How to Install a SQL Server on Mac

Why Install SQL Server on a Mac?

Before diving into the installation process, it’s essential to understand why one might want to install SQL Server on a Mac. SQL Server is renowned for its robustness, scalability, and integration capabilities, making it a preferred choice for developers, database administrators, and enterprises. If you’re working on cross-platform projects, developing software that needs to be compatible with Windows, or simply prefer the SQL Server environment for database management, having it on your Mac will streamline your workflow.

Pre-Requisites for Installing SQL Server on Mac

To ensure a smooth installation process, you must prepare your system by meeting certain prerequisites:

1. macOS Version: Make sure your Mac is running macOS version 10.15 (Catalina) or higher.
2. Homebrew Package Manager: This open-source software package management system simplifies the installation of software on macOS. If you don’t have Homebrew installed, you can install it using the following command in your Terminal:
3. Docker: SQL Server for Mac requires Docker to run. Docker is a containerization platform that allows you to run applications in isolated environments. Download Docker Desktop for Mac from the official Docker website and install it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing SQL Server on Mac

Step 1: Install and Configure Docker

To install SQL Server on your Mac, Docker is required. Here’s how you can install and configure Docker:

1. Download Docker: Visit Docker’s official website and download Docker Desktop for Mac.
2. Install Docker: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the Docker icon to your Applications folder.
3. Run Docker: Open Docker from your Applications. The Docker icon will appear in the menu bar, indicating that it’s running. Ensure that Docker has started successfully.

Step 2: Installing SQL Server Using Docker

Once Docker is installed and running, you can proceed to install SQL Server:

1. Open Terminal: Press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type “Terminal,” and press Enter.
2. Pull SQL Server Docker Image: Use the following command to pull the official Microsoft SQL Server Docker image:

   This command downloads the latest version of SQL Server 2022 container image from Microsoft’s container registry.

3. Run the SQL Server Docker Container: Execute the following command to run SQL Server in a Docker container:

   Replace YourStrongPassword! with a secure password of your choice. This command accepts the SQL Server licensing agreement, sets a strong password for the SQL Server system administrator (SA) account, maps port 1433, and runs the container in the background.

4. Verify the SQL Server Container: To confirm that SQL Server is running, use the command

Step 3: Connecting to SQL Server on Mac

After successfully running SQL Server, you need to connect to it to start managing your databases. You can use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on a Windows machine or other SQL clients compatible with macOS. Below are the options:

Option 1: Use Azure Data Studio

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool that works well with SQL Server. Follow these steps to connect:

1. Download Azure Data Studio: Visit the Azure Data Studio download page and download the macOS version.
2. Install Azure Data Studio: Open the downloaded file and drag the Azure Data Studio icon to your Applications folder.
3. Launch Azure Data Studio: Open Azure Data Studio from your Applications.
4. Create a New Connection:
   • Click on the “New Connection” button.
   • In the “Server” field, enter localhost.
   • Enter the SQL Server SA username (sa) and the password you set during the Docker run command (YourStrongPassword!).
   • Click “Connect.”

Option 2: Use SQL Server Command-Line Tools

If you prefer using the command line, you can install SQL Server command-line tools such as sqlcmd and bcp:

1. Install SQL Server Command-Line Tools: Run the following command in Terminal to install sqlcmd and bcp:
2. Add Tools to Path: Add the tools to your PATH by editing your .bash_profile or .zshrc file:
3. Connect Using sqlcmd: Use the following command to connect to your SQL Server instance:
   Replace YourStrongPassword! with the password you set earlier.

Step 4: Configuring SQL Server Settings

Once connected, you may want to configure SQL Server settings for optimal performance and security:

1. Change the Default Database Path: By default, SQL Server stores data in the container’s file system. To persist data, map the directory to your Mac:

   Replace /Users/yourusername/sqlserverdata with the path where you want to store your SQL Server data.

2. Automate SQL Server Startup: To ensure that SQL Server starts automatically when you start your Mac, add the container to Docker’s startup:
3. Adjust Memory and CPU Allocation: Configure Docker settings to allocate sufficient memory and CPU resources to the SQL Server container. Open Docker preferences and set the desired amount of memory and CPU cores.

Step 5: Testing Your SQL Server Installation

After setting up SQL Server, you should test the installation to ensure everything is working correctly:

1. Create a Sample Database: Connect using Azure Data Studio or sqlcmd and run the following commands:
2. Check the Output: If you see the data inserted and retrieved successfully, your SQL Server installation is working perfectly.

Conclusion

Installing SQL Server on a Mac might initially seem challenging, but by following this guide, you can set it up efficiently using Docker. Once installed, you can leverage powerful tools like Azure Data Studio or SQL Server command-line tools to manage and interact with your databases. This setup allows you to harness the full potential of SQL Server on your macOS environment, making your development and database management tasks more productive and seamless.