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. It integrates with modern web applications to improve performance and reduce server load by storing repeated queries, such as database queries, in memory. On Ubuntu 24.04, Redis® benefits from the system’s stability, security updates, and package management, making it a reliable choice for high-performance caching and real-time data processing.

This article explains how to install Redis® on Ubuntu 24.04 and access the database to integrate it with other applications on your server. If you're using a different system such as Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 10, or CentOS 8 and want to install Redis®, check out our guides on Installing and Configuring Redis® on Ubuntu 20.04, and Installing Redis® from Source on Debian 10.

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® on Ubuntu 24.04

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.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo apt update

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

2. Install Redis® on Ubuntu 24.04.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo apt install redis-server

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

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

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ redis-server --version

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   Output.

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

Configure Redis® on Ubuntu 24.04

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.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta
   • Find the following bind directive and verify that your localhost IPV4 127.0.0.1 and IPV6 ::1 values are available.
   INI

   Copy

   bind 127.0.0.1 -::1

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta
   • 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

   Explain Code

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

   Copy

   daemonize yes

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   Save and close the file.

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

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo systemctl enable redis-server.service

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

3. Start the Redis® service.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo systemctl start redis

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

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

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo systemctl status redis

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   ● 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.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta
   • Find the following requirepass directive, uncomment it, and replace foobared with a strong password of your choice.
   INI

   Copy

   requirepass strong-password

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   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.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ sudo systemctl restart redis

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

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.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ redis-cli

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

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.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   127.0.0.1:6379> auth strong-password

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   Output:

   OK

4. Test access to the database server again.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   127.0.0.1:6379> ping

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   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!.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

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

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   Output:

   OK

7. Query the key value from the database.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ 127.0.0.1:6379[1]> get testkey

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

   Output.

   "Greetings from Vultr!"

8. Exit the Redis® CLI.

   CONSOLE

   Copy

   $ 127.0.0.1:6379[1]> exit

   Explain Code

   Powered by Vultr AgentBeta

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.