DevOps Shack

Top 50 Jenkins Commands and

Concepts asked in MNC interviews

1. What is Jenkins?

●​ Answer: Jenkins is an open-source automation server written in Java. It helps

automate parts of software development, such as building, testing, and
deploying.

Key Points:

●​ Built-in plugins for CI/CD.

●​ Supports distributed builds across multiple machines.

2. What is Continuous Integration in Jenkins?

●​ Answer: Continuous Integration (CI) is a software development practice where

developers regularly integrate code changes into a shared repository.

Jenkins Role:

●​ Automates build and testing processes.

●​ Detects integration issues early.

3. How do you install Jenkins?

●​ Command (Linux):

wget -q -O - https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian/jenkins.io.key | ​
​
​
​
sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt update
sudo apt install jenkins

Explanation:

●​ Installs Jenkins on a Debian-based Linux system.

●​ Uses the Jenkins repository for package installation.

4. How do you start/stop Jenkins?

●​ Commands:

sudo systemctl start jenkins

sudo systemctl stop jenkins
sudo systemctl restart jenkins

Explanation:

●​ Controls Jenkins service via systemd.

5. Where are Jenkins configuration files stored?

●​ Location:

/var/lib/jenkins

●​ Explanation: Jenkins home directory stores configuration files, plugins, and job
data.

6. How to check Jenkins logs?

●​ Command:​
sudo tail -f /var/log/jenkins/jenkins.log

Explanation:

●​ Monitors real-time logs for troubleshooting.

7. How do you secure Jenkins?

●​ Answer:
1.​ Enable Role-based Access Control.
2.​ Use an SSL certificate.
3.​ Configure credentials securely.

8. How do you create a Jenkins pipeline?

●​ Command (Declarative Pipeline):

pipeline {
agent any
stages {
stage('Build') {
steps {
echo 'Building...'
}
}
}
}

Explanation:

●​ Declarative pipelines use a script-like structure to define CI/CD processes.

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9. How do you set environment variables in Jenkins pipelines?

●​ Command:

pipeline {
environment {
ENV_VAR = 'value'
}
stages {
stage('Test') {
steps {
echo "Environment variable: ${ENV_VAR}"
}
}
}
}

Explanation:

●​ The environment block sets variables globally for pipeline stages.

10. What is the difference between Freestyle and Pipeline jobs?

●​ Answer:
○​ Freestyle: Basic job setup with GUI.
○​ Pipeline: Scripted or declarative workflows for complex automation.

11. How do you schedule a Jenkins job?

●​ Command: Use CRON syntax.

​

H/15 * * * *

●​ Explanation: Runs the job every 15 minutes.

12. How do you trigger a build remotely in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

curl -X POST http://<JENKINS_URL>/job/<JOB_NAME>/build

--user <USER>:<TOKEN>

Explanation:

●​ Triggers builds using the Jenkins REST API.

13. What is Jenkinsfile?

●​ Answer: A text file that stores pipeline as code. Typically stored in a repository.

14. How do you back up Jenkins?

●​ Command:

cp -r /var/lib/jenkins /backup/location

Explanation:

●​ Copies configuration, plugins, and job data.

15. How do you install plugins in Jenkins?

●​ Command (CLI):​
​
java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://<JENKINS_URL>
install-plugin <PLUGIN_NAME>

16. What are Jenkins agents and nodes?

●​ Answer:
○​ Agent: A remote system that builds jobs.
○​ Node: A machine where Jenkins runs jobs.

17. How do you configure a Jenkins agent?

●​ Command:

java -jar agent.jar -jnlpUrl <URL> -secret <SECRET> -workDir

"/path/to/workdir"

18. How do you archive artifacts in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

archiveArtifacts artifacts: 'target/*.jar'

Explanation:

●​ Saves build outputs (e.g., JAR files) for future use.

19. How do you set up Git in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"

git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

●​ Add Git plugin in Jenkins.​

​
20. What is Jenkins Blue Ocean?

●​ Answer: A modern UI for Jenkins pipelines with a user-friendly design.

21. How do you integrate Jenkins with Docker?

●​ Command (Pipeline example):

pipeline {
agent {
docker { image 'node:14' }
}
stages {
stage('Build') {
steps {
sh 'npm install'
}
}
}
}

22. How do you restart Jenkins?

●​ Command:

sudo systemctl restart jenkins

23. What is Jenkins CLI?

●​ Answer: Command-line interface for managing Jenkins.

Example Command:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http://<JENKINS_URL> list-jobs

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24. What is the purpose of Jenkins pipeline syntax generator?

●​ Answer: Helps users create pipeline scripts using a GUI.

25. How do you deploy code using Jenkins?

●​ Command:

sh 'scp target/app.war user@server:/path/to/deploy'

26. What are shared libraries in Jenkins?

●​ Answer: Reusable pipeline code stored in a Git repository.

27. How do you monitor Jenkins jobs?

●​ Answer:
○​ Use the Build History and Dashboard.
○​ Integrate monitoring tools like Prometheus.

28. How do you configure Jenkins to run in Docker?

●​ Command:

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -p 50000:50000

jenkins/jenkins:lts

29. What are the stages in Jenkins pipelines?

●​ Answer:
○​ Stages represent the steps of the CI/CD process (e.g., Build, Test, Deploy).

30. How do you parameterize a Jenkins build?

●​ Command:
​

parameters {
string(name: 'BRANCH', defaultValue: 'main',
description: 'Branch to build')
}

31. How do you use a Docker agent in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

agent { docker { image 'maven:3.8.4' } }

32. How do you perform post-build actions in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

post {
always {
mail to: '[email protected]', subject: 'Build
Complete', body: 'Details...'
}
}

33. How do you implement parallel execution in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

parallel {
stage('Test A') { steps { echo 'Running Test A' } }​
​
​
​

stage('Test B') { steps { echo 'Running Test B' } }

}

34. How do you integrate Jenkins with Maven?

●​ Command:

sh 'mvn clean install'

35. What is the use of workspace in Jenkins?

●​ Answer: Temporary location for job execution files.

36. What is the Jenkins environment variable BUILD_NUMBER?

●​ Answer: Represents the current build number.

37. How do you troubleshoot Jenkins pipeline errors?

●​ Answer:
○​ Check the Console Output.
○​ Analyze logs in /var/log/jenkins.

38. What is a webhook in Jenkins?

●​ Answer: A trigger mechanism for CI when changes are pushed to the repository.

39. How do you handle secrets in Jenkins?

●​ Answer:
○​ Use the Credentials plugin.
○​ Mask secrets in pipelines.

40. What is the JENKINS_HOME variable?

●​ Answer: Points to the Jenkins root directory.

41. How do you debug Jenkins pipelines?

●​ Answer: Add echo and use debug options.

42. How do you trigger a downstream job in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

build job: 'Downstream_Job_Name'

43. How do you integrate Slack with Jenkins?

●​ Answer: Use the Slack plugin and configure it with a webhook.

44. What is the role of a Jenkinsfile?

●​ Answer: Pipeline-as-code for version-controlled CI/CD.

45. How do you test Jenkins pipelines locally?

●​ Answer: Use tools like Jenkinsfile Runner.

46. What is the difference between scripted and declarative pipelines?

●​ Answer:
○​ Scripted: More flexible, written in Groovy.
○​ Declarative: Easier to use, structured syntax.

47. How do you integrate Jenkins with AWS?

●​ Answer:
○​ Use the AWS CLI and plugins like S3 Publisher.

48. How do you install Jenkins as a Windows service?​

​
​

●​ Command:

java -jar jenkins.war

49. What are Jenkins plugins?

●​ Answer:
○​ Add additional features like Git integration, Slack notifications, etc.

50. How do you configure email notifications in Jenkins?

●​ Command:

emailext to: '[email protected]', subject: 'Build Status',

body: 'Build details here...'