GitHub user dosubot[bot] added a comment to the discussion: Unable to Connect
SQL Server Database in Apache Superset
<!-- Answer -->
The error means Superset can't find or load the required SQL Server driver in
your environment. This is common in recent Docker images, where drivers like
`pymssql` or `pyodbc` are no longer included by default. Even if you installed
`pymssql`, it may not work reliably on modern Python or Debian images due to
compatibility issues with SQLAlchemy 2.x and Python ≥3.10.
The recommended solution is to switch to the `pyodbc` driver and ensure both
the Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 and the `pyodbc` Python package are installed in
your Superset image. Here’s how you can do it:
1. **Update your Dockerfile** (for Debian 12/bookworm):
```dockerfile
FROM apache/superset:latest
USER root
RUN apt-get update && \
apt-get install -y build-essential libpq-dev unixodbc-dev curl gnupg2 &&
\
curl -sSL https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg
--dearmor > /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/microsoft.gpg && \
curl -sSL https://packages.microsoft.com/config/debian/12/prod.list -o
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/mssql-release.list && \
apt-get update && \
ACCEPT_EULA=Y apt-get install -y msodbcsql18 && \
pip install --no-cache-dir pyodbc && \
apt-get clean
USER superset
```
[Reference](https://github.com/apache/superset/issues/36183#issuecomment-3552040461)
2. **Rebuild your Docker image and restart Superset**.
3. **Use the correct SQLAlchemy connection string** for SQL Server with pyodbc,
making sure the ODBC string is URL-encoded once (not double-encoded):
```
mssql+pyodbc:///?odbc_connect=Driver%3D%7BODBC+Driver+18+for+SQL+Server%7D%3BServer%3D<your_server>%3BDatabase%3D<your_db>%3BUid%3D<your_user>%3BPwd%3D<your_password>%3BEncrypt%3Dyes%3BTrustServerCertificate%3Dno%3BConnection%20Timeout%3D30%3B
```
[Reference](https://github.com/apache/superset/discussions/33957#discussioncomment-13640505)
4. **Verify driver installation** by running `python -c "import pyodbc;
print(pyodbc.drivers())"` inside your container. You should see `ODBC Driver 18
for SQL Server` in the output.
If you still have issues, please share your exact connection string and clarify
if you’re running Superset in Docker, Kubernetes, or another environment. Also,
check the Superset logs for any additional stacktrace details.
Let me know if you need a sample Dockerfile for Ubuntu 22.04 or further
troubleshooting steps!
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[](https://app.dosu.dev/a28d3c7e-a9d3-459e-9fb6-3a6f9ff4f357/ask?utm_source=github) [](https://cursor.com/link/prompt?text=The%20error%20means%20Superset%20can%27t%20find%20or%20load%20the%20required%20SQL%20Server%20driver%20in%20your%20environment.%20This%20is%20common%20in%20recent%20Docker%20images%2C%20where%20drivers%20like%20%60pymssql%60%20or%20%60pyodbc%60%20are%20no%20longer%20included%20by%20default.%20Even%20if%20you%20installed%20%60pymssql%60%2C%20it%20may%20not%20work%20reliably%20on%20modern%20Python%20or%20Debian%20images%20due%20to%20compatibility%20issues%20with%20SQLAlchemy%202.x%20and%20Python%20%E2%89%A53.10.%20%0A%0AThe%20recommended%20solution%20is%20to%20switch%20to%20the%20%60pyodbc%60%20driver%20and%20ensure%20both%20the%20Microsoft%20ODBC%20Driver%2018%20and%20the%20%60pyodbc%60%20Python%20package%20are%20installed%20in%20your%20Superset%20imag
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tallation%2A%2A%20by%20running%20%60python%20-c%20%22import%20pyodbc%3B%20print%28pyodbc.drivers%28%29%29%22%60%20inside%20your%20container.%20You%20should%20see%20%60ODBC%20Driver%2018%20for%20SQL%20Server%60%20in%20the%20output.%0A%0AIf%20you%20still%20have%20issues%2C%20please%20share%20your%20exact%20connection%20string%20and%20clarify%20if%20you%E2%80%99re%20running%20Superset%20in%20Docker%2C%20Kubernetes%2C%20or%20another%20environment.%20Also%2C%20check%20the%20Superset%20logs%20for%20any%20additional%20stacktrace%20details.%0A%0ALet%20me%20know%20if%20you%20need%20a%20sample%20Dockerfile%20for%20Ubuntu%2022.04%20or%20further%20troubleshooting%20steps%21) [](https://go.dosu.dev/discord-bot) [](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%40dosu_ai%20helped%20me%20solve%20this%20issue!&url=https%3A//github.com/apache/superse
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GitHub link:
https://github.com/apache/superset/discussions/37650#discussioncomment-15687803
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