Microsoft has provided more details about its SQL-Server-on-Linux strategy, a previously unimaginable new coupling that will see Microsoft’s popular database software, SQL Server, appear on Linux operating systems for the first time.

As my SiliconANGLE colleague James Farrell pointed out at the time Microsoft’s decision became public knowledge, the move is firmly aligned with CEO Satya Nadella’s priority to transform the Redmond firm into a seller of ‘services’, as opposed to ‘products’.

In a new blog post, Microsoft’s Takeshi Numoto reveals that SQL Server 2016 will be shipped out later this year, following the launch of the first release candidate this spring. As for SQL Server for Linux, this is being penciled in for a tentative mid-2017 launch date.

Microsoft already started showing off early-stage versions for SQL Server for Linux earlier this month. According to Numoto, SQL Server for Linux will come with the same “core relational database capabilities” as its Windows-oriented cousin, including new “transaction processing and data warehousing” features. The idea is for customers to get started with their deployments as soon as possible, Numoto added.

Once SQL Server for Linux is launched, Microsoft will aim to “prioritize the additional capabilities” via customer feeback.

There’s also a change to the licensing model. Microsoft said that customers who buy an SQL Server license have the option of running it on either Window or Linux. The same offer extends to customers with existing SQL Server licenses who also have Software Assurance.

At the time of Microsoft’s announcement earlier this month, it also took a swing at Oracle by saying its customers could switch to SQL Server free of charge, and Numoto once again reiterated that offer in his blog post.

Image credit: Microsoft