SQL Data Compare 15

Using the command line on Linux

SQL Data Compare Command Line can now be used on Linux, and is available through Docker Hub.

To access the Linux command line directly, grab the latest from our download site.

Differences from Windows

  • The backslash '\' is an escape character in bash.  You should therefore specify the server as /server1:Widget_Server\\SQL2008 when using the Linux commandline.
  • The filesystem in a container is isolated from the rest of the system.  You should use --mount to pass directories through to SQL Data Compare, for example when working with scripts folders and project files.
  • The container is also separate from your host machine in terms of network addresses.  You should use the name or IP address of your host machine instead of localhost when connecting to local SQL instances.
  • You should ensure you run docker commands as a member of the docker group (or alternatively as root).
  • Our license can be found at https://www.red-gate.com/support/license/.  You will need to indicate that you accept it with the /IAgreeToTheEULA switch.
  • Active Directory authentication is not supported on Linux.
  • Static data may work, but is not currently well tested on Linux.


Note; the product will expire 180 days after it was built, so please ensure you keep up to date with a recent version to avoid any issues.

Example commands to run SQL Data Compare through Docker on Linux

To compare a live database to an empty target

docker run --rm --interactive --tty \
    redgate/sqldatacompare:14 /IAgreeToTheEULA \
    /s1:my-server\\sql2019 /db1:my-database /u1:sa /p1:my-password /empty2

To generate a creation script for a live database

docker run --rm --interactive --tty \
    --mount type=bind,src=/home/me,dst=/scripts \
    redgate/sqldatacompare:14 /IAgreeToTheEULA \
    /s1:my-server\\sql2019 /db1:my-database /u1:sa /p1:my-password /empty2 /scriptfile:"/scripts/script.sql"

To compare a live database to a scripts folder

docker run --rm --interactive --tty \
    --mount type=bind,src=/home/me/scriptsfolder,dst=/scriptsfolder \
    redgate/sqldatacompare:14 /IAgreeToTheEULA \
    /s1:my-server\\sql2019 /db1:my-database /u1:sa /p1:my-password /scripts2:"/scriptsfolder"

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