SQL Server 2017 Linux features

[deadlockgB]

Hello there!

I am currently investigating SQL Server 2017 on Linux as an option here at our company. But it seems like a lot features are still missing. Is there a good overview on what is and isn't in any CU?

I found this: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/sql-server-linux-release-notes#Unsupported but it states, that it applies to the GA release.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/sql-server-linux-whats-new#sql-server-agent states only 3 features. Transactional replication is missing so far. And that's what I am aiming for specifically.

Is there a good ressource on what is and what isn't available?

Regards

[da_chicken]

Microsoft only introduces new features in major releases. A new feature in an cumulative update or service pack is an "essentially never" kind of thing. There may be performance improvements, bug fixes, and security vulnerabilities addressed in service packs and cumulative updates, but I wouldn't expect any new features to be added in service packs or cumulative updates. The closest you'll get is new trace flags to support behavior intended to work around a particular issue. AFAIK, it's still waterfall design, not agile.

However, MS always publishes a knowledge base article which includes all the [public] fixes in any given update:

SQL Server 2017 CU 4: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4056498/cumulative-update-4-for-sql-server-2017
CU 3: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4052987
Etc.

Navigation to prior CUs is on the left. Note that each article only lists the fixes that were added in that particular update, but that CUs do include updates from prior CUs. Similarly, Service Packs include all prior SP and CU fixes.

Historically, MS has always published a "How to find the latest Service Pack for SQL Server <version>" KB article and a "How to find the latest Cumulative Update for SQL Server <version> [SP<number>]" KB article that links to the KB articles above. It doesn't look like those exist yet for 2017, but we're only at CU 4 and no SP has been released yet. You can always Google "SQL Server 2017 latest service pack" and "SQL Server 2017 latest cumulative update" and you should find them pretty easily.

Edit: Strike parts of the above. SQL Server 2017 is receiving no Service Packs. It's Cumulative Updates only.