Read SQL Server Backup File on Mac OS X

Solution 1:

Short answer: No.

There is a similar question on Stackoverflow that is somewhat related.

The .bak file is actually two files in one - a .mdf (data) and an .ldf (logs)

If you are somehow able to load the .bak file back into SQL Server you could then export a format that could be read.

Alternatively you can always try opening it in your favourite text editor (eg. TextMate, TextWrangler, BBEdit, emacs, vim, etc.) and see what information you can pull from the file.

Solution 2:

Easiest thing to do is fire up your copy of parallels/vmware fusion or bootcamp with your favourite version of Windows and install SQL Server Express and do a restore.

As long as your database isn't bigger then 4GB you should be ok. If not, get your hands on SQL Server 2008 Developer.

You may have some success with Redgate Data Compare which can read .bak files. You may be able to trick it into generating SQL statements without SQL Server from the .bak, but you'll still need Windows.