Overview of SQL Server on Linux Azure Virtual Machines
Applies to: 
SQL Server on Azure VM
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines enables you to use full versions of SQL Server in the cloud without having to manage any on-premises hardware. SQL Server VMs also simplify licensing costs when you pay as you go.
Azure virtual machines run in many different geographic regions around the world. They also offer a variety of machine sizes. The virtual machine image gallery allows you to create a SQL Server VM with the right version, edition, and operating system. This makes virtual machines a good option for a many different SQL Server workloads.
If you're new to Azure SQL, check out the SQL Server on Azure VM Overview video from our in-depth Azure SQL video series:
Get started with SQL Server VMs
To get started, choose a SQL Server virtual machine image with your required version, edition, and operating system. The following sections provide direct links to the Azure portal for the SQL Server virtual machine gallery images.
Tip
For more information about how to understand pricing for SQL Server images, see the pricing page for Linux VMs running SQL Server.
| Version | Operating system | Edition |
|---|---|---|
| SQL Server 2019 | Ubuntu 18.04 | Enterprise, Standard, Web, Developer |
| SQL Server 2019 | Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 | Enterprise, Standard, Web, Developer |
| SQL Server 2019 | SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) v12 SP5 | Enterprise, Standard, Web, Developer |
| SQL Server 2017 | Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7.4 | Enterprise, Standard, Web, Express, Developer |
| SQL Server 2017 | SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) v12 SP2 | Enterprise, Standard, Web, Express, Developer |
| SQL Server 2017 | Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | Enterprise, Standard, Web, Express, Developer |
Note
To see the available SQL Server virtual machine images for Windows, see Overview of SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (Windows).
Installed packages
When you configure SQL Server on Linux, you install the Database Engine package and then several optional packages depending on your requirements. The Linux virtual machine images for SQL Server automatically install most packages for you. The following table shows which packages are installed for each distribution.
| Distribution | Database Engine | Tools | SQL Server agent | Full-text search | SSIS | HA add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL |
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| SLES |
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| Ubuntu |
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Note
SQL IaaS Agent extension for SQL Server on Azure Linux Virtual Machines is only available for Ubuntu Linux distribution.
Related products and services
Linux virtual machines
Storage
Networking
- Virtual Network overview
- IP addresses in Azure
- Create a Fully Qualified Domain Name in the Azure portal
SQL
Next steps
Get started with SQL Server on Linux virtual machines:
Get answers to commonly asked questions about SQL Server VMs on Linux: