We need to install FreeTDS: "FreeTDS is a set of libraries for Unix and Linux that allows your programs to natively talk to Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase databases."

$ sudo apt-get install freetds-dev

We have to define an "interface" for the Microsoft SQL Server in the FreeTDS "interfaces" file /etc/freetds/freetds.conf.

# talend interface is bound to an MS SQL Server 2000
[talend]
       host = talend-dbms
       port = 1433
       tds version = 8.0

Installation of SQSH, an SQL shell compatible with Sybase and SQL Server.

$ sudo apt-get install sqsh

Final step, use SQSH to connect to your interface.

$ sqsh -Uusername -Ppassword -Stalend
[...]
1> select count(*) from sales;
2> \go
 
 -----------
        1000
 
(1 row affected)
1> quit

Links: