This guide provides steps to configure SQL Server Express in Docker

How to Configure SQL Server Express in Docker.md

How to Configure SQL Server Express in Docker

See: Docker Express: Running a local SQL Server Express | by Maarten Merken | Agilix | Medium

1. Start Container:

   docker run -e "ACCEPT_EULA=Y" `
   -e "MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD=MyPass@word" `
   -e "MSSQL_PID=Express" `
   -p 1433:1433 `
   -d --name=sqlexpress.local `
   -v tsql-seal:/var/opt/mssql `
   mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:latest

Important: The example from Medium by Maarten uses the following switch to mount the docker volume: -v tsql-seal:/var/opt/mssql.data This does not work with Docker named volumes. Instead use -v tsql-seal:/var/opt/mssql. See > Is it possible to create a volume with 'Microsoft SQL Server' docker container? - Stack Overflow

Optional: Add the container hostname ( sqlexpress-seal.local ) to the hosts file in the local OS environment.

3. Connect from SQL Server Manager

  Server name: <HOST NAME>
  Authentication: SQL Server Authentication
  Login: sa
  Password: MyPass@word

3. Install "Northwinds" database

   • Get the sample SQL Server databases for ADO.NET code samples - ADO.NET | Microsoft Learn

4. Example connection string:

Server=<HOST NAME>,1433;Integrated Security=false;User Id=sa;Password=MyPass@word;Database=Northwind