SQL Server is now available on the Mac. This page contains articles to help you get up and running with SQL Server on your Mac.
Installing SQL Server on your Mac is relatively straightforward. You first need to install Docker and increase its memory allocation. Then you're free to install SQL Server.
The best place to start is Install SQL Server on a Mac. That tutorial explains the whole process, and outlines the exact steps to installing SQL Server, while providing links to articles explaining how to install Docker and SQL management tools such as sql-cli and Azure Data Studio.
If using the Microsoft SQL Server JDBC driver on the Mac, only SQL Server Authentication is supported, so the user would need to be set up as a SQL Server Authentication user on the database. If you are looking for a client program to query, edit, browse, and manage your SQL Server instance, check out RazorSQL. My Rec ommendation for DBeaver. My Recommendation for DBeaver. 2) Studio for SQL Server dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a powerful IDE for SQL Server management, administration, development, data reporting, analysis, and a lot more. SQL developers and DBAs performing complex database tasks can use the GUI tool to speed up almost any database experience, such as designing databases, writing SQL code, comparing databases, synchronizing schemas and data. SQuirreL SQL Client for Mac is a very popular graphical SQL client, written in Java, which allows you to view the structure of a JDBC compliant database, browse the data in tables, and, amongst other things, issue SQL commands. The great thing about using SQuirreL SQL Client for Mac is that the functionality can be extended with the use of plugins!
Toad for SQL Server. Another very popular free utility to manage and maintain SQL databases. Toad has also version for MySQL, Oracle, IBM DB2, Eclipse or Sybase. There is also MAC version. Toad is maintained by Quest (Now Dell) and has great community support. Toad has won an award in 2012 for being named best developement product. SQLPro for MSSQL, DBeaver, and Navicat for SQL Server are probably your best bets out of the 5 options considered. 'Great UI' is the primary reason people pick SQLPro for MSSQL over the competition. This page is powered by a knowledgeable community that helps you make an informed decision.
Postico requires macOS 10.10 or later. Version 1.5.14 was released on Jul 17, 2020. Read the Changelist.
Also available on the Mac App Store. We also offer Legacy Downloads for older versions of macOS.
Postico is under active development. Leave your email adress and I”ll tell you about new features as soon as they”re ready.
PostgreSQL is an absurdly powerful database, but there”s no reason why using it should require an advanced degree in relational theory. Postico provides an easy to use interface, making Postgres more accessible for newcomers and specialists alike.
Postico will look familiar to anyone who has used a Mac before. Just connect to a database and begin working with tables and views. Start with the basics and learn about advanced features of PostgreSQL as you go along.
Postico is an intuitive app for looking at data. Filter rows, sort them, rearrange columns. You can examine long text or images conveniently in the sidebar. Even related rows from referenced tables are shown.
Edit rows directly, or use the sidebar — a great choice for long text. You can even change multiple rows at once. Batch saving (with SQL preview) lets you commit changes to multiple rows in a single transaction.
Add and remove columns, rename them, change types. Modify tables and views without having to remember the ALTER TABLE syntax.
The unified structure editor displays everything you need to know about a table. Comments and constraints are shown right next to the columns.
Sql Server Client For Mac Free
When you need hard questions answered, PostgreSQL offers many advanced tools for data analysis: Common table expressions, recursive queries, filter aggregates, window functions.
To access these tools, Postico sports a powerful query view with support for multiple result sets. The editor has all the standard features you expect, like syntax highlighting and automatic indentation.
Native Experience
Native Cocoa controls ensure consistency. Keyboard shortcuts follow platform conventions. Commands like undo/redo or copy/paste work just as you”d expect. And of course, Postico plays nice with other apps and services you use every day.
Vibrant Design
Postico was designed from the ground up with Apple”s modern design language in mind. Its high resolution artwork looks great on Retina displays.
Sql Server For Mac Os X Free Download
Secure out of the box
Postico uses industry standard encryption: both SSL and SSH can be used for secure connections. Server certificates are always validated. Passwords are stored safely in the system keychain. A warning is shown if the server requests a plain text connection.
Usb driver for macbook. Dependable Customer Support
When you have a question, you can contact the developers directly — We personally answer all customer emails. You don”t have to deal with outsourced support agents, and you”ll never get a canned response.
A Companion to Postgres.app
Postgres.app is the fastest way to run a PostgreSQL server locally. Since Postico is made by the maintainer of Postgres.app, the two apps co-operate perfectly.
Optimized for small displays
A slim toolbar conserves vertical screen estate. The sidebars can be hidden to show more of your data. And if you don”t want to waste a single pixel, switch to full screen mode.
- Announcements of major new features
- Notification when security issues come up
- 3-4 emails per year
Which versions of PostgreSQL are supported?
Postico supports PostgreSQL 8.0 and later. We run automated tests to ensure compatibility with PostgreSQL 8.4, 9.x, 10, 11, and 12. Postico also supports database systems derived from PostgreSQL like Amazon Redshift or Greenplum, and systems that use the PostgreSQL protocol like CockroachDB.
What are the limitations of the free trial?
- At most 5 connection favorites
- Only a single window per connection
- Table filters are disabled
- There is no time limit — use the trial as long as you want!
Should I buy Postico on the Mac App Store or from your website?
It”s your choice! Many customers prefer the convenience of the App Store. You have all licenses in one place, and your software is automatically updated. The store on my website (operated by Fastspring) has better support for business customers. Also, Fastspring charges a lower commission, so the version on my website is slightly cheaper.
I work for a software reseller. Who should I contact to get quotes?
Please see this document with information for resellers.
Do you have an issue tracker for bug reports and feature requests?
I”ve set up a Github repository for public feature requests and bug reports. But of course you can also reach out privately via email: [email protected]
If you need a bug fixed quickly, consider following the best practices for bug reporting.
I previously explained how to install SQL Server on a Mac via a Docker container. When I wrote that, SQL Server 2017 was the latest version of SQL Server, and it had just been made available for Linux and Docker (which means that you can also install it on MacOS systems).
Is Microsoft Sql Server Necessary
In late 2018, Microsoft announced SQL Server 2019 Preview, and subsequently announced general release in late 2019. The installation process for SQL Server 2019 is exactly the same as for SQL Server 2017. The only difference is that you need to use the container image for SQL Server 2019 instead of the 2017 image. Here I show you how to do that.
Also, if you already have SQL Server 2017 installed, and you want to install SQL Server 2019 without removing the 2017 version, you’ll need to allocate a different port number on your host. I show you how to do that too.
Docker
The first step is to install Docker. If you already have Docker installed you can skip this step (and jump straight to SQL Server).
Docker is a platform that enables software to run in its own isolated environment. Therefore, SQL Server 2019 can be run on Docker in its own isolated container.
Install Docker
To download, visit the Docker CE for Mac download page and click Get Docker.
To install, double-click on the .dmg file and then drag the Docker.app icon to your Application folder.
Launch Docker
Launch Docker the same way you’d launch any other application (eg, via the Applications folder, the Launchpad, etc).
When you open Docker, you might be prompted for your password so that Docker can install its networking components and links to the Docker apps. Go ahead and provide your password, as Docker needs this to run.
Increase the Memory
By default, Docker will have 2GB of memory allocated to it. I’d suggest increasing it to 4GB if you can.
To do this:
- Select Preferences from the little Docker icon in the top menu
- Slide the memory slider up to at least 4GB
- Click Apply & Restart
SQL Server
Now that Docker has been installed and configured, we can download and install SQL Server 2019.
Download SQL Server 2019
Open a Terminal window and run the following command.
This downloads the latest SQL Server for Linux Docker image to your computer.
You can also check for the various container image options on the Docker website if you wish.
Note that, at the time I wrote this article, I used the following image:
Therefore, all examples below reflect that version.
Launch the Docker Image
Run the following command to launch an instance of the Docker image you just downloaded:
Just change
Bart
to a name of your choosing, andreallyStrongPwd#123
to a password of your choosing.If you get a “port already allocated” error, see below.
Here’s an explanation of the parameters:
-e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y'
- The
Y
shows that you agree with the EULA (End User Licence Agreement). This is required. -e 'SA_PASSWORD=reallyStrongPwd#123'
- Required parameter that sets the
sa
database password. -p 1433:1433
- This maps the local port 1433 to port 1433 on the container. The first value is the TCP port on the host environment. The second value is the TCP port in the container.
--name Bart
- Another optional parameter. This parameter allows you to name the container. This can be handy when stopping and starting your container from the Terminal. You might prefer to give it a more descriptive name like
sql_server_2019
or similar. -d
- This optional parameter launches the Docker container in daemon mode. This means that it runs in the background and doesn’t need its own Terminal window open. You can omit this parameter to have the container run in its own Terminal window.
mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-CTP3.2-ubuntu
- This tells Docker which image to use.
Password Strength
You need to use a strong password. Microsoft says this about the password:
The password should follow the SQL Server default password policy, otherwise the container can not setup SQL server and will stop working. By default, the password must be at least 8 characters long and contain characters from three of the following four sets: Uppercase letters, Lowercase letters, Base 10 digits, and Symbols.
Error – “Port already allocated”?
If you get an error that says something about “port is already allocated”, then perhaps you already have SQL Server installed on another container that uses that port. In this case, you’ll need to map to a different port on the host.
Therefore, you could change the above command to something like this:
In this case I simply changed
-p 1433:1433
to-p 1400:1433
. Everything else remains the same.You may now get an error saying that you need to remove the existing container first. To do that, run the following (but swap
Bart
with the name of your own container):Once removed, you can try running the previous command again.
Note that if you change the port like I’ve done here, you will probably need to include the port number when connecting to SQL Server from any database tools from your desktop. For example, when connecting via the Azure Data Studio (mentioned below), you can connect by using
Localhost,1400
instead of justLocalhost
. Same with mssql-cli, which is a command line SQL tool.
Microsoft Sql Server 2017
Check Everything
Now that we’ve done that, we should be good to go. Let’s go through and run a few checks.
Check the Docker container (optional)
You can type the following command to check that the Docker container is running.
In my case I get this:
This tells me that I have two docker containers up and running: one called Bart and the other called Homer.
Connect to SQL Server
Here we use the SQL Server command line tool called “sqlcmd” inside the container to connect to SQL Server.
Enter your password if prompted.
Now that you’re inside the container, connect locally with sqlcmd:
This should bring you to the sqlcmd prompt 1>.
Run a Quick Test
Run a quick test to check that SQL Server is up and running. For example, check the SQL Server version by entering this:
This will bring you to a command prompt 2> on the next line. To execute the query, enter:
Result:
If you see a message like this, congratulations — SQL Server is now up and running on your Mac!
If you prefer to use a GUI to manage SQL Server, read on.
Azure Data Studio
Sql Server Client For Mac
Azure Data Studio is a free GUI management tool that you can use to manage SQL Server on your Mac. You can use it to create and manage databases, write queries, backup and restore databases, and more.
Azure Data Studio is available on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Here are some articles/tutorials I’ve written for Azure Data Studio:
Another Free SQL Server GUI – DBeaver
Another SQL Server GUI tool that you can use on your Mac (and Windows/Linux/Solaris) is DBeaver.
Install Sql Server On Mac
DBeaver is a free, open source database management tool that can be used on most database management systems (such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, SQLite, Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, Microsoft Access, Teradata, Firebird, Derby, and more).
Sql Server For Mac Free Edition
I wrote a little introduction to DBeaver, or you can go straight to the DBeaver download page and try it out with your new SQL Server installation.