What's new for SQL Server 2017 on Linux

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) - Linux

This article describes the major features and services available for SQL Server 2017 (14.x) running on Linux.

In addition to these capabilities in this article, cumulative updates (CUs) are released at regular intervals. These cumulative updates provide many improvements and fixes. For detailed information about the latest CU release, see https://aka.ms/sql2017cu. For package downloads and known issues, see Release notes for SQL Server 2017 on Linux.

Ubuntu 18.04 support

Ubuntu 18.04 is now supported in SQL Server 2017 (14.x) CU 20 and later versions. For more information, see Quickstart: Install SQL Server and create a database on Ubuntu.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 support

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 is now supported in SQL Server 2017 (14.x) CU 20 and later versions. For more information, see Quickstart: Install SQL Server and create a database on Red Hat.

SQL Server Database Engine

• Enabled the core SQL Server Database Engine capabilities.
• Support for native Linux paths.
• IPV6 support.
• Support for database files on NFS.
• Enabled Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption.
• Enabled Active Directory Authentication.
• Availability Groups functionality for high availability.
• Full-text Search support.

SQL Server Agent

• Enabled SQL Server Agent support for the following tasks:
  • Transact-SQL jobs
  • DB mail
  • Log shipping

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

• Ability to run SSIS packages on Linux. For more information, see Configure SQL Server Integration Services on Linux with ssis-conf.

Other improvements

• Command-line configuration tool, mssql-conf.
• Unattended installation support with environment variables.
• Cross-platform SQL Server extension for Visual Studio Code.
• Cross-platform script generator, mssql-scripter.
• Cross-platform Dynamic Management View (DMV) monitor, DBFS tool.

Related content

• Quickstart: Install SQL Server and create a database on Red Hat
• Quickstart: Install SQL Server and create a database on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
• Quickstart: Install SQL Server and create a database on Ubuntu
• Quickstart: Run SQL Server Linux container images with Docker
• Provision a Linux virtual machine running SQL Server in the Azure portal
• SQL Server on Linux FAQ
• What's new in SQL Server 2017

Get help

• Ideas for SQL: Have suggestions for improving SQL Server?
• Microsoft Q & A (SQL Server)
• DBA Stack Exchange (tag sql-server): Ask SQL Server questions
• Stack Overflow (tag sql-server): Answers to SQL development questions
• Reddit: General discussion about SQL Server
• Microsoft SQL Server License Terms and Information
• Support options for business users
• Contact Microsoft
• Additional SQL Server help and feedback

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For more information, see How to contribute to SQL Server documentation