple your environment, try to minimize filtering.

If you have more number of GPOs for a container, whatever GPO is on top will be applied first.
If you want, you can move GPOs up and down.
If there is conflict between two GPOs of same container, the last applied GPO will be effective.
i.e., the bottom one will be effective.