How to Install Redis® on Ubuntu 24.04

Introduction

Redis® (Remote Dictionary Server) is an open-source, in-memory, key-value data store, that works as a database, cache, or message broker. Redis® integrates with modern web applications to improve the application performance and reduce your server load by storing repeated queries such as database queries in memory. This article explains how to install Redis® on Ubuntu 24.04 and access the database to enable integration with other applications on your server.

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

• Deploy an Ubuntu 24.04 server on Vultr

• Access the server using SSH as a non-root user with sudo privileges.

Install Redis®

Redis® is available in the default package repositories on Ubuntu 24.04. Follow the steps below to install the latest Redis® package on your server.

1. Update the server's package index.

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   $ sudo apt update
   

2. Install Redis®.

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   $ sudo apt install redis-server
   

3. View the installed Redis® version on your server.

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   $ redis-server --version
   

   Output.

   Redis server v=7.0.15 sha=00000000:0 malloc=jemalloc-5.3.0 bits=64 build=d81b8ff71cfb150e

Configure Redis®

Redis® listens for connection requests on the default localhost port 6379 on your server. In the following steps, configure Redis® to increase the default database limit and accept connections on your localhost 127.0.0.1 address.

1. Open the main Redis® configuration file using a text editor such as nano.

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   $ sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf
   

   • Find the following bind directive and verify that your localhost IPV4 127.0.0.1 and IPV6 ::1 values are available.
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   bind 127.0.0.1 -::1
   

   • Find the port directive and verify the default Redis® port or modify it to a custom TCP port available on your server.
   ini Copy

   port 6379
   

   • Find the following daemonize directive and verify that it's set to yes to enable the Redis® service on your server.
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   daemonize yes
   

   Save and close the file.

2. Enable the Redis® server to automatically start at boot time.

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   $ sudo systemctl enable redis-server.service
   

3. Start the Redis® service.

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   $ sudo systemctl start redis
   

4. View the Redis® server status and verify it's running.

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   $ sudo systemctl status redis
   

   ● redis-server.service - Advanced key-value store
       Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/redis-server.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
       Active: active (running) since Thu 2024-06-27 15:28:45 UTC; 1h 21min ago
         Docs: http://redis.io/documentation,
               man:redis-server(1)
     Main PID: 16918 (redis-server)
       Status: "Ready to accept connections"
         Tasks: 5 (limit: 2269)
       Memory: 3.3M (peak: 3.8M)
           CPU: 8.034s
       CGroup: /system.slice/redis-server.service
               └─16918 "/usr/bin/redis-server 0.0.0.0:6379"

Secure Redis®

Redis® does not require authentication by default which enables unrestricted access for system users to available databases on the server. In the following steps, enable authentication to secure your Redis® server and only accept authorized user access.

1. Open the main Redis® configuration file.

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   $ sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf
   

   • Find the following requirepass directive, uncomment it, and replace foobared with a strong password of your choice.
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   requirepass strong-password
   

   Save and close the file.

   The above configuration enables authentication on your Redis® server using the specified user password. Uncomment the aclfile directive to enable multiple users with unique passwords authorized to access your Redis® server.

2. Restart the Redis® server to apply your configuration changes.

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   $ sudo systemctl restart redis
   

Access the Redis® Server

The Redis® server accepts connection requests using the redis-cli utility or compatible application modules on your server. In the following steps, access the Redis® server and test access write sample data to the default database to test your server configurations.

1. Connect to the Redis® server.

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   $ redis-cli
   

2. Test access to the server without authentication.

   127.0.0.1:6379> ping

   Verify that your request fails with the following output:

   (error) NOAUTH Authentication required.

3. Log in to the Redis® server using a valid password set in your configuration. Replace strong-password with the actual password you set earlier.

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   127.0.0.1:6379> auth strong-password
   

   Output:

   OK

4. Test access to the database server again.

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   127.0.0.1:6379> ping
   

   Output:

   PONG

5. Select a database to use on your server. For example 1.

   127.0.0.1:6379> SELECT 1

6. Create a new sample key testkey with a value such as Greetings from Vultr!.

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   $ 127.0.0.1:6379[1]> set testkey "Greetings from Vultr!"
   

   Output:

   OK

7. Query the key value from the database.

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   $ 127.0.0.1:6379[1]> get testkey
   

   Output.

   "Greetings from Vultr!"

8. Exit the Redis® CLI.

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   $ 127.0.0.1:6379[1]> exit
   

Conclusion

You have installed Redis® on your Ubuntu 24.04 server and configured it to accept secure connection requests. You can integrate your Redis® server with your existing web applications to work as a database or cache to optimize your application and server performance. For more information and usage options, visit the official Redis® documentation.