Windocks uniquely provides Windows SQL Server containers. These SQL Server containers are isolated SQL Servers, that are identical to conventionally installed instances. They are created and torn down on demand using web applications, REST API, or command line. Up to 50 or more SQL Server containers regularly run on a single server. Technical leaders have proven it is a best practice to use SQL Server Windows containers for dev, test, reporting, ML and DevOps.
SQL Server containers run on a single machine each on a different port, leading to simplified infrastructure, support and maintenance. Devops pipelines can spin up SQL containers for test and staging environments via a REST API. Containers for testers, developers, reporting and support teams are available via command line or UI.
Comprehensive ecosystem support
Windocks SQL Server containers for Windows are fully compatible with your existing investments and tools:
- Windows, Active Directory authentication
- Versions 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022
- Developer, Express, Standard, and Enterprise
- Engine, analysis, reporting, integration, and agent services
- Linked servers, Distributed transactions
- Works with SQL Server Management Studio and all other SQL Server tools
Building and Configuring Images
SQL Server containers are created by cloning a locally installed and configured instance. You may also build your own images from a specification (a dockerfile).
The specification can include the databases you want cloned and data masking. It can also include database scripts to run and access controls. To build an image, start with native full backups, database files, or move data via the Windocks data migration service.
These containers can be delivered with clones of your databases for testing or developing with production database clones.
For more information, see the official Docker documentation. See also getting started with Windocks in the LangGrant documentation.