Docker – How to run MSSQL Server Express

This tutorial presents how to run MSSQL Server Express container in the Windows 10 environment.

Step 1

Firstly install Docker app. You can download it and read more on Docker web page.

Step 2

After installation, change settings to Windows containers.

After changed you may have required to restarting the system.

Step 3

Open the command prompt (personally I prefer PowerShell). Type command:

> docker search Microsoft

Type command:

> docker pull microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express

The downloaded SQL Server Express image includes everything we need in order to run SQL Server Express in containers.

Step 4

Build a new container using this image. Type command:

> docker run -d -p 1433:1433 -e sa_password=Password1* -e ACCEPT_EULA=Y microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express

The -d flag detaches the created container to the background. The -p flag is for port mapping. In this case creating a static mapping between port TCP:1433 of the host and TCP:1433 of the container. So the first part is for the host and the second part is for the container. The -e set environment variables are required for this particular image, and we provide parameters: sa_password=Password1* (example password for sysadmin). ACCEPT_EULA=Y agree with conditions of the licence.

Step 5

Check running containers Type command:

> docker ps

Also you can use commands:

//To show all containers use the given command: > docker ps -a

//To show the latest created container (includes all states) use the given command: > docker ps -l

//To show n last created containers (includes all states) use the given command: > docker ps -n=-1

//To display total file sizes use the given command: > docker ps -s

For more information, I encourage you to use the command: > docker – – help

or visit the Docker documentation.