I'm running Windows 11 ARM in a Parallels VM. I need MSSQL. What version will work?

Question

I'm running Windows 11 ARM in a Parallels VM. I need MSSQL. What version will work?

Alan Halls 20

Hi all

I'm running Windows 11 ARM in a Parallels VM on my new Mac M1 Studio.

Generally, Windows is running perfectly OK but for one application I need a version of MSSQL Express up to and including 2022. The actual version number does not matter, as long as it runs in this VM.

I have tried 2017 but it stalls and can't complete. A "Basic" installation will do, I believe. The application I use creates databases (dictionaries, glossaries) in SQL format.

I would be grateful for any help.

Alan

Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2023-11-28T09:02:15.12+00:00

I've just tried SQL2019 but get the message that "Edition WOW64 platform failed" and that setup can only run on a 32 bit system.

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Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2023-11-28T09:02:15.12+00:00

I've just tried SQL2019 but get the message that "Edition WOW64 platform failed" and that setup can only run on a 32 bit system.

Answer 1

Olaf Helper 47,526

None version will work under Windows ARM, it's not supported.

See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/install/hardware-and-software-requirements-for-installing-sql-server-2019?view=sql-server-ver16#pmosr

=> Processor Type: x64 Processor: AMD Opteron, AMD Athlon 64, Intel Xeon with Intel EM64T support, Intel Pentium IV with EM64T support

No ARM

Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2023-11-28T12:19:45.3266667+00:00

Thanks for your helpful reply Olaf.

That's very frustrating though. The alternative is to use Access, which will work. Are there any other SQL applications you know of that may work on ARM?
Bruce (SqlWork.com) 78,316 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-11-28T20:46:24.86+00:00

you can use SQLite

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/data/sqlite/?tabs=netcore-cli

Answer 2

Bruce (SqlWork.com) 78,316 Volunteer Moderator

You have two options

run Sqlserver intel image with docker on the Mac. Docker now supports intel images via Rosetta.

find the old azure sql edge for arm image (this is what I use)

Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2023-11-28T21:23:09.9366667+00:00

Hi Bruce, thanks for the suggestions. The problem with my issue is that the application I use (translation software) attempts to access its SQL or Access databases through an ODBC connection. That is, directly. It is very fussy about which SQL flavour it will accept. It has to be MS SQL or MySQL. Neither of them, from what I can see, will run on ARM. I think this is going to limit me to Access. Annoying but not the end of the world.

Answer 3

Eric Nelson 0

MS SQL 2014 works in Windows 11 ARM64. I have been using it for more than 3 years in a Windows 11 ARM64 VM. I have tried all versions from 2014 on and none of them work. If the version doesn't matter, SQL 2014 will install and work fine.

Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2024-01-14T08:58:43.2033333+00:00

Hi Eric That's really good news. I'll give that a spin and report back. Alan
Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2024-01-14T16:33:56.4066667+00:00

Hi Eric I tried the installation and it all seemed to be going well until I got a message saying "SQL Server could not search for updates through the Windows Update service". The installation cannot continue after that. I have checked my settings and Windows update is totally unrestricted. "Receive updates for other MS products" is always on anyway cos of Office. All those switches are ON. Does that make sense? Or am I missing something??? Alan
Erland Sommarskog 122.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2024-01-14T16:53:28.4466667+00:00

It's mysterious so far that this message usually don't stop Setup from proceeding.

Then again, the statement that SQL 2014 would run on ARM is also mysterious.
Alan Halls 20 Reputation points

2024-01-16T13:25:48.7+00:00

Hi Erland I was also surprised to hear that it would work, but the installation started off ok. Other versions I tried immediately aborted as incompatible. Why Windows is acting so oddly I do not know. But it fits the MS pattern. Perhaps someone will come up with something I can try to break the impasse.
Erland Sommarskog 122.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2024-01-16T21:47:25.6566667+00:00

Well, you have treaded on to the path of the unsupported, so all bets are off. In the meanwhile, in another thread, another person suggested this YouTube video on how to install SQL Server on M1/M2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c7Ti2OcLZg

Answer 4

Franco Neil Glovasa 1

Sql server wont work on windows Arm. I think microsoft has no plans releasing sql server on windows arm, if they had, they would've released it by now. I just bought parallels and windows license because of this. huge disappointment.

the best way to run sql server is through docker. no need to buy parallels or windows license.

https://database.guide/how-to-install-sql-server-on-a-mac/

Im thinking to shift to redshift or other database solution.

Erland Sommarskog 122.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2024-03-05T22:08:39.7466667+00:00

Sql server wont work on windows Arm. I think microsoft has no plans releasing sql server on windows arm, i

Yes, that seems unlikely. They had SQL Edge, a specialised edition for IoT which ran on ARM, but it seems that they have dropped ARM support.

It is worth keeping in mind that the prime market for Microsoft is not developer laptops, but servers - that's where the license fees comes rolling in. And servers are not generally running on ARM, are they?
Franco Neil Glovasa 1 Reputation point

2024-03-06T16:40:29.81+00:00

true, but no developers would instantly test their database on azure server. usually, you've got local db (mostly pc's or laptops), staging (probably on azure but sometimes elsewhere), and the live one (azure sql is the best choice if you're deploying on azure cloud). its a bad practice to have your data on local running sqlite and deploy your live database on sqlserver. If that's the case, I would run it on postgre locally and get a redshift and transfer my webapp on amazon.
Erland Sommarskog 122.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2024-03-06T22:01:41.12+00:00

"Server" here does not have to be a server in Azure, it could be a server on-prem as well.

If your plan is to run on Azure SQL Database, I think you should use Azure also for the development. While there is a lot in common between the box product and Azure SQL Database, not everything available in the box product is available in Azure SQL Database - and vice versa.

I see your point about attracting developers, but targeting a new platform is not a small investment, even if they are better positioned after the Linux release. Add to that a platform that does not give any direct revenue in terms of license does not seem appealing. Possibly, if there are many developers who are influential enough, it could give indirect revenues, but it seems doubtful to me.

And as you noted, Docker works. (Or at least it is my understanding that it does. I'm not on ARM myself.)

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I'm running Windows 11 ARM in a Parallels VM. I need MSSQL. What version will work?

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