How to Install MS SQL Server on Linux: A Complete Tutorial

Microsoft SQL Server is a powerful relational database management system widely used in enterprises. Since Microsoft extended official support for running SQL Server on Linux, many developers and DBAs can now leverage the robust features of SQL Server on Linux-based systems. This tutorial walks you through installing MS SQL Server on Linux, focusing primarily on Ubuntu but applicable to other distributions with minor adjustments.

Prerequisites

A supported Linux distribution (Ubuntu 20.04 or later recommended).
Administrative access to the Linux machine (sudo privileges).
At least 2 GB of RAM and sufficient disk space (at least 6 GB free recommended).
Basic knowledge of Linux shell commands.
Network connectivity to fetch packages from Microsoft repositories.

Step 1: Import Microsoft GPG Key

Microsoft packages are signed with a GPG key to ensure package authenticity. Import the key to your system:

curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | sudo apt-key add -

Step 2: Register the Microsoft SQL Server Repository

Add the Microsoft SQL Server Ubuntu repository to your package sources list:

curl https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/20.04/mssql-server-2019.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mssql-server.list

If you use a different Ubuntu version, replace 20.04 with your version number in the URL above.

Step 3: Update Repositories and Install MS SQL Server

Update your package lists to include the new repository, then install SQL Server:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y mssql-server

Step 4: Run the Setup Script

After installation, configure the SQL Server instance using the setup tool:

sudo /opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf setup

The setup will prompt you to accept the license terms, choose an edition (Developer, Express, etc.), and set the system administrator (SA) password. Choose an edition based on your requirements, but the Developer edition is free and fully featured for development purposes.

Step 5: Verify SQL Server Service is Running

Check the status of the SQL Server service:

systemctl status mssql-server

If it is not active, start it manually:

sudo systemctl start mssql-server

Step 6: Install SQL Server Command-Line Tools

To interact with your SQL Server instance, install the command-line tools sqlcmd and bcp:

curl https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/20.04/prod.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/msprod.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y mssql-tools unixodbc-dev

Add tools to your PATH for easier execution:

echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/opt/mssql-tools/bin"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Step 7: Connect and Test the Database

Use sqlcmd to connect to your SQL Server instance. Replace your_password with the SA password you set:

sqlcmd -S localhost -U SA -P 'your_password'

If connected, test a simple query:

SELECT @@VERSION;
GO

It will return information about your SQL Server build.

Troubleshooting Tips

If the server doesn’t start, check logs with journalctl -u mssql-server.
Ensure no firewall is blocking port 1433 (default SQL Server port).
Make sure the SA password meets complexity requirements.
If you encounter GPG key or repository errors, verify URLs and internet connectivity.

Summary Checklist

Imported Microsoft GPG key
Added Microsoft SQL Server repository
Installed mssql-server package
Configured SQL Server instance with mssql-conf setup
Started and verified SQL Server service
Installed SQL Server tools sqlcmd and bcp
Connected to SQL Server and ran test query

For more Linux database tutorials, check out our detailed How to Install Oracle XE: A Step-by-Step Tutorial guide to expand your skills.

Installing MS SQL Server on Linux opens new possibilities for developers and database professionals looking to unify their environments with familiar Microsoft technology alongside Linux’s versatility.

We hope this guide helped you achieve a successful SQL Server installation. For advanced configurations and performance tuning, consult the official Microsoft SQL Server on Linux Documentation (Official site).