When using SQL Server, you can use the sys.dm_os_host_info system dynamic management view to return the operating system that SQL Server is running on.

This view includes a column called host_platform which contains the type of operating system: Windows or Linux

Example 1 – Return Just the ‘host_platform’ Column

Here’s an example to demonstrate.

SELECT host_platform
FROM sys.dm_os_host_info;

Result:

+-----------------+
| host_platform   |
|-----------------|
| Linux           |
+-----------------+

Example 2 – Return All Columns

Of course, you can also return all columns. Here’s what that looks like on my system.

SELECT * FROM sys.dm_os_host_info;

Here it is using vertical output (so you don’t have to scroll sideways):

host_platform           | Linux
host_distribution       | Ubuntu
host_release            | 16.04
host_service_pack_level | 
host_sku                | NULL
os_language_version     | 0