Hello Developers and Linux Enthusiasts,

If you're working on performance-driven applications or need a powerful caching mechanism, Redis is likely already on your radar. Known for its speed and flexibility, Redis is a lightweight, in-memory data store used widely in real-time applications, analytics, session storage, and more. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to install Redis on Ubuntu, specifically Ubuntu 24.04, based on the official step-by-step guide provided by Vultr here:

What is Redis?

Redis (Remote Dictionary Server) is an open-source key-value store that keeps data in memory for fast access. It supports several data types like strings, lists, hashes, sets, and sorted sets. It’s widely used as a cache, message broker, and even a lightweight database.

Use cases include:

Caching frequently accessed data





Session management in web apps





Pub/Sub systems for real-time notifications





Job queues and task distribution





With Redis, your applications can scale efficiently and run with significantly reduced latency.

Prerequisites

Before you begin the installation, ensure that:

You're using Ubuntu 24.04 (fresh or updated install)





You have sudo privileges





Your system is connected to the internet





Step-by-Step: Install Redis on Ubuntu 24.04

Let’s get into the practical steps to install Redis on your Ubuntu machine.

1. Update Your System

Start by updating your system’s package index:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y



This ensures you get the latest package versions and security patches.

2. Install Redis Server

Now, install Redis using the official Ubuntu repository:

sudo apt install redis -y



This command installs Redis along with its dependencies.

3. Enable and Start Redis Service

After installation, make sure Redis is set to run at boot:

sudo systemctl enable redis

sudo systemctl start redis



To check if Redis is running:

sudo systemctl status redis



You should see a status message showing Redis is active (running).

4. Test the Redis Server

To test if Redis is functioning properly:

redis-cli



Once inside the Redis shell, type:

ping



A working server will respond with:

PONG



That’s your confirmation that Redis is ready for use!

Optional: Secure and Configure Redis

By default, Redis is exposed to all network interfaces, which is not recommended for production. Here’s how to secure it:

Bind Redis to Localhost

Open the Redis configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf



Find the line that says:

bind 127.0.0.1 ::1



Ensure it's uncommented so Redis only accepts connections from localhost.

Set a Password

In the same config file, locate:

# requirepass foobared



Uncomment it and change foobared to a strong password:

requirepass YourSecurePassword



Restart Redis to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart redis



Redis Management Commands

Here are some useful systemctl commands for Redis:

Start Redis: sudo systemctl start redis





Stop Redis: sudo systemctl stop redis





Restart Redis: sudo systemctl restart redis





Check status: sudo systemctl status redis





Final Thoughts

Installing Redis on Ubuntu is quick and efficient, especially on the latest 24.04 release. Whether you’re looking to cache responses, manage session data, or build real-time features, Redis gives your system the speed boost it needs. Following the steps from the Vultr Redis install guide, you can be up and running in minutes.

Let me know if you’ve tried installing Redis recently, or if you have any tips on optimizing performance or security settings. Happy coding!