how to install sql server management studio in ubuntu 18 04 with code examples

Introduction

SQL Server Management Studio is a powerful and most widely used tool for managing SQL Server databases. It provides a graphical user interface for creating, managing, and executing SQL queries. Microsoft provides the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) tool for Windows operating systems but not for Linux or other platforms. However, with the help of Mono, we can install SSMS on Ubuntu 18.04. In this article, we will discuss how to install SQL Server Management Studio in Ubuntu 18.04 with code examples.

Before we start the installation process, let's understand what Mono is.

What is Mono?

Mono is a free and open-source implementation of the Microsoft .NET framework. It enables developers to run .NET applications on Linux, macOS, and other platforms. Mono provides an environment for developing and deploying .NET applications on various platforms, including Linux.

First, let's install the Mono package and then proceed to install SQL Server Management Studio.

Step 1: Install Mono

Mono is not included in the Ubuntu 18.04 default repository. So, we need to add the Mono repository to the system package manager to install it.

To add the Mono repository, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the Ubuntu terminal and run the following command to add the Mono repository:
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys 3FA7E0328081BFF6A14DA29AA6A19B38D3D831EF
  1. Run the following command to add the Mono repository to the system package manager:
echo "deb https://download.mono-project.com/repo/ubuntu stable-bionic main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mono-official-stable.list
  1. Update the package manager:
sudo apt-get update
  1. Install the Mono package by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install mono-complete

After running the above commands, Mono will be successfully installed on your machine.

Step 2: Install SQL Server Management Studio

To install SQL Server Management Studio on Ubuntu 18.04, we need to use Wine, a free and open-source compatibility layer that allows the execution of Windows-only applications. With Wine, we can install SSMS on Ubuntu 18.04.

To install Wine, perform the following steps:

  1. Update the system package manager:
sudo apt-get update
  1. Install Wine by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install wine

After installing Wine, we can proceed with the installation process of SQL Server Management Studio.

  1. Download SSMS installation files from the Microsoft website.

Note: You need to download the SQLServer2016-SSMSEE-ENU-x64.exe file.

  1. Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the downloaded installer file is located.

For example:

cd /home/user/Downloads
  1. Run the following command to execute the installer:
wine SQLServer2016-SSEI-Expr.exe
  1. Follow the instructions to install SQL Server Management Studio as if you were using a Windows machine.

Once the installation is complete, you can run SQL Server Management Studio by running the following command:

wine "/root/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/140/Tools/Binn/ManagementStudio/Ssms.exe"

You can also create a desktop shortcut for convenience or add it to the Ubuntu applications menu.

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided a step-by-step guide on how to install SQL Server Management Studio on Ubuntu 18.04 using Mono and Wine. By following these steps, you can install the powerful tool on your Ubuntu machine and start managing your SQL Server databases easily.

Okay, sure! Let's dive a bit deeper into some of the topics.

Mono

Mono is a free and open-source implementation of the Microsoft .NET framework. It was developed to provide Linux and other non-Windows operating systems with a way to run .NET applications. Mono provides a development framework, a runtime environment, and a variety of tools to support development and deployment of .NET applications on Linux and other platforms.

Mono was initially released in 2004 and has since become a popular alternative to the .NET framework for Linux and other platforms. Mono is used by developers for developing cross-platform applications, mobile applications, web applications, games, and more. Mono supports C#, F#, Visual Basic .NET, and other .NET programming languages. It is actively developed and maintained by a community of open-source developers.

Wine

Wine is a free and open-source compatibility layer that allows Windows applications to run on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Wine provides an implementation of the Windows API (Application Programming Interface) and supports various versions of Windows applications.

Wine is not an emulator, it translates Windows API calls into POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) calls. This approach offers better performance and efficiency compared to emulating a complete Windows system. Wine is actively developed and has been in development since 1993. It is used by millions of users to run popular Windows applications on non-Windows operating systems.

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a powerful tool for managing SQL Server databases. It provides a graphical user interface for creating, managing, and executing SQL queries. SSMS offers a range of features including database design, data migration, query profiling, debugging, and more. It is available for Windows operating systems but not for Linux and other platforms.

To install SSMS on Linux operating systems such as Ubuntu 18.04, we need to use Mono and Wine. Mono provides a development environment for .NET applications on Linux and Wine allows Windows applications to run on Linux. By installing Mono and Wine, we can install SSMS and start managing our SQL Server databases on Ubuntu 18.04.

Conclusion

Mono, Wine, and SQL Server Management Studio are powerful tools that enable developers and users to work with Microsoft technologies on non-Windows operating systems. Mono provides a development environment for .NET applications, Wine allows Windows applications to run on Linux, and SQL Server Management Studio provides a graphical user interface for managing SQL Server databases. By using these tools, we can work with Microsoft technologies on non-Windows operating systems and achieve cross-platform compatibility.

Popular questions

  1. What is SQL Server Management Studio?
    Answer: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a tool provided by Microsoft for managing SQL Server databases. It provides a graphical user interface for creating, managing, and executing SQL queries.

  2. Why is SSMS not available for Linux operating systems?
    Answer: Microsoft has not released SSMS for Linux or other non-Windows platforms. However, we can install SSMS on Linux using Mono and Wine.

  3. What is Mono and why do we need it to install SSMS on Ubuntu 18.04?
    Answer: Mono is a free and open-source implementation of the Microsoft .NET framework. It provides a development environment for .NET applications on Linux and other non-Windows platforms. We need Mono to install SSMS, as SSMS is a .NET application.

  4. What is Wine and why do we need it to install SSMS on Ubuntu 18.04?
    Answer: Wine is a compatibility layer that allows Windows applications to run on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. We need Wine to run the SSMS installer and to launch SSMS after installation.

  5. How can we launch SSMS after installation on Ubuntu 18.04?
    Answer: We can launch SSMS after installation by running the following command in the terminal:

wine "/root/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft SQL Server/140/Tools/Binn/ManagementStudio/Ssms.exe"

Tag

"Installation Guide"

My passion for coding started with my very first program in Java. The feeling of manipulating code to produce a desired output ignited a deep love for using software to solve practical problems. For me, software engineering is like solving a puzzle, and I am fully engaged in the process. As a Senior Software Engineer at PayPal, I am dedicated to soaking up as much knowledge and experience as possible in order to perfect my craft. I am constantly seeking to improve my skills and to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the field. I have experience working with a diverse range of programming languages, including Ruby on Rails, Java, Python, Spark, Scala, Javascript, and Typescript. Despite my broad experience, I know there is always more to learn, more problems to solve, and more to build. I am eagerly looking forward to the next challenge and am committed to using my skills to create impactful solutions.

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