1. Q: Windows Server 2025 introduces a change to the AD DS database page size. What is the specific change, and what are the architectural implications for database fragmentation and attribute storage?

Windows Server 2025 increases the Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) database page size from the traditional 8k to 32k. This architectural shift significantly enhances scalability by allowing the storage of much larger directory objects. Specifically, it enables multi-valued attributes to hold up to approximately 3,200 values, drastically reducing database fragmentation and improving overall performance in environments with complex directory schemas,,,.

2. Q: Explain the new “Level 10” Functional Level introduced in Windows Server 2025. Is it backward compatible, and what is required to implement it?

Windows Server 2025 introduces a new Domain and Forest Functional Level designated as Level 10. To implement this, all Domain Controllers (DCs) in the forest must be running Windows Server 2025. While new DCs running Server 2025 default to the 32k page size, they retain support for the legacy 8k page mode to ensure backward compatibility during the transition. Raising the functional level to Level 10 is required to unlock the new scalability features, such as the 32k page size,.

3. Q: How has the Domain Controller Location Algorithm been re-engineered in Windows Server 2025 regarding legacy protocols?

The DC Location Algorithm has been modernized to deprecate and remove reliance on older, less secure naming resolution methods. Specifically, it eliminates the use of WINS (Windows Internet Name Service) and Mailslots for NetBIOS name resolution during the discovery process. This forces a reliance on DNS, ensuring a more reliable, efficient, and secure method for locating Domain Controllers.

4. Q: Describe the new NUMA (Non-Uniform Memory Access) support in AD DS and how it impacts performance on large-scale hardware.

Windows Server 2025 AD DS has been optimized to recognize and utilize NUMA architecture. This allows Active Directory to efficiently leverage CPUs across all processor groups rather than being limited to a single group. In large-scale environments with high core counts, this results in significantly improved responsiveness and the ability to handle higher loads of directory operations.

5. Q: What specific granular recovery capability has been added to AD DS object management in this version?

Windows Server 2025 introduces AD object repair with granular restore capabilities. Unlike previous versions where repairing a corrupted object might require restoring the entire object from the Recycle Bin or a backup, administrators can now restore specific attributes within an object. This allows for precise repair operations (e.g., fixing attribute corruption) without reverting valid changes made to other attributes of the same object,,,,.

6. Q: How has the password change methodology for local and protected accounts been hardened in Windows Server 2025?

The operating system is shifting away from the legacy SAM-RPC interface for password changes. This change specifically impacts local accounts on domain-joined computers and members of the Protected Users group. By phasing out SAM-RPC in favor of more secure protocols (like Kerberos), Windows Server 2025 reduces the attack surface for credential theft and lateral movement techniques.

7. Q: Which new performance counters have been introduced for AD DS monitoring, and what specific behaviors do they track?

New performance counters have been integrated into Performance Monitor to provide deeper visibility into AD operations. These counters specifically track LSA (Local Security Authority) lookups, DC Locator efficiency, and LDAP client performance. These metrics allow architects to analyze authentication bottlenecks and client query efficiency more precisely than in previous versions.

8. Q: How does Windows Server 2025 enhance LDAP security by default compared to previous versions?

Windows Server 2025 introduces default support for TLS 1.3 for LDAP over TLS communications. This strengthens the encryption of directory traffic by utilizing modern cryptographic suites and eliminating obsolete algorithms found in older TLS versions, aligning AD DS with current cybersecurity best practices.

9. Q: Explain the architectural role of Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) Enclaves in the new Hotpatching feature.

VBS Enclaves are a strict prerequisite for Hotpatching in Windows Server 2025. They provide a secure, isolated environment within the system’s memory that protects critical processes. This isolation ensures that the patching mechanism can modify the in-memory code of running processes securely without requiring a reboot, protecting the patching process itself from potential tampering or threats executing at the OS level,.

10. Q: What are the four mandatory requirements to enable Hotpatching on a Windows Server 2025 node?

To utilize Hotpatching, the server must meet the following criteria:

1. Run Windows Server 2025 Datacenter or Standard Edition.
2. Maintain active Azure Arc connectivity (for management and orchestration).
3. Possess a valid Software Assurance subscription.
4. Have Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) enabled and operational,,.

11. Q: How does Windows Server 2025 mitigate “Golden Ticket” and “Pass-the-Ticket” attacks differently than Server 2022?

Windows Server 2025 implements enhanced Kerberos support that moves away from weak encryption algorithms like RC4 and enforces robust encryption (AES). By default, it prioritizes stronger cryptographic standards and offers better integration with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), making it significantly harder for attackers to forge Kerberos tickets (Golden/Silver tickets) or replay credentials captured from the network,,.

12. Q: Describe the integration of OAuth 2.0 in Windows Server 2025. How does it change access delegation?

Windows Server 2025 supports OAuth 2.0 for access delegation via HTTP services. This allows applications to request limited access to user accounts using a token-based system rather than handling raw credentials. This reduces the risk of credential exposure and facilitates modern Single Sign-On (SSO) scenarios and federated identity management directly on the server platform,,.

13. Q: Regarding TLS, what is the default configuration change in Windows Server 2025, and how does it impact handshake latency?

Windows Server 2025 enables TLS 1.3 by default. Architecturally, TLS 1.3 streamlines the handshake process by reducing the number of round-trips required to establish a secure connection. This not only improves security by removing outdated cipher suites but also significantly lowers handshake latency, improving the performance of secure connections.

14. Q: In Windows Server 2022, SMB over QUIC was exclusive to the Azure Edition. How has this changed in 2025, and what are the implications for on-premises deployments?

In Windows Server 2025, SMB over QUIC is available and configurable across all editions, including Standard and Datacenter. This allows on-premises administrators to deploy secure, VPN-free file access over the internet (port 443 UDP) for remote workers using standard server licensing, removing the previous requirement to run the Azure Edition for this capability,,.

15. Q: How does the QUIC protocol architecture differ from TCP regarding “Head-of-Line Blocking,” and how does this benefit SMB traffic?

QUIC uses UDP and supports multiplexing without head-of-line blocking. Unlike TCP, where a lost packet can delay all subsequent data streams, QUIC handles streams independently. If a packet is lost in one stream, it does not block the processing of other streams. This results in smoother, lower-latency SMB file transfers, particularly over unreliable networks or internet connections with packet loss,.

16. Q: What is the mandatory encryption standard for SMB over QUIC, and how is the connection established?

SMB over QUIC mandates TLS 1.3 encryption. The connection is established via a TLS handshake over UDP port 443. It requires a digital certificate (issued by a trusted Certificate Authority) to facilitate mutual authentication or server verification, ensuring an encrypted tunnel is created before any SMB data is exchanged,,.

17. Q: Explain the role of “Network ATC” in the context of storage management in Windows Server 2025.

Network ATC in Windows Server 2025 automates the deployment and configuration of host networking, specifically for Network Automated Tiered Storage Control. It intelligently manages data placement by analyzing access patterns, automatically moving frequently accessed (“hot”) data to high-performance tiers (NVMe/SSD) and less critical (“cold”) data to lower-cost HDD tiers, optimizing performance in HCI environments,,.

18. Q: What specific storage hardware optimization has been added to support high-throughput database workloads?

Windows Server 2025 includes enhanced support for NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) storage. This optimization leverages the PCIe bus to maximize IOPS and throughput while minimizing latency, specifically targeting high-performance workloads like SQL Server databases and high-density virtualization,,.

Hybrid Cloud & Management

19. Q: What is the specific architectural role of Azure Arc in the Windows Server 2025 Hotpatching workflow?

Azure Arc serves as the unified control plane and orchestrator for Hotpatching. It is not just a management add-on; it is a dependency. Azure Arc manages the policy enforcement, patch scheduling, and verification reporting for on-premises servers, bridging the gap between the Azure Update Manager in the cloud and the local VBS enclaves applying the patches,,.

20. Q: How does the “Annual Channel for Container Host” edition differ from the Standard/Datacenter editions in terms of workload optimization?

The Annual Channel for Container Host edition is a specialized, stripped-down OS optimized specifically for container workloads (like Kubernetes). It prioritizes a smaller footprint and faster startup times over general-purpose server roles. It also utilizes VBS enclaves to ensure secure isolation for containerized applications, distinct from the general-purpose virtualization focus of the Datacenter edition,.

21. Q: Describe the integration of “Azure Update Manager” with Windows Server 2025.

Azure Update Manager provides a SaaS solution to manage updates for Windows Server 2025. It automates the scheduling, compliance scanning, and reporting of updates across both on-premises (via Azure Arc) and cloud VMs. It replaces legacy, siloed WSUS infrastructures with a single pane of glass that ensures consistent patch compliance across hybrid environments,.

22. Q: Windows Server 2025 is built on which specific client OS platform foundation?

Windows Server 2025 is built upon the Windows 11 platform, specifically the version 23H2 codebase (from the October 2023 update). This shared architecture ensures compatibility with the latest hardware drivers and security features developed for the modern client OS,.

23. Q: Regarding hardware security requirements, how does Windows Server 2025 differ from Windows 11 regarding TPM?

Unlike Windows 11, which strictly mandates TPM 2.0 for all installations, Windows Server 2025 does not mandate TPM 2.0 for deployment. This decision was made to maintain flexibility for varied server hardware environments, virtualization hosts, and legacy infrastructure where TPM 2.0 might not be present or easily configured.

24. Q: Which specific legacy networking feature has been officially removed in Windows Server 2025, and what is the replacement strategy?

The SMTP Server feature (the legacy IIS 6.0 component) has been officially removed. Organizations relying on this for mail relay must migrate to modern alternatives such as Exchange Server, Exchange Online, or third-party SMTP solutions, as the native OS no longer supports this role,.

25. Q: What is the “subscription-based” Exchange option mentioned in the context of Windows Server 2025 alternatives?

The text references the upcoming Exchange Server Subscription Edition (Exchange Server SE). This is the on-premises successor intended for organizations that cannot move to Exchange Online but need a modern mail server platform to replace the removed legacy SMTP feature in Windows Server 2025.