---
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title: Use the Sqlcmd command-line utility on Linux - SQL Server vNext CTP1 | Microsoft Docs
description: This tutorial shows how to run sqlcmd on Linux to run Transact-SQL queries.
author: rothja 
ms.author: jroth 
manager: jhubbard
ms.date: 11/12/2016
ms.topic: article
ms.prod: sql-linux
ms.technology: database-engine
ms.assetid: 9e6c1ae1-59a4-4589-b839-18d6a52f2676

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---
# Use the Sqlcmd command-line utility on Linux

This topic shows how to use [sqlcmd](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/ms162773.aspx) to connect to SQL Server vNext CTP1 on Linux. 

After successfully connecting, you run a simple Transact-SQL (T-SQL) query to verify communication with the database.

## Install the SQL Server command-line tools

Sqlcmd is part of the SQL Server command-line tools, which are not installed automatically with SQL Server on Linux. If you have not already installed the SQL Server command-line tools on your Linux machine, you must install them. For more information on how to install the tools, select your Linux distribution from the following drop-down list.

> [!div class="op_single_selector"]
- [Ubuntu](sql-server-linux-setup-ubuntu.md#tools)
- [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](sql-server-linux-setup-red-hat.md#tools)
- [Docker](sql-server-linux-setup-docker.md#tools)

## Connect to SQL Server on Linux

The following steps show how to connect to SQL Server vNext on Linux with sqlcmd.

1. On your Linux box, open a command terminal.

2. Run **sqlcmd** with parameters for your SQL Server instance name (-H), the user name (-U), and the password (-P). 

    The following command connects to the local SQL Server instance (**localhost**) on Linux.

        sqlcmd -H localhost -U SA -P password

    > [!TIP]
    > You can omit the password on the command-line to be prompted to enter it manually.

    If you are connecting to a remote instance, specify the machine name or IP address. 

        sqlcmd -H 192.555.5.555 -U SA -P password

    > [!TIP]
    > If you get a connection failure, first attempt to diagnose the problem from the error message. Then review the [connection troubleshooting recommendations](sql-server-linux-connect-and-query.md#troubleshoot).

## Run sample queries

After you connect to your server, you can connect to a database and run a sample query. If you are new to writing queries, see [Writing Transact-SQL Statements](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/ms365303.aspx).

1. Identify a database to use to run a query against. This could be a new database you created in the [Transact-SQL tutorial](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/ms365303.aspx). Or it could be the **AdventureWorks** sample database that you [downloaded and restored](sql-server-linux-restore-database.md).

2. At the sqlcmd prompt, change the context to your target database. The following Transact-SQL statement changes the context to the **AdventureWorks** database.

        USE AdventureWorks

3. On a new line type **GO**, and press enter.

        GO

2. Next, write a Transact-SQL query to select data from one of the tables. You can press enter between lines of your query. The following example selects data from the **Production.Product** table of the **AdventureWorks** database.

        SELECT TOP 10 Name, ProductNumber
        FROM Production.Product
        ORDER BY Name ASC

3. Then type **GO** and press enter.

4. The results output to the command window.

	![Success. Connect to SQL Database server: SQL Server Management Studio](./media/sql-server-linux-develop-use-sqlcmd/execute-query.png)

5. Type **exit** and press enter to quit sqlcmd. 

## Run a Transact-SQL Script

You can also use sqlcmd to run Transact-SQL script files. Use the following steps to run a script.

1. In a Linux command terminal, use **vi** to create a new script file named sqlscript.sql.

        vi sqlscript.sql

2. In the **vi** editor, press **i** to enter INSERT mode.

        i

3. Enter the same Transact-SQL commands from the previous example.

        USE AdventureWorks
        GO

        SELECT TOP 10 Name, ProductNumber
        FROM Production.Product
        ORDER BY Name ASC

4. Press the Escape key to exit INSERT mode.

5. Press **:x** to save and exit **vi**.

        :x

6. At the prompt, run sqlcmd with the sqlscript.sql file as an input file.

        sqlcmd -H localhost -U SA -P password -i sqlscript.sql

7. You should see 10 rows returned in the output window. Instead of staying at the sqlcmd prompt, you return immediately to the terminal prompt.

> [!NOTE]
> You can also send the output to a file with the **-o** parameter.
>
> **sqlcmd -H localhost -U SA -P password -i sqlscript.sql -o output.txt**

# Next Steps

In addition to queries, you can use T-SQL statements to create and manage databases.

If you're new to T-SQL, see [Tutorial: Writing Transact-SQL Statements](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/ms365303.aspx) and the [Transact-SQL Reference (Database Engine)](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/bb510741.aspx).

For more information on how to use sqlcmd.exe, see [sqlcmd Utility](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/ms162773.aspx).