Microsoft Previews SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux

Microsoft has posted a preview release of its new SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux, which enables access to Microsoft SQL Server databases from Linux operating systems. This driver is a port of Microsoft's existing enterprise-class ODBC for Windows driver, known as SQL Server Native Client (SNAC), to the Linux platform.

The SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux supports 64-bit C and C++ applications running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and connects to SQL Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2012. According to Microsoft, "for customers who want to move from Sybase to SQL Server, the SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux allows C and C++ code to continue running in Linux environments."

Key features of the SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux include:

  • Support for the Kerberos network authentication protocol;
  • Support for SSL encryption and authentication;
  • Support for client-side UTF-8 character encoding;
  • BCP utility for bulk-copying data between an instance of Microsoft SQL Server and a data file; and
  • SQLCMD utility for entering Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files at the command prompt.

Future versions of the SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux may support other variants of Unix, including SUSE, Solaris, and HP-UX. Planned features for future releases include 32-bit support, support for connections to SQL Azure, and support for SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn features.

The preview release of the SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux is available for download now from the Microsoft Download Center. Additional information can be found in the MSDN Library.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • college student sitting at a laptop writing a college essay

    How Can Schools Manage AI in Admissions?

    Many questions remain around the role of artificial intelligence in admissions as schools navigate the balance between innovation and integrity.  

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • person signing a bill at a desk with a faint glow around the document. A tablet and laptop are subtly visible in the background, with soft colors and minimal digital elements

    California Governor Signs AI Content Safeguards into Law

    California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially signed off on a series of landmark artificial intelligence bills, signaling the state’s latest efforts to regulate the burgeoning technology, particularly in response to the misuse of sexually explicit deepfakes. The legislation is aimed at mitigating the risks posed by AI-generated content, as concerns grow over the technology's potential to manipulate images, videos, and voices in ways that could cause significant harm.

  • laptop screen showing Coursera course

    Coursera Introduces New Gen AI Skills Training and Credentials

    Learning platform Coursera is expanding its Generative AI Academy training portfolio with an offering for teams, as well as adding new generative AI courses, specializations, and certificates.