True isolation; supports older SQL Server versions; works without internet. Cons: Higher resource consumption (RAM/CPU); additional OS licensing for Windows.
In 2016, Microsoft released a developer edition of SQL Server that can run on macOS. This edition is free and allows developers to build, test, and demonstrate applications on a Mac. To run SQL Server on a Mac, you'll need:
Since SQL Server is built for Windows/Linux, Mac users primarily use these methods: sql server for mac
: The standard method. You run the official SQL Server Linux image in a Docker Desktop container. Pros : Lightweight and isolates the environment.
Running SQL Server on a Mac is possible through various options, each with its pros and cons. The developer edition provides a free and easy way to run SQL Server on a Mac, but is limited to development and testing. Docker containers offer a flexible and portable solution, while virtual machines provide a native Windows environment. Choose the option that best fits your needs and expertise. True isolation; supports older SQL Server versions; works
This method provides a flexible and portable way to run SQL Server on a Mac, but requires some technical expertise.
This installs sqlcmd and bcp for connecting to remote SQL Server instances. It does not run a local database. This edition is free and allows developers to
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest docker run -e "ACCEPT_EULA=Y" -e "MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD=YourStrong!Passw0rd" \ -p 1433:1433 --name sqlserver2022 \ -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest