Patrick Domingues

Are you looking to install Microsoft SQL Server 2019 on Ubuntu 22.04? Follow our easy guide to set up SQL Server and unleash its power on your Ubuntu system.

Introduction

In today’s data-driven world, having a robust and reliable database management system is crucial for businesses. Microsoft SQL Server 2019 is a popular choice among developers and administrators due to its powerful features and seamless integration with various applications. If you’re running Ubuntu 22.04, you might be wondering how to install Microsoft SQL Server on your system. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu 22.04, ensuring you have a smooth and successful installation.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the installation process, let’s go over the prerequisites to ensure a successful setup:

1. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS: Make sure you have the latest version of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS installed on your machine.
2. Root Access: You need root access or sudo privileges to install and configure software on Ubuntu.
3. Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is necessary to download the required packages during installation.
4. Adequate Disk Space: Ensure that you have enough disk space available for the installation and subsequent data storage.

Step 1: Update System Packages

The first step is to update the system packages to their latest versions. Open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

These commands will update the package lists and upgrade the installed packages to their latest versions. It’s always a good practice to keep your system up to date before installing new software.

Step 2: Import Microsoft GPG Key

Next, we need to import the Microsoft GPG key to ensure the authenticity of the packages we’ll be downloading. Run the following command in the terminal:

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

This command fetches the GPG key from the Microsoft website and adds it to your system’s trusted keyring.

Step 3: Register Microsoft SQL Server Ubuntu Repository

To install Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu, we need to register the SQL Server Ubuntu repository. Run the following command in the terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository "$(wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/22.04/mssql-server-2019.list)"

This command adds the SQL Server repository to your system’s package sources, allowing you to install SQL Server using the package manager.

Step 4: Install Microsoft SQL Server

Now that we have added the SQL Server repository, we can proceed with the installation. Run the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y mssql-server

The first command updates the package lists to include the newly added SQL Server repository. The second command installs the mssql-server package on your system.

During the installation, you will be prompted to accept the End-User License Agreement (EULA) for Microsoft SQL Server. Use the arrow keys to navigate and press the space bar to accept the agreement. Once accepted, the installation will continue.

Step 5: Configure Microsoft SQL Server

After the installation is complete, we need to run the configuration script to set up Microsoft SQL Server. Run the following command in the terminal:

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

This command launches the configuration script, which will guide you through the initial server setup process.

You will be prompted to choose an edition of SQL Server. Select the desired edition based on your requirements and press Enter.

Next, set a strong password for the system administrator (SA) account. Make sure to choose a password that is secure and not easily guessable. Retype the password to confirm.

The configuration script will perform the necessary setup tasks and start the SQL Server service.

Step 6: Verify the Installation

Once the configuration is complete, you can verify the installation by checking the status of the SQL Server service. Run the following command in the terminal:

systemctl status mssql-server --no-pager

If the installation was successful, you should see the status of the SQL Server service as “active (running).” This indicates that Microsoft SQL Server 2019 is up and running on your Ubuntu 22.04 system.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Can I install Microsoft SQL Server on other versions of Ubuntu?

A: Yes, Microsoft provides repositories for various versions of Ubuntu, including 18.04 and 20.04. The installation steps may vary slightly depending on the version you’re using, but the overall process remains similar.

Q: Can I use Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition on Ubuntu?

A: Yes, Microsoft offers the Express Edition of SQL Server, which is a free, lightweight version suitable for small-scale applications. The installation process for SQL Server Express Edition on Ubuntu is similar to the standard edition.

Q: Can I manage Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu using a graphical interface?

A: Yes, Microsoft provides a cross-platform graphical tool called Azure Data Studio, which you can use to manage and interact with SQL Server on Ubuntu. Azure Data Studio offers a rich set of features, including a visual query editor, performance monitoring, and database administration capabilities.

Q: Can I connect to Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu from Windows machines?

A: Absolutely! Microsoft SQL Server supports network connectivity, allowing Windows machines to connect to SQL Server instances running on Ubuntu or any other supported operating system. You can use tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on Windows to connect to and manage SQL Server on Ubuntu.

Q: How can I secure my Microsoft SQL Server installation on Ubuntu?

A: Microsoft SQL Server provides various security features and best practices to secure your installation. These include configuring strong passwords, enabling firewall rules, applying regular security updates, and implementing access control measures. Additionally, you can refer to the official SQL Server documentation for detailed guidance on securing your SQL Server installation.

Q: Can I uninstall Microsoft SQL Server from Ubuntu if needed?

A: Yes, you can uninstall Microsoft SQL Server from Ubuntu by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt remove --purge mssql-server

This command will remove the SQL Server package and all associated files from your system.

Q: How can I backup and restore a database in Microsoft SQL Server?

A: To backup a database in SQL Server, you can use the following command:

BACKUP DATABASE [DatabaseName] TO DISK = 'C:\Backup\DatabaseName.bak'

Replace [DatabaseName] with the actual name of your database and specify the desired backup location.

To restore a database from a backup file, you can use the following command:

RESTORE DATABASE [DatabaseName] FROM DISK = 'C:\Backup\DatabaseName.bak'

Again, replace [DatabaseName] with the name of your database and provide the correct path to the backup file.

Q: How can I create a new user and grant permissions in Microsoft SQL Server?

A: To create a new user in SQL Server, you can use the following command:

CREATE LOGIN [Username] WITH PASSWORD = 'StrongPassword';

Replace [Username] with the desired username and provide a strong password.

To grant permissions to the user on a specific database, you can use the following command:

USE [DatabaseName];
CREATE USER [Username] FOR LOGIN [Username];
ALTER ROLE [DesiredRole] ADD MEMBER [Username];

Replace [DatabaseName] with the name of the database, [Username] with the username, and [DesiredRole] with the desired database role (e.g., db_owner, db_datareader, etc.).

Q: How can I list all tables in a database in Microsoft SQL Server?

A: To list all tables in a database, you can use the following command:

USE [DatabaseName];
SELECT * FROM sys.tables;

Replace [DatabaseName] with the name of the database you want to query.

Q: How can I view the structure of a table in Microsoft SQL Server?

A: To view the structure of a table, you can use the following command:

USE [DatabaseName];
EXEC sp_help [TableName];

Replace [DatabaseName] with the name of the database and [TableName] with the name of the table you want to examine.

Q: How can I delete records from a table in Microsoft SQL Server?

A: To delete records from a table, you can use the following command:

USE [DatabaseName];
DELETE FROM [TableName] WHERE [Condition];

Replace [DatabaseName] with the name of the database, [TableName] with the name of the table, and [Condition] with the condition that specifies which records to delete.

Remember to exercise caution when performing deletion operations as they are irreversible.

These additional SQL Server management commands should provide further assistance in managing and manipulating your databases effectively.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu 22.04. We walked through the step-by-step installation process, from updating system packages to configuring SQL Server. With Microsoft SQL Server up and running on your Ubuntu machine, you can now start building robust database applications and leveraging the power of SQL Server’s advanced features. Remember to refer to the official documentation and community resources for further assistance and explore the vast possibilities that Microsoft SQL Server offers.

I hope this article was helpful!  You can find more here: Ubuntu Tutorial Articles

Patrick Domingues

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