
40+ [REAL-TIME] Apache Ambari Interview Questions and Answers
Last updated on 17th Nov 2021, Blog, Interview Questions
If you are preparing for Apache Ambari Interview, then you are at the right place. Today, we will cover some mostly asked Apache Ambari Interview Questions, which will boost your confidence. Apache Ambari to become an Expert in Apache Ambari and learn all the instructions required to install and configure the server. Therefore, SAP Apache Ambari professionals need to encounter interview questions on Apache Ambari for different enterprise Apache Ambari job roles. The following discussion offers an overview of different categories of interview questions related to Apache Ambari to help aspiring enterprise SApache Ambari Professionals.
1. Explain Apache Ambari with its key features?
Ans:
- Easy provisioning
- Convenient project management
- Hadoop cluster monitoring
- Availability of intuitive interface
- Support for RESTful API
- Hadoop management web UI
The Apache Ambari is an Apache product designed and developed with a target to simplify Hadoop projects with easy management. Ambari helps to manage Hadoop project concerning:
2. Why should you use Apache Ambari as a Hadoop user or system administrator?
Ans:
- Install Hadoop across any number of hosts using a step-step wizard provided by Ambari while the Ambari handles the configuration for Hadoop installation.
- Centrally manage the Hadoop services across the cluster using Ambari.
- Efficiently monitor the status and health of Hadoop clusters leveraging the Ambari metrics system. Additionally, the Ambari alert framework provides the timely notification regarding any system issues like disk space issue or a node running status.
- Integrate the functionalities mentioned above in an application using Ambari RESTful APIs.
There are multiple benefits that a Hadoop user can achieve by using Apache Ambari.
Using Ambari a system administrator can –
3. What operating systems are supported by Apache Ambari?
Ans:
- CentOS 6 and 7
- RHEL (Redhat Enterprise Linux) 6 and 7
- SLES (SuSE Linux Enterprise Server) 11
- Ubuntu 12 and 14
- OEL (Oracle Enterprise Linux) 6 and 7
- Debian 7
Answer: Apache Ambari supports the 64-bit version of the following Operating Systems:
4. Explain Apache Ambari in brief.
Ans:
- Provisioning
- Managing
- Monitoring Hadoop clusters
- Provides intuitive interface
- Backed up RESTful API’s.
- Offers an easy to use Hadoop management web UI
The project which is solely focused on making life simple while using the Hadoop management system is what we call Apache Ambari. There are several aspects offered by the software, such as:
5. What are the different types of Ambari repositories?
Ans:
Basically, it helps to host Hadoop Stack packages. | Especially, for Ambari and HDP utility packages we use it. |
6. What are the operating systems supported by Apache Ambari?
Ans:
- CentOS 6 and 7
- RHEL (Redhat Enterprise Linux) 6 and 7
- SLES (SuSE Linux Enterprise Server) 11
- Ubuntu 12 and 14
- OEL (Oracle Enterprise Linux) 6 and 7
- Debian 7
Ambari does support the 64-bit version of the following Operating Systems, such as:
7. Who should learn Apache Ambari?
Ans:
- Hadoop administrators
- Database professionals
- Mainframe and Hadoop testing professionals
- DevOps Professionals
Candidates who are looking for various profiles must go for Apache Ambari. Profiles are:
8. Name several advantages of Apache Ambari.
Ans:
- Installation, configuration, and management is way
- Centralized security and application
- Complete visibility to cluster health
- Security
- Metrics visualization and dashboarding
- Customization
- Open-source
- Extensible
Here is a list of 8 best Apache Ambari advantages:
9. What are the major areas where Ambari helps the system administrators to do?
Ans:
- Provision of Hadoop Cluster
- Manage a Hadoop cluster
- Monitor a Hadoop Cluster
3 major function of Apache Ambari is:
10. Define an working of Apache Ambari?
Ans:

11. Explain Apache Ambari architecture.
Ans:
- Ambari Agent
- The agent is an active member of the host. Its main purpose is to send heartbeats from the nodes to the Ambari server along with multiple operational metrics. Moreover, it helps to decide the health status of the nodes.
Ambari Server A server which handles all the metadata, and it contains an instance of Postgres database is what we call Ambari Server. In the cluster, each host attains one copy of the Ambari agent by which the Ambari server controls each host.
12. What is the latest version of Ambari that is available in the market?
Ans:
The latest version of Ambari that is available in the market is 2.6.2.
13. What is the Repository?
Ans:
Basically, space where it hosts the software packages that we can use for download, as well as install, is a repository.
14. What is Yum?
Ans:
- On RHEL/CentOS, typically “yum”,
- ON SLES, typically “Zipper”.
The package manager that actually fetches the software packages from the repository, is what we call Yum:
15. What Is Repository and local repository?
Ans:
Repository | Local repository |
---|---|
A repository is nothing but space where it hosts the software packages which can be used for download and plus install. | A local repository is nothing but a hosted space in the local environment. |
16. What is the feature that they have added in the latest release?
Ans:
- It is possible to protect Zeppelin Notebook SSL credentials
- In order to use Cloud Object Stores with HDP, we can set appropriate HTTP headers
Majorly 2 Ambari features are added in the latest release:
17. How many layers of Hadoop components are supported by Apache Ambari and what are they?
Ans:
Hadoop components supported by Ambari consists of three layers. Core Hadoop: The basic components of Apache Hadoop. Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS): A special purpose file system that is designed to work the MapReduce engine. It provides high-throughput access to data in a highly distributed environment.
18. How does Apache HBase work?
Ans:
HBase is a column-oriented, non-relational database. This means that data is stored in individual columns, and indexed by a unique row key. This architecture allows for rapid retrieval of individual rows and columns and efficient scans over individual columns within a table.
19. What is a local repository and when will you use it?
Ans:
A hosted space in the local environment for Ambari software packages is what we call a local repository. Especially, while the enterprise clusters have no or limited outbound Internet access we use it.
20. What is the HDP Security Features?
Ans:

21. What is Hadoop DFS?
Ans:
The Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) is the primary data storage system used by Hadoop applications. HDFS employs a NameNode and DataNode architecture to implement a distributed file system that provides high-performance access to data across highly scalable Hadoop clusters
22. Explain different life cycle commands in Ambari.
Ans:
- Start
- Stop
- Install
- Configure
- Status
In order to add, remove or reconfigure any of the services, Apache Ambari has a defined set of life cycle commands, such as–
23. Does cloudera use Ambari?
Ans:
Hortonworks and Cloudera follow two different technological strategies. For example, Hortonworks uses Ambari for management instead of any proprietary software. It prefers open source tools like Stinger and Apache Solar for data handling. On the other hand, Cloudera has their own Cloudera manager.
24. What is Ambari in Hadoop?
Ans:
Apache Ambari is a software project of the Apache Software Foundation. Ambari enables system administrators to provision, manage and monitor a Hadoop cluster, and also to integrate Hadoop with the existing enterprise infrastructure. Ambari was a sub-project of Hadoop but is now a top-level project in its own right.
25. How is Ambari swinging from Zookeeper?
Ans:
Nature Task | Basic task |
---|---|
Apache Ambari The Web interface b. Apache Zookeeper The Open-source server | Apache Ambari Monitoring, provisioning, and managing Hadoop cluster. b. Apache Zookeeper Maintaining configuration information, naming, and synchronizing of the cluster. |
26. What is kudu Hadoop?
Ans:
Back to glossary Apache Kudu is a free and open source columnar storage system developed for the Apache Hadoop. It is an engine intended for structured data that supports low-latency random access millisecond-scale access to individual rows together with great analytical access patterns
27. What is Hadoop Knox?
Ans:
The Apache Knox gateway is a system that provides a single point of authentication and access for Apache Hadoop services in a cluster. The Knox gateway simplifies Hadoop security for users that access the cluster data and execute jobs and operators that control access and manage the cluster.
28. What are four key pillars of Hadoop security?
Ans:
Our framework for comprehensive security revolves around five pillars: administration, authentication/ perimeter security, authorization, audit and data protection.
29. What all tasks you can perform for managing host using Ambari host tab?
Ans:
- Analysing Host Status
- Searching the Hosts Page
- Performing Host related Actions
- Managing Host Components
- Decommissioning a Master node or Slave node
- Deleting a Component
- Setting up Maintenance Mode
- Adding or removing Hosts to a Cluster
- Establishing Rack Awareness
we can perform the following tasks by using Hosts tab:
30. What all tasks you can perform for managing services using the Ambari service tab?
Ans:
- Start and Stop of All Services
- Display of Service Operating Summary
- Adding a Service
- Configuration Settings change
- Performing Service Actions
- Rolling Restarts
- Background Operations monitoring
- Service removal
- Auditing operations
- Using Quick Links
- YARN Capacity Scheduler refresh
- HDFS management
- Atlas management in a Storm Environment.
We can perform the following tasks by using the Services tab:
31. Can Ambari manage multiple clusters?
Ans:
Ambari cannot manage multiple clusters. Although, it is possible to remotely view the “views” of other clusters in the same instance.
32. What are the different ways you can use Ambari to secure a cluster?
Ans:
- We can enable Kerberos authentication from Ambari, for network security.
- It is possible to set up SSL for Ambari.
- Also, we can secure by installing Ranger and configuring primary authorization from Ambari.
- It is possible to configure Ambari to use Knox SSO.
The ways we can use to secure a cluster by using Ambari are–
33. What is Ambari shell?
Ans:
A Java-based command line tool which uses Groovy based Ambari REST client, and the Spring Shell framework to execute commands is what we call Ambari Shell.
34. What are the purposes of using Ambari shell?
Ans:
- All the functionalities which are available through Ambari web-app.
- It supports the context-aware availability of commands.
- completion of a tab.
- Also, offers optional and required parameter support.
Ambari Supports:
35. Where is the Apache Ranger plugin enabled?
Ans:
Enable the Apache Ranger HDFS plugin using the OneFS web administration interface. Locate the policy manager URL on the Ambari server at Ambari > Ranger > Configs as the policymgr_external_url.
36. What is HDFS in BDA?
Ans:
HDFS is a distributed file system that handles large data sets running on commodity hardware. It is used to scale a single Apache Hadoop cluster to hundreds (and even thousands) of nodes. HDFS is one of the major components of Apache Hadoop, the others being MapReduce and YARN.
37. What is the role of an “ambari-qa” user?
Ans:
ambari-qa’ user account performs a service check against cluster services that are created by Ambari on all nodes in the cluster.
38. Explain future growth of Apache Ambari?
Ans:
We have seen the massive usage of data analysis which brings huge clusters in place, due to increasing demand for big data technologies like Hadoop.
Hence, more visibility companies are leaning towards technologies like Apache Ambari, for better management of these clusters with enhanced operational efficiency.
In addition, HortonWorks is working on Ambari to make it more scalable. Thus, gaining knowledge of Apache Ambari is an added advantage with Hadoop also.
39. State some Ambari components which we can use for automation as well as integration?
Ans:
- Ambari Stacks
- Blueprints of Ambari
- Ambari API
- However, to make sure that it deals with automation and integration problems carefully, Ambari is built from scratch.
Especially, for automation and Integration, components of Ambari which are imported are separated into three pieces, such as:
40. Is modern big data processing an Apache Ambari?
Ans:

41. In which language is the Ambari Shell is developed?
Ans:
In Java language, Ambari shell is developed. Moreover, it is based on Ambari REST client as well as the spring shell framework.
42. Name some independent extensions that contribute to the Ambari codebase?
Ans:
They are:
1. Ambari SCOM Management Pack
2. Apache Slider View
43. What is the process of creating an Ambari client?
Ans:
- from ambari_client.ambari_api import AmbariClient
- headers_dict={‘X-Requested-By’:’mycompany’} #Ambari needs X-Requested-By header
- client = AmbariClient(“localhost”, 8080, “admin”, “admin”, version=1,http_header=headers_dict)
- print client.version
- print client.host_url
- print”n”
To create an Ambari client, the code is:
44. How can we see all the clusters that are available in Ambari?
Ans:
- all_clusters = client.get_all_clusters()
- print all_clusters.to_json_dict()
- print all_clusters
In order to see all the clusters that are available in Ambari, the code is:
45. What are the key components of YARN?
Ans:
The ResourceManager is a global component or daemon, one per cluster, which manages the requests to and resources across the nodes of the cluster. | NodeManger runs on each node of the cluster and is responsible for launching and monitoring containers and reporting the status back to the ResourceManager |
46. How can we see all the hosts that are available in Ambari?
Ans:
- all_hosts = client.get_all_hosts()
- print all_hosts
- print all_hosts.to_json_dict()
- print”n”
To see all the hosts that are available in Ambari, the code is:
47. Name the three layers, Ambari supports?
Ans:
- Core Hadoop
- Essential Hadoop
- Hadoop Support
Ambari supports several layers:
48. What are the different methods to set up local repositories?
Ans:
- Mirror the packages to the local repository.
- Else, download all the Repository Tarball and start building the Local repository
To deploy the local repositories, there are two ways:
49. How to set up local repository manually?
Ans:
- First, set up a host with Apache httpd.
- Further download Tarball copy for every repository entire contents.
- However, one has to extract the contents, once it is downloaded.
In order to set up a local repository manually, steps are:
50. What is HDFS Apache Ambari?
Ans:

51. What are the particular functionalities of Ganglia in Ambari?
Ans:
- Monitoring the cluster
- Identify trending patterns
- Collect the metrics in the clusters
- To support detailed heatmaps
The functionalities of Ganglia in Ambari are –
52. What are the particular functionalities of Nagios in Ambari?
Ans:
The functionalities of Nagios in Ambari are –
Health checking of the nodes and sending alerts
To send alert emails as any of the notifications type or service type.
53. Explain some of the basic commands used for Apache Ambari server?
Ans:
- To start the Ambari Server:
- ambari-server start
- To check the Ambari Server processes:
- ps -ef | grep Ambari
- To stop the Ambari Server:
- ambari-server stop
Following commands are used for Apache Ambari server –
54. What are the new additions in Ambari 2.6 versions?
Ans:
Ambari 2.6.2 added the following features:
It will protect Zeppelin Notebook SSL credentials
We can set appropriate HTTP headers to use Cloud Object Stores with HDP
Ambari 2.6.1 added the following feature:
Conditional Installation of LZO packages through Ambari
Ambari 2.6.0 added the following features:
Distributed mode of Ambari Metrics System’s (AMS) along with multiple Collectors
Host Recovery improvements for the restart
moving masters with minimum impact and scale testing
Improvement in Data Archival & Purging in Ambari
55. Can Ambari manage multiple clusters
Ans:
No, as of now Ambari can manage only one cluster. However, we can remotely view the “views” of other clusters in the same instance
56. What are the different ways you can use to secure a cluster using Ambari?
Ans:
- For network security, we can enable Kerberos authentication from Ambari
- By installing Ranger and configuring primary authorization from Ambari
- We can configure Ambari to use Knox SSO
- We can setup SSL for Ambari
Following are the ways that can be used to secure a cluster using Ambari –
57. What Are The Core Benefits For Hadoop Users By Using Apache Ambari?
Ans:
- Installation process is simplified
- Configuration and overall management is simplified
- It has a centralized security setup process
- It gives out full visibility in terms of Cluster health
- It is extensively extendable and has an option to customize if needed.
The Apache Ambari is a great gift for individuals who use Hadoop in their day to day work life. With the use of Ambari, Hadoop users will get the core benefits:
58. What is Apache Ranger kms?
Ans:
Apache Ranger KMS is an open source key management service that supports HDFS data at rest encryption. Ranger KMS enables the following functions: Key management. You can create, update or delete encryption key zones that control access to functionality. You can administer access control policies for encryption keys.
59. What is Apache Ranger?
Ans:
Apache Ranger™ is a framework to enable, monitor and manage comprehensive data security across the Hadoop platform. Data security within Hadoop needs to evolve to support multiple use cases for data access, while also providing a framework for central administration of security policies and monitoring of user access.
60. An ambari meets up with architecture and demo?
Ans:

61. Does Apache Ranger emulate permission set the Unix level for Apache Hadoop?
Ans:
No, the Apache Ranger plugin for Hadoop is only needed in the NameNode.
62. What Are The Independent Extensions That Are Contributed To The Ambari Codebase?
Ans:
The independent extensions that are contributed to the Ambari Codebase are as follows:
Ambari SCOM Management Pack
Apache Slider View
63. Is Ambari Python Client Can Be Used To Make Good Use Of Ambari Api?
Ans:
Yes, Ambari Python client can be used to make good use of Ambari API.
64. Can Ambari control fused clusters?
Ans:
No, as of now Ambari can counsel unaccompanied one cluster. However, we can remotely view the views of totaling clusters in a similar instance.
65. What is ambari hive?
Ans:
Two of the HDP Apache Ambari Views Guide. Hive is a data warehouse infrastructure built on top of Hadoop. It provides tools to enable data ETL, a mechanism to put structures on the data, and the capability to query and analyze large data sets that are stored in Hadoop.
66. What is Ambari port?
Ans:
Ambari Server uses port 8080 to access Ambari Web and the REST API. To change the port number, you must edit the Ambari properties file. Ambari Server should not be running when you change port numbers.
67. What is Ambari server and Ambari agent?
Ans:
The Apache Ambari client and server framework, as part of the Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP), is an optional third-party tool that enables you to configure, manage, and monitor a Hadoop cluster through a browser-based interface. The agent then provides heartbeat status to the server.
68. What is ambari Web?
Ans:
Ambari provides an intuitive, easy-to-use Hadoop management web UI backed by its RESTful APIs. Ambari enables System Administrators to: Provision a Hadoop Cluster. Ambari provides a step-by-step wizard for installing Hadoop services across any number of hosts
69. What is Ambari database?
Ans:
Apache Ambari simplifies the management and monitoring of an Apache Hadoop cluster. Ambari provides an easy to use web UI and REST API. Ambari is included on HDInsight clusters, and is used to monitor the cluster and make configuration changes
70. Define an apache software development?
Ans:

71. Why Ambari is used?
Ans:
Ambari eliminates the need for the manual tasks that used to watch over Hadoop operations. It gives a simple and secure platform for provisioning, managing, and monitoring HDP deployments. Ambari is an easy to use Hadoop management UI and is solidly backed by REST APIs.
72. What is ambari Hadoop?
Ans:
Apache Ambari is a software project of the Apache Software Foundation. Ambari enables system administrators to provision, manage and monitor a Hadoop cluster, and also to integrate Hadoop with the existing enterprise infrastructure. Ambari was a sub-project of Hadoop but is now a top-level project in its own right.
73. Is Apache Ambari open source?
Ans:
A completely open source management platform for provisioning, managing, monitoring and securing Apache Hadoop clusters. Apache Ambari takes the guesswork out of operating Hadoop.
74. What is Ambari REST API?
Ans:
Apache Ambari simplifies the management and monitoring of Hadoop clusters by providing an easy to use web UI backed by its REST APIs. Ambari is provided by default with Linux-based HDInsight clusters
75. Where is ambari?
Ans:
Ambari is a locality in Guwahati, India. Located North West of Guwahati, it is a site for important archaeological excavations related to ancient Assam.
76. What is ambari cloudera?
Ans:
Apache Ambari takes the guesswork out of operating Hadoop. … Apache Ambari, as part of the Hortonworks Data Platform, allows enterprises to plan, install and securely configure HDP making it easier to provide ongoing cluster maintenance and management, no matter the size of the cluster.
77. How is recovery achieved in Ambari?
Ans:
In Ambari after a restart master checks for pending undertakings and reschedules them previously all assimilation out is persisted here. Also, the master rebuilds the come clean machines at the back there is a restart, as the cluster market is persisted in the database. While lawsuit beautifies master actually catastrophe in the in front recording their take keeps busy, along amid there is a race condition.
78. What are the oscillate ways you can use to repair a cluster using Ambari?
Ans:
- For network security, we can enable Kerberos authentication from Ambari
- By installing Ranger and configuring primarily credited confession from Ambari
- We can configure Ambari to use Knox SSO
- We can set happening SSL for Ambari
Following are the ways that can be used to fasten a cluster using Ambari:
79. What is the Ambari shell and what are the purposes of using it?
Ans:
- The functionalities user-user-comprehensible through Ambari web-app
- context-going in this area to date availability of commands
- leisure entertain of impinge upon
- optional and required parameter hold
It is a Java-based command-descent tool that uses Groovy-based Ambari REST client, and the Spring Shell framework to slay commands. The shell supports:
80. Describe bauman national library?
Ans:

81. What Are The Different Life Cycle Commands In Ambari?
Ans:
- Start
- Stop
- Status
- Install
- Configure
The Ambari has a defined life cycle commands and they are as follows:
82. What Is Ganglia Is Used For In Ambari?
Ans:
- Monitoring
- Identifying trending patterns
- Metrics collection in the clusters
- It also supports detailed heatmaps
It is one of the tools that is used in Ambari, it is mainly used for the following purpose:
83. What Is Nagios Is Used In Ambari?
Ans:
It is one of the tools that is used in Ambari, it is mainly used for the following purpose:
First and foremost it is used for health checking and alerts purpose
The alert emails can be one of notifications type, service type, host address etc
84. What Are The Other Components Of Ambari That Are Important For Automation And Integration?
Ans:
- Ambari Stacks
- Ambari Blueprints
- Ambari API
- Actually, Ambari is built from scratch to make sure that it deals with Automation and Integration problems carefully.
The other components of Ambari that are imported for Automation and Integration are actually divided into three pieces of information:
85. In Which Language Is The Ambari Shell Developed?
Ans:
The shell is developed in Java and it actually based on Ambari REST client and the spring shell framework.
86. Before Deploying The Hadoop Instance, What Are The Checks That An Individual Should Do?
Ans:
- Check for existing installations
- Set up passwordless SSH
- Enable NTP on the clusters
- Check for DNS
- Disable the SELinux
- Disable iptables
The following is the list of items that need to be checked before actually deploying the Hadoop instance:
87. Does Apache Ranger support spark?
Ans:
n addition to Table-Level Authorization, Spark also supports additional features supported by Apache Ranger, such as Column and Row Level Access Control and Column Masking
88. What is the required action you need to perform if you opt for scheduled maintenance on the cluster nodes?
Ans:
Ambari provides a Maintenance mode option for all the nodes in the cluster. Hence before performing maintenance, we can enable the Maintenance mode of Ambari to avoid alerts.
89. What is Knox Gateway?
Ans:
The Apache Knox gateway is a system that provides a single point of authentication and access for Apache Hadoop services in a cluster. The Knox gateway simplifies Hadoop security for users that access the cluster data and execute jobs and operators that control access and manage the cluster.
90. What is Apache Ambari for cluster management?
Ans:

91. What are the benefits of setting up a local repository?
Ans:
First and foremost by setting up a local repository, you can access Ambari software packages without internet access. Along with that, you can achieve benefits like –
Enhanced governance with better installation performance
Routine post-installation cluster operations like service start and restart operations
92. What are the tools you need to build Ambari?
Ans:
- JDK 7
- Apache Maven 3.3.9 or later
- Python 2.6 or later
- Node JS
- G++
- Xcode in case of Mac
Following tools are required to build Ambari –
93. Are the different tools used for Ambari monitoring purposes?
Ans:
- Ganglia
- Nagios
There are two open source monitoring tools in Ambari –