How to Set Up SQL Server on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Microsoft SQL Server isn’t just for Windows anymore. Thanks to Microsoft’s move toward Linux compatibility, you can now run SQL Server on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) with full support. This guide walks you through the installation and setup process so you can get SQL Server up and running on your RHEL machine.

Prerequisites

Before diving in, make sure you have:

• A RHEL 8 (or 9) system with sudo privileges
• A stable internet connection
• At least 2 GB of memory (4 GB recommended)
• A registered RHEL subscription (you can register via Red Hat Customer Portal or using the subscription-manager tool)

Step 1: Register RHEL and Enable Repositories

Make sure your system is registered:

sudo subscription-manager register

Then attach the subscription:

sudo subscription-manager attach --auto

Enable the required repositories:

sudo subscription-manager repos --enable=rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rpms
sudo subscription-manager repos --enable=rhel-8-for-x86_64-baseos-rpms

Step 2: Import the Microsoft GPG Key

Run the following to add Microsoft’s GPG key:

sudo rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc

Step 3: Add the Microsoft SQL Server Repository

Add the repo configuration:

sudo curl -o /etc/yum.repos.d/mssql-server.repo https://packages.microsoft.com/config/rhel/8/mssql-server-2019.repo

For SQL Server 2022, just replace 2019 with 2022 in the URL.

Step 4: Install SQL Server

Now install SQL Server:

sudo dnf install -y mssql-server

After installation, run the setup utility:

sudo /opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf setup

You’ll be prompted to choose the edition, accept the license terms, and set the sa password.

Start the service:

sudo systemctl enable --now mssql-server

Step 5: Open Firewall Port (Optional but Recommended)

By default, SQL Server listens on port 1433. Open it if you plan to connect remotely:

sudo firewall-cmd --zone=public --add-port=1433/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 6: Install SQL Server Command-Line Tools (sqlcmd)

Add the repo for tools:

sudo curl -o /etc/yum.repos.d/msprod.repo https://packages.microsoft.com/config/rhel/8/prod.repo

Then install:

sudo dnf install -y mssql-tools unixODBC-devel

Add tools to your path by editing .bashrc or .bash_profile:

echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/opt/mssql-tools/bin"' >> ~/.bash_profile
source ~/.bash_profile

Step 7: Test the Installation

Use sqlcmd to connect and run a quick test:

sqlcmd -S localhost -U sa -P '<YourPassword>'

Run a basic query to make sure everything’s working:

SELECT @@VERSION;
GO

Final Thoughts

SQL Server on RHEL is stable, performant, and works great in hybrid environments. With just a few commands, you can integrate Microsoft’s powerful database engine into your Linux-based infrastructure.

Keep your system updated and secure, and consider setting up automated backups and monitoring from day one.

Need help configuring your database for production workloads? Let me know in the comments or get in touch.