SQL Server on Windows Containers support is on an indefinite freeze

The beta program is being put on ice for the "foreseeable future."

What you need to know

• Microsoft's SQL Server on Windows Containers Beta program has been going since 2017.
• The program is now being suspended indefinitely.
• Related docker hub repos and the tags within said repos have been hit with deletion as a result.

Are you a fan of SQL Server on Linux containers? If so, you're in luck because that Microsoft offering isn't going anywhere. On the flip side, the SQL Server on Windows Containers Beta program is being suspended indefinitely.

Not only that, but two docker hub repositories, "microsoft/mssql-server-windows-express" and "microsoft/mssql-server-windows-developer," along with these repositories' tags, have been deleted. Images from the repos won't be available, either.

Here's an excerpt from Microsoft's announcement on the matter, quoted verbatim:

"As you may be aware, the SQL Server on Windows Containers Beta program began in 2017. It has remained in Beta mode meant for only test and development environment until now. Due to the existing ecosystem challenges and usage patterns we have decided to suspend the SQL Server on Windows Containers beta program for foreseeable future. Should the circumstances change, we will revisit the decision at appropriate time and make relevant announcement."

This has concerned some users, such as David Gardiner, who commented on the Microsoft post to voice a request for not deleting the repos. "Could you please not delete those repos and images?" Gardiner asked. "That is going to break stuff. Folks have builds that depend on these images. At least give some warning rather than 'immediate effect'."

As for Microsoft operations and products that are at no risk of having their support cut off anytime soon, there's always Windows 11 if you want to explore our coverage of Microsoft's newest operating system.