Can Microsoft SQL Server be installed on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS?
Supported

No, Microsoft only supports 16.04 LTS. The version that's two years old.

Installation



In order to install SQL Server on Ubuntu whether new or old, I suggest installing it as a chroot. To do that first install debchroot, and then use that utility to set up a chroot.

sudo apt install debchroot
sudo debootstrap --arch=amd64 xenial /opt/mschroot http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/


You'll have to --bind mount your host's /proc

sudo mount --bind /proc /opt/mschroot/proc


Now jump into your chroot

sudo chroot /opt/mschroot


And set out to configure it,

apt update

## Add the Universe Repository (needed https://dba.stackexchange.com/q/212868/2639)
apt install wget software-properties-common apt-transport-https
sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc) universe"
apt update

## Add Microsoft Repository
wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | sudo apt-key add -
add-apt-repository "$(wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/config/ubuntu/16.04/mssql-server-2017.list)"
apt update

## Configuration complete begin install
apt install -y mssql-server


Then configure it, (use option 2 for Developer)

/opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf setup


You'll have to pick a password, note for reasons unexplained The password must be at least 8 characters long and contain characters from three of the following four sets: Uppercase letters, Lowercase letters, Base 10 digits, and Symbols.. I suggest everyone use MICROSOFTsucksH4RD, as it satisfies that. Lastly, don't forget to disable the spyware.

/opt/mssql/bin/mssql-conf set telemetry.customerfeedback false