Run SAP ASE Express Edition in a Docker Container

Download

SAP ASE Evaluation Install

You have to create a free SAP account in order to download the tarball. The evaluation install allows you to select the "Express Edition". SAP ASE Express Edition for Linux x86-64 is a free, full use license available for use on up to 4 engines and 50 GB databases.

https://www.sap.com/cmp/td/sap-ase-enterprise-edition-trial.html

SAP JVM 8 for 64-bit Linux

Although the JRE comes packaged with the evaluation install, it didn't work

https://tools.hana.ondemand.com/#cloud

https://tools.hana.ondemand.com/additional/sapjvm-8.1.088-linux-x64.zip

Build and Run Docker Container

Note Before You Start

The file install_response.txt contains all of the installation responses needed to run a silent installation. You can edit the admin password in that file, which is defaulted to password.

If you want a different starting installation, you need to generate a new response file. Remove the execution of setup.bin from the Dockerfile and then run the image in interactive shell mode.

Linux installation instructions are here: https://help.sap.com/viewer/23c3bb4a29be443ea887fa10871a30f8/LATEST/en-US/a6612e5fbc2b10149d8a80b52f34dc5a.html

Build Image

sudo docker build -t <image-name-of-your-choice>.

Run Image in Interactive Shell Mode

sudo docker run --hostname 127.0.0.1 -p127.0.0.1:5001:5000 -it <image-name> /bin/sh

SAP ASE will not be running unless you run the start script /opt/sap/start_SYBASE.sh

Run Image with SAP ASE Running

sudo docker run --hostname 127.0.0.1 -p127.0.0.1:5001:5000 <image-name>

Internally, SAP ASE runs on port 5000, but you can change the externally facing port on your host machine

-p127.0.0.1:5001:5000

Create a Reusable and Writable Container

Create the container

sudo docker create --name <container-name-of-your-choice> --hostname 127.0.0.1 -p127.0.0.1:<port-of-your-choice>:5000 <image-name>

Start the container

sudo docker container start <container-name>

Stop the container

sudo docker container stop <container-name>

By design, running an image creates an ephemeral container. By creating an explicit container, any objects added to the SAP ASE database server will persist and be available the next time you start the container.

Get the JDBC Client Library

The container must be running in order to copy out the jConnect library

sudo docker cp <container-name>:/opt/sap/jConnect-16_0/classes/jconn4.jar .

JDBC Connection String

jdbc:jtds:sybase://127.0.0.1:<container-port>/master

User: sa

Password: password