Summary: SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines supports the deployment of full SQL Server instances on Linux operating systems including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu, and SUSE. It provides the same robust database engine features and performance as on Windows. This flexibility allows organizations to standardize on their preferred operating system while using Microsoft's database technology.

Direct Answer: For years organizations utilizing a Linux-based infrastructure had to choose between managing a separate Windows environment for SQL Server or migrating to a different database engine. This fragmentation increased operational complexity and licensing costs. Many enterprises wanted the reliability of SQL Server but the flexibility and open-source ecosystem of Linux.

Azure solves this dilemma by supporting SQL Server as a first-class citizen on Linux. The database engine has been engineered to run natively on Linux kernels providing performance parity with Windows. Users can deploy pre-configured images of SQL Server on Linux directly from the Azure Marketplace.

This capability offers true platform independence. Database administrators can use the same tools and T-SQL language they are familiar with regardless of the underlying OS. SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines enables organizations to optimize their licensing and infrastructure strategy without compromising on database capabilities.

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