SQL Server on OpenShift: Unified deployment and management for Windows, Linux & Containers

Regular 50 minute session for SQLBits 2026

TL; DR

Learn how OpenShift Virtualization enables customers to run SQL Server seamlessly across Windows VMs, Linux VMs, and containers all deployed from a single platform. In this demo-driven session, we’ll showcase deployment strategies and a migration journey, helping you modernize and unify SQL Server environments with OpenShift.

Session Details

Managing SQL Server across diverse environments Windows VMs, Linux VMs, and containers, can be complex. OpenShift Virtualization simplifies this by providing a unified platform to run and manage SQL Server workloads, regardless of where they reside.

In this demo-based session, we’ll show how to deploy SQL Server on Windows VMs, Red Hat VMs, and containers, all orchestrated through OpenShift. You’ll learn how OpenShift Virtualization bridges traditional VM-based deployments with modern containerized architectures, enabling flexibility and scalability.

We’ll also walk through a migration journey, demonstrating how customers can transition SQL Server workloads from VMs to containers without disruption. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how OpenShift empowers organizations to modernize their data platforms while maintaining control and consistency across hybrid environments.

3 things you'll get out of this session

Understand how OpenShift Virtualization enables unified management of SQL Server across Windows VMs, Linux VMs, and containerized environments.
Gain practical insights into migration workflows for transitioning SQL Server workloads from VMs to containers seamlessly.