title: How do I connect a kubernetes cluster to an external SQL Server database using docker desktop?
body: <p>I need to know how to connect my Kubernetes cluster to an external SQL Server  database running in a docker image outside of the Kubernetes cluster. </p>
  
  <p>I currently have two pods in my cluster that are running, each has a different image in it created from asp.net core applications. There is a completely separate (outside of Kubernetes but running locally on my machine localhost,1433) docker image that hosts a SQL Server database. I need the applications in my Kubernetes pods to be able to reach and manipulate that database. I have tried creating a YAML file and configuring different ports but I do not know how to get this working, or how to test that it actually is working after setting it up. I need the exact steps/commands to create a service capable of routing a connection from the images in my cluster to the DB and back.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Docker SQL Server creation (elevated powershell/docker desktop):</p>
  
  <pre><code>docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2017-latest
  
  docker run -d -p 1433:1433 --name sql -v "c:/Temp/DockerShared:/host_mount" -e SA_PASSWORD="aPasswordPassword" -e ACCEPT_EULA=Y mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2017-latest
  </code></pre></li>
  <li><p>definitions.yaml</p>
  
  <pre><code>#Pods in the cluster
  apiVersion: v1
  kind: Pod
  metadata:
    name: pod-1
    labels:
      app: podnet
      type: module
  spec:
    containers:
     - name: container1
       image: username/image1
  
  ---
  
  apiVersion: v1
  kind: Pod
  metadata:
    name: pod-2
    labels:
      app: podnet
      type: module
  spec:
    containers:
     - name: container2
       image: username/image2
  
  ---
  #Service created in an attempt to contact external SQL Server DB
  apiVersion: v1
  kind: Service
  metadata:
   name: ext-sql-service
  spec:
   ports:
   - port: 1433
     targetPort: 1433
  type: ClusterIP
  ---
  apiVersion: v1
  kind: Endpoints
  metadata:
   name: ext-sql-service
  subsets:
   - addresses:
       - ip: (Docker IP for DB Instance)
     ports:
       - port: 1433
  </code></pre></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Ideally I would like applications in my kubernetes cluster to be able to manipulate the SQL Server I already have set up (running outside of the cluster but locally on my machine).</p>