SQL Server

Q: Where does SQL Server store its log files on Linux?

SQL Server logs to /var/opt/mssql/log/ERRORLOG on Linux. 2 other Linux log locations are recorded below.

7 log locations · Windows, Linux

MSSQL16 = SQL Server 2022. Use 15 for 2019, 14 for 2017. Named instance: MSSQL16.<InstanceName>.
Docker: docker logs <container_id>.
SSIS executions live in the SSISDB catalog: SSMS > right-click project > Reports > All Executions.

Where SQL Server keeps its logs

SQL Server logs to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG on Windows. 3 other Windows log locations are recorded below.

SQL Server logs to /var/opt/mssql/log/ERRORLOG on Linux. 2 other Linux log locations are recorded below.

Paths are printed exactly as SQL Server writes them. Environment variables like %LOCALAPPDATA% and $XDG_STATE_HOME are never expanded, so a path can be pasted straight into a shell. Where a path differs between installer types or shipping flavours, each one is racked as its own card below - why that happens.

Finding your way around Windows and Linux.

WIN

SQL Server - Windows

Microsoft Corporation

engine error log, default instanceC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG

SQL AgentC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\SQLAGENT.OUT

setup/patching; read Summary.txt firstC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\<VersionNumber>\Setup Bootstrap\Log\

PolyBaseC:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\Polybase\

Wrong path? Add a variant

LNX

SQL Server - Linux

Microsoft Corporation

engine error log (same path inside Docker)/var/opt/mssql/log/ERRORLOG

SQL Agent/var/opt/mssql/log/sqlagent.out

setup/var/opt/mssql/setup.log

Wrong path? Add a variant