Microsoft announced that it will bring SQL Server to Linux, enabling a consistent data platform across Windows Server and Linux.

For now, the core relational database capabilities are in preview (starting immediately) with availability coming mid-2017.

“SQL Server on Linux will provide customers with even more flexibility in their data solution,” said Scott Guthrie, Executive Vice President, Cloud and Enterprise Group at Microsoft. “One with mission-critical performance, industry-leading TCO, best-in-class security, and hybrid cloud innovations – like Stretch Database which lets customers access their data on-premises and in the cloud whenever they want at low cost – all built in.”

“SQL Server’s proven enterprise experience and capabilities offer a valuable asset to enterprise Linux customers around the world,” said Paul Cormier, President, Products and Technologies at Red Hat. “We believe our customers will welcome this news and are happy to see Microsoft further increasing its investment in Linux. As we build upon our deep hybrid cloud partnership, spanning not only Linux, but also middleware, and PaaS, we’re excited to now extend that collaboration to SQL Server on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, bringing enterprise customers increased database choice.”

Microsoft also announced some other improvements to SQL Server including security encryption capabilities, in-memory database support and performance increases of up to 30-100x, improved data warehousing, new BI support for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, and advanced analytics.

Guthrie discusses all of this and the coming Linux support here.

General availability of SQL Server 2016 will come later this year.

Image via Microsoft