22-25 April 2026 
Amit Khandelwal
techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/sql-server-blog
I am a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft with over 15 years of experience. I have been pivotal in the development and evolution of SQL Server on Linux, significantly contributing to Microsoft's cross-platform solutions. Starting as an intern, I have held roles including Support Engineer, Technical Lead, Support Escalation Engineer, and Premier Field Engineer, providing critical support and resolving complex technical issues for enterprise customers with SQL Server implementations and resolutions.
Currently, I oversee SQL Server on Linux and Containers. With over a decade of database experience, I have designed SQL Server-based data platforms for Tier 1 customers across diverse business segments.
Additionally, I am the author of the book "Ultimate SQL Server and Azure SQL for Data Management and Modernization." A frequent speaker at industry conferences, I share insights on technology trends and listen to customer feedback. Notable presentations include my sessions at DevDays Asia (Taipei), SQL BITS (London), PASS Data Community Summit (Seattle), Red Hat Summit, SUSECON, Internal Microsoft Events, Bangalore UG group, Data Exposed, and DataMinds.
Amit Khandelwal's Sessions
Build a Cross-Platform Data Estate with Azure SQL on Containers, Kubernetes, and VMsSQLBits 2025
Discover how to build a flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient cross-platform data estate that spans virtual machines, physical servers, and containers. In this session, we’ll demonstrate how to deploy SQL Server containers across Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and other Kubernetes platforms using the DH2i operator. We’ll be hopefully joined by a customer, who will share their experience running this stack in production, along with co-speakers from DH2i and Red Hat Engineering.
Seamless migration journey to Azure SQL for Arc enabled SQL ServersSQLBits 2025
With Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server, migration to Azure SQL is no longer fragmented. Organizations can now streamline discovery, assessment, and migration from Azure Arc experience —whether you're modernizing on-premises, in hybrid environments, or across multicloud estates. In this session, we’ll explore how Azure Arc transforms SQL Server migration into a seamless, secure, and scalable experience.
In this session you’ll learn how to:
• Automatically discover and assess SQL Server instances using Azure Migrate and Arc agents.
• Perform continuous readiness assessments and receive SKU recommendations directly within the Arc experience.
• Execute near-zero downtime migrations using Distributed Availability Group and Log shipping technology.
• Manage, govern, and secure your SQL estate post-migration using Azure-native tools.
This session is ideal for database administrators, cloud architects, and IT leaders looking to modernize their SQL infrastructure with minimal disruption and maximum insight. Join us to see how Microsoft’s latest innovations in Arc and migration tooling can help you confidently move your SQL workloads to Azure.
Zero to Hero with SQL Server on Linux - DBA & DevelopersSQLBits 2024
This is a demo filled session where we talk about SQL Server on Linux. We start with basics like using Ansible scripts to deploy SQL Server on Linux, configure best practices to run SQL Server on Linux and also talk about advanced options like configuring performance best practices and HA/DR solutions for SQL Server. Finally, we will discuss the latest news about SQL Server on Linux coming hot from the Microsoft product team.
SQL Server Containers & Kubernetes - Going to Production!SQLBits 2024
Are you a Database Administrator, DevOps engineer, Cloud Architect or a Developer looking to modernize your data estate and build a true hybrid data estate that does not restrict your choice of deployment? Then this session is for you, learn how you can crawl, walk and run with SQL Server containers in Kubernetes!!
Meet the PG : SQL Server on Linux/ContainersSQLBits 2024
We are here to answer any questions that you might have about SQL Server on Linux/Containers or Kubernetes. If you have questions or you are inquisitive to know what's happening in the SQL on Linux side of the world we will be here to take your questions and try answering them.
Let's build an AI Python App with mssql-python & SQL Server 2025 - From the Product TeamSQLBits 2026
Build an AI-powered Python app using the new mssql-python driver and SQL Server 2025 containers in this hands-on session. Learn how to leverage vector support, implement RAG scenarios, and apply performance tuning tips from the product team. Developers will master AI integration, while DBAs gain practical skills for deploying and managing SQL Server containers.
Master SQL Server Containers: A DBA’s Guide to Deployment, Management & Modernization to KubernetesSQLBits 2026
Learn how to deploy, configure, and manage SQL Server containers to modernize your data platform. This DBA focused and demo lead session covers SQL server on container architecture, Kubernetes integration, high availability, and clustering techniques, giving you the confidence to run SQL Server in containerized environments and build your skills as a SQL DBA.
Modern AI with SQL Server on Ubuntu: Containers, Vector Search & BeyondSQLBits 2026
Discover how to run SQL Server 2025 on Ubuntu 24.04 for modern AI workloads. In this hands-on session, we’ll deploy SQL Server and OLLAMA models as containers, then demonstrate vector and hybrid search capabilities. Learn why Ubuntu is the top choice for Kubernetes-based deployments and how to integrate SQL Server into your Linux-based AI ecosystem.
SQL Server on OpenShift: Unified deployment and management for Windows, Linux & ContainersSQLBits 2026
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.
What’s New in SQL Server 2025 on Linux: Containers, Kubrenetes- From the product teamSQLBits 2026
Explore the latest features in SQL Server 2025 on Linux, including custom password policies, signed container images, and tmpfs support. Learn SQL container architecture and how to build AI-ready data platforms. Finally, see how to deploy Always On Availability Groups using DH2i DxOperator for high availability in containerized environments.
Build a Cross-Platform Data Estate with Azure SQL on Containers, Kubernetes, and VMsSQLBits 2025
Discover how to build a flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient cross-platform data estate that spans virtual machines, physical servers, and containers. In this session, we’ll demonstrate how to deploy SQL Server containers across Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and other Kubernetes platforms using the DH2i operator. We’ll be hopefully joined by a customer, who will share their experience running this stack in production, along with co-speakers from DH2i and Red Hat Engineering.
Seamless migration journey to Azure SQL for Arc enabled SQL ServersSQLBits 2025
With Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server, migration to Azure SQL is no longer fragmented. Organizations can now streamline discovery, assessment, and migration from Azure Arc experience —whether you're modernizing on-premises, in hybrid environments, or across multicloud estates. In this session, we’ll explore how Azure Arc transforms SQL Server migration into a seamless, secure, and scalable experience.
In this session you’ll learn how to:
• Automatically discover and assess SQL Server instances using Azure Migrate and Arc agents.
• Perform continuous readiness assessments and receive SKU recommendations directly within the Arc experience.
• Execute near-zero downtime migrations using Distributed Availability Group and Log shipping technology.
• Manage, govern, and secure your SQL estate post-migration using Azure-native tools.
This session is ideal for database administrators, cloud architects, and IT leaders looking to modernize their SQL infrastructure with minimal disruption and maximum insight. Join us to see how Microsoft’s latest innovations in Arc and migration tooling can help you confidently move your SQL workloads to Azure.
Zero to Hero with SQL Server on Linux - DBA & DevelopersSQLBits 2024
This is a demo filled session where we talk about SQL Server on Linux. We start with basics like using Ansible scripts to deploy SQL Server on Linux, configure best practices to run SQL Server on Linux and also talk about advanced options like configuring performance best practices and HA/DR solutions for SQL Server. Finally, we will discuss the latest news about SQL Server on Linux coming hot from the Microsoft product team.
SQL Server Containers & Kubernetes - Going to Production!SQLBits 2024
Are you a Database Administrator, DevOps engineer, Cloud Architect or a Developer looking to modernize your data estate and build a true hybrid data estate that does not restrict your choice of deployment? Then this session is for you, learn how you can crawl, walk and run with SQL Server containers in Kubernetes!!
Meet the PG : SQL Server on Linux/ContainersSQLBits 2024
We are here to answer any questions that you might have about SQL Server on Linux/Containers or Kubernetes. If you have questions or you are inquisitive to know what's happening in the SQL on Linux side of the world we will be here to take your questions and try answering them.