SQL Server Linux: A Guide for Devs

Hey Dev, are you looking for a powerful database management system that runs on Linux? Look no further than SQL Server Linux! In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about installing, configuring, and using SQL Server on Linux.

1. Introduction to SQL Server Linux

SQL Server Linux is a version of Microsoft SQL Server that is designed to run on Linux operating systems. It provides the same reliable and powerful database management capabilities as the Windows version of SQL Server, with the added flexibility of the Linux platform.

Some benefits of using SQL Server Linux include:

2. Installing SQL Server Linux

Installing SQL Server Linux is a straightforward process. You’ll need to first select the Linux distribution you’ll be running it on, and then follow the appropriate installation steps for that distribution. The supported Linux distributions for SQL Server Linux include:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
• Ubuntu
• Debian

2.1 Install SQL Server

To install SQL Server on your Linux system, follow these steps:

1. Download the SQL Server package for your Linux distribution from the Microsoft website.
2. Import the public repository GPG keys.
3. Add the SQL Server repository to your system.
4. Install the SQL Server package.
5. Configure SQL Server using the mssql-conf utility.

2.2 Install SQL Server Tools

In addition to the SQL Server package, you may also want to install some SQL Server tools for managing your databases. Microsoft provides several tools for this purpose, including:

• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
• SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
• sqlcmd Utility

3. Configuring SQL Server Linux

Once you have SQL Server installed on your Linux system, you’ll need to configure it to meet your specific needs. Some common configuration tasks include:

• Setting up database users and permissions
• Configuring database backups and restores
• Setting up replication and high availability

3.1 Setting up Database Users and Permissions

Before you can create or modify databases in SQL Server, you’ll need to set up at least one database user with appropriate permissions. SQL Server supports several different types of users:

• SQL Server Authentication Users
• Windows Authentication Users
• Application Roles
• Guest Users

3.2 Configuring Database Backups and Restores

Backing up your SQL Server databases is critical for disaster recovery and business continuity. SQL Server provides several backup and restore options, including:

• Full Backups
• Differential Backups
• Transaction Log Backups
• File and Filegroup Backups

3.3 Setting up Replication and High Availability

If you need to replicate data between multiple SQL Server instances or ensure high availability for your databases, SQL Server provides several options for doing so. Some common solutions include:

• Transactional Replication
• Merge Replication
• Always On Availability Groups
• Failover Clustering

4. Using SQL Server Linux

Now that you have SQL Server Linux installed and configured, it’s time to start using it to manage your databases. Some common tasks you’ll perform in SQL Server include:

• Creating and modifying databases and database objects
• Inserting, updating, and deleting data in tables
• Querying data using SQL statements
• Managing database security and permissions

4.1 Creating and Modifying Databases and Database Objects

To create a new database in SQL Server, you can use the CREATE DATABASE statement:

CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;

You can also create tables, views, and other database objects using SQL statements.

4.2 Inserting, Updating, and Deleting Data in Tables

You can add, modify, and remove data from your SQL Server tables using SQL statements such as INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE:

INSERT INTO mytable (column1, column2) VALUES ('value1', 'value2');UPDATE mytable SET column1 = 'newvalue' WHERE column2 = 'value2';DELETE FROM mytable WHERE column1 = 'value1';

4.3 Querying Data Using SQL Statements

You can retrieve data from your SQL Server databases using SQL SELECT statements. These statements allow you to filter, sort, and aggregate data as needed:

SELECT * FROM mytable;SELECT column1, COUNT(*) FROM mytable GROUP BY column1;

4.4 Managing Database Security and Permissions

SQL Server provides robust security features for managing access to your databases. You can use SQL Server Management Studio or SQL commands to create and manage users, roles, and permissions:

CREATE LOGIN username WITH PASSWORD = 'password';CREATE USER username FOR LOGIN username;GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON mytable TO username;

5. FAQs About SQL Server Linux

5.1 What versions of SQL Server are supported on Linux?

SQL Server 2017 and later are supported on Linux. Earlier versions of SQL Server are not compatible with the Linux platform.

5.2 Can I use SQL Server Management Studio to manage SQL Server Linux?

Yes, you can use SQL Server Management Studio to manage your SQL Server Linux databases.

5.3 Does SQL Server Linux support high availability features?

Yes, SQL Server Linux supports several high availability features such as Always On Availability Groups and Failover Clustering.

5.4 Can I migrate my existing SQL Server databases to SQL Server Linux?

Yes, you can use the SQL Server Migration Assistant to migrate your databases from a Windows-based SQL Server instance to a Linux-based instance.

5.5 Is SQL Server Linux free to use?

SQL Server Linux is not free, but it can be more cost-effective than using the Windows version of SQL Server due to reduced licensing costs for using Linux-based servers.

That’s all for this guide! With SQL Server Linux, you can enjoy the power and flexibility of a powerful database management system on the Linux platform. So give it a try and see what it can do for you!