# Run SQL Server on macOS + Docker # Intro If you haven't seen Microsoft's latest [Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/) site update, you really should check them out. There is a getting started article regarding [SQL Server (2017) Containers on Linux](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/quickstart-install-connect-docker?view=sql-server-linux-2017) and other OSs including Azure. The SQL Server 2019 version article is also available. This post will go over the detailed steps on setting up a locally running SQL Server (2017) instance on your macOS. # Step 1: Installing Docker --- > (If you have Docker already installed skip to step 2) Hopefully, you have a working knowledge of Docker. If you don't, let's walk through the steps of setting up a Docker Desktop for Mac. Download the install from the [Docker Store](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/mac/install/). ![docker-download.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649176816715/1YWRpj5gB.png) Based on your chip either Intel or Apple M, download the appropriate `.dmg` file. Once downloaded, start the `.dmg` file and drop the file into your Applications folder to install it. ![docker-install.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649176848409/9yEBLB-7Z.png) Start Docker from your Application folder. You may need to enter your password for elevated privileges. Accept the Service Agreement to continue. ## Configure Docker Preferences Once Docker is running you'll see the while icon in your toolbar. ![docker-preferences.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649177161786/XCNCvKjfi.png) Microsoft's original article I linked in the intro specifies system preferences as the following: - **Docker Engine 1.8+** - **Minimum of 2 GB of disk space** - _(Common sense sense says you'll disk space will increase with the size of your DB.....)_ - **Minimum of 2 GB of RAM** - _(I prefer to extend to 4GB if you'll be using this heavily in testing and supporting other local apps)_ ![docker-resources.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649177296776/7rnTZ2mmg.png) > FYI: Any system resource changes will require a Docker Restart. # Step 2: Setup the SQL Container --- At this point, Docker is installed. If it isn't running already, double click the Docker App Icon in the Applications folder. You will see the Docker _whale_ icon in the toolbar. Click on the whale icon and open the dashboard. A fresh install will have no containers listed. The green box in the bottom right will indicate your Docker engine is running. ![docker-dashboard.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649183693472/IU20W6GcQ.png) With Docker running, let's open a terminal window to execute the next series of commands. We will pull down the SQL Server container image from the Docker Hub with the following command: ```bash # pull image docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2017-latest ``` ![docker-pull-image.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649187419226/5g-D9K1RC.png) Now we need to run the container to set up the SQL Server instance. >Remember the back slashes below indicate a new line or else you can just type this all on one line without the backslashes. ``` sudo docker run -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e 'SA_PASSWORD=MyPassword1' \ -p 1433:1433 --name LocalSqlServer \ -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2017-latest ``` The command above uses the following flags: | Parameter | Description | | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | -e | Environment variables for the Docker Container: (1) End user licensing agreement, (2) specify SA Password (REMEMBER THIS!) | | -p | Docker host port number (first) and Docker exposed port number (second) | | --name | Specify the name of the Docker container. This must be a unique name for each container Docker is running. | | -d | Executing the SQL 2017 image | The command will now run the SQL Server container. Your Docker dashboard will now list the new container with the name you specified in the `--name` flag. ![docker-sql-running-dashboard.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649187819966/BfzwLwphJ.png) From your terminal, the command `docker container ls` will list the containers in your Docker instance. You can see that the name you specified in the command statement is now listed in your terminal as well.. ![docker-sql-running-terminal.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649187869164/kaBT4Jl6a.png) # Step 3: Connecting to SQL Server --- The database container has been created but we need to get into the container and create our new database. ## Connect via Command Line Connect to the container: `docker exec -it LocalSqlServer "bash"` Once in the container, you'll have a `:/#` prompt. Now we can connect to the SQL Instance: `/opt/mssql-tools/bin/sqlcmd -S localhost -U SA -P 'MyPassword1'` You can leave out the `-P` flag and you will be prompted for the password. Once connected to the SQL instance, you will now have the `1>` prompt. A simple `SELECT 1+1` will return the following: ![docker-connect-sql.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649188231308/sRSiZ2LxZ.png) A simple script in the SQLCMD prompt can be tested with the prompt above. From within the SQLCMD prompt, you can feed any T-SQL statement followed by the `GO` statement to run the command. Next steps are to list existing databases. You will see the default SQL Server databases. We'll create a new DB and than show the newly create `MyTestDB` show in the database list. ![docker-create-db.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649188450821/8f-kSpCVb.png) ## Connect Using Azure Data Studio You can download [Azure Data Studio](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/azure-data-studio/download-azure-data-studio?view=sql-server-ver15) for macOS to connect to your new SQL Server Database. Enter the information below, `localhost` as your server. Use `SA` as your login until you get a new user created and use the default password specified earlier. ![docker-azure-studio-connect.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649189388002/8t6pfEgEH.png) You now have a GUI to now interact with, you see our new DB listed below. ![docket-azure-studio-dbs.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1649189452085/fjFFiw0yU.png) Start and stop the Docker container as you please, when you want to work with SQL Server on your Mac! # End --- If you followed along with this walkthrough, you: - Downloaded and Setup Docker Desktop for Mac - Pulled the SQL Server 2017 Image - Ran and initialized a new SQL Server Database Instance - Connected to the new Docker container and SQL Server Command Prompt to interact with the SQL Server Database ### Reference Links * [MS Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/) * [MS Docs SQL Server on Linux](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/quickstart-install-connect-docker)