Microsoft SQL Server is fully supported on Linux, offering the same database engine and features as its Windows counterpart. It can be deployed on various Linux distributions, containers, or Kubernetes environments, providing flexibility for different use cases.

Supported Linux Distributions

SQL Server is officially supported on the following Linux distributions:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL): Versions 7.7–7.9, 8.x, and 9.x.

• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES): Versions 12 SP3–SP5 and 15 SP1–SP4.

• Ubuntu: Versions 18.04, 20.04, and 22.04.

For production workloads, ensure you use supported platforms like RHEL, SLES, or Ubuntu Pro, as they receive regular updates and enterprise-grade support.

Deployment Options

SQL Server on Linux can be deployed in multiple ways:

• Traditional Installation: Install SQL Server directly on a physical or virtual Linux machine using package managers like yum, zypper, or apt-get. This approach is ideal for environments requiring operational familiarity and strict compliance.

• Containerized Deployment: Use Docker or Kubernetes to deploy SQL Server containers. This method is lightweight, scalable, and suitable for modern cloud-native applications. Kubernetes-based deployments can leverage YAML manifests, Helm charts, or operator-based automation.

• Standalone Containers: Run SQL Server containers directly on a Linux host without Kubernetes for smaller-scale deployments.