Setting Up SQL Server on Your Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

For developers and database enthusiasts working on macOS, directly running SQL Server might seem like a challenge. While Microsoft SQL Server isn’t natively supported on macOS, Docker provides a seamless solution. This guide will walk you through the process of installing and running SQL Server on your Mac using Docker Desktop, ensuring you can develop and test your applications effectively.

Step 1: Installing Docker Desktop on macOS

Before you can run SQL Server, you need to install Docker Desktop. Docker Desktop is a user-friendly application that allows you to manage containers, including running SQL Server in a containerized environment on your Mac.

1. Navigate to the official Docker Desktop download page. Docker offers versions compatible with both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon Macs. Select the appropriate download link for your Mac’s architecture.

2. Once the .dmg file is downloaded, double-click it to begin the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions, which typically involve dragging the Docker icon to your Applications folder.

After installation, Docker Desktop will be accessible from your Applications folder, and you can launch it. Docker Desktop might require system permissions during its initial setup.

Step 2: Deploying SQL Server 2022 using Docker

With Docker Desktop installed and running, you can now pull and run the official Microsoft SQL Server Docker image.

1. Open Terminal, your command-line interface on macOS.

2. Execute the following docker pull command to download the SQL Server 2022 image from the Microsoft Container Registry (mcr).

sudo docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest

You might be prompted to enter your macOS user password as sudo commands require administrative privileges. This command fetches the latest SQL Server 2022 image, which can take some time depending on your internet connection speed.

3. Once the image is downloaded, run the following docker run command to create and start a SQL Server container.

docker run -d --name sql-server-mac -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e 'SA_PASSWORD=yourStrongPassword' -p 1433:1433 mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest

Let’s break down this command:

• -d: Runs the container in detached mode, meaning it runs in the background.
• --name sql-server-mac: Assigns the name sql-server-mac to your container for easier management. You can choose a different name if you prefer.
• -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y': This is essential to acknowledge and accept the End-User License Agreement for SQL Server.
• -e 'SA_PASSWORD=yourStrongPassword': Sets the password for the System Administrator (SA) account. Replace yourStrongPassword with a strong, secure password of your choice. This password is crucial for accessing your SQL Server instance.
• -p 1433:1433: Maps port 1433 on your Mac to port 1433 in the Docker container. 1433 is the default port for SQL Server, allowing you to connect to SQL Server running inside the container via localhost:1433.
• mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2022-latest: Specifies the Docker image to use, in this case, the SQL Server 2022 image we downloaded.

After running this command successfully, SQL Server 2022 will be running in a Docker container on your Mac.

4. Verify that SQL Server is running by executing the following command:

docker ps -a

This command lists all containers, including running and stopped ones. Look for the container named sql-server-mac (or the name you chose). If the STATUS column shows “Up”, SQL Server is running correctly. If it shows “Exited”, there might have been an issue during startup; you can check the container logs for details using docker logs <container_id or container_name>.

Step 3: Connecting to SQL Server from Terminal using sql-cli

To interact with your newly installed SQL Server instance directly from the Terminal, you can use the sql-cli command-line tool.

1. Ensure you have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on your Mac. If not, download and install them from the official Node.js website. npm is bundled with Node.js.

2. Install sql-cli globally using npm by running the following command in Terminal:

sudo npm install -g sql-cli

This command installs sql-cli making it available system-wide.

3. Connect to your SQL Server instance using sql-cli with the following command:

mssql -u sa -p yourStrongPassword

Replace yourStrongPassword with the SA account password you set during the docker run command.

• -u sa: Specifies the username as sa (System Administrator).
• -p yourStrongPassword: Provides the password for the sa user.

If the connection is successful, you will see a message similar to:

Connecting to localhost...done
sql-cli version x.x.x
Enter ".help" for usage hints.
mssql>

The mssql> prompt indicates that you are now connected to your SQL Server instance and can execute SQL queries directly in your Terminal.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and connected to SQL Server on your Mac using Docker. This setup provides a robust environment for development and testing, allowing you to leverage the power of SQL Server on your macOS platform.