How to Install Redis on Ubuntu as Easy as Pie?

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Why do we like to store things, whether physical or digital? We enjoy having easy, quick access to them when needed. Think back to the days of old phones with limited memory. Just a few photos or one high-quality video, and you'd get the dreaded "memory full" message. What did developers and engineers do in response? They introduced memory storage devices like external hard drives and expanded memory in phones and laptops. These innovations freed up space, improving both performance and speed. But how about today? Everything has changed now. We have super-fast devices and memory solutions for executing tasks quickly and one of them is Redis! Redis has become a popular solution for developers and organizations due to its ease of use and speed, especially for real-time applications like analytics, caching, and messaging. If you think Redis has something to do with optimizing memory, you're right. In this guide, we tell you how to install Redis on Ubuntu as easy as a pie! Also, we mention how to keep it safe and secure. So, stay with us till the end.

What Is Redis?

So, before you install it, you should know exactly what Redis is. Redis is a robust open-source application that stores and retrieves data faster than you think! Do you remember the traditional databases? They stored data on hard drives. On the other hand, Redis stores data in memory and as a result, it is so much faster to access data. It is very important for some applications to handle lots of data fast, like games, websites, and real-time analytics tools. In this case, the fast speed of Redis has so many benefits. It can improve these apps' performance by shortening the time it takes to get and process data. Redis is not only fast, but also trustworthy and adaptable. It can be used for various purposes, which we mention in the next part.

Redis use cases

Redis is considered a valuable tool due to the wide range of features and use cases that it offers:

Data Structures: Redis supports a variety of data structures, including strings, hashes, lists, sets, sorted sets, and streams, allowing for a wide range of applications.
Lua programming: It allows you to extend Redis's capability by automating difficult activities and creating custom commands.
Persistence: Redis supports different levels of on-disk persistence, allowing you to save your data to disk for long-term storage while maintaining great speed.
High availability: Redis includes features like replication and clustering to enable data redundancy and fault tolerance.
Caching: Redis is commonly used to cache frequently requested data, lowering database load and enhancing application performance.
Session Management: Redis stores session data effectively, resulting in a seamless user experience.
Real-Time Analytics: It is perfect for real-time analytics due to its in-memory data storage and quick processing capabilities.
Message Queues: It offers message queues and pub/sub systems, which allow for efficient communication between application components.
Leaderboards and Rankings: Redis' sorted sets capability is ideal for building real-time leaderboards and rankings on gaming or social media platforms.

Industries That Rely on Redis

Well-known companies such as Twitter, Uber, Amazon, Airbnb, and StackOverflow leverage Redis for its speed, flexibility, and scalability. The other industries that rely on Redis include:

Social Media: Redis is used to manage data streams like user profiles and news feeds.
Online Gaming: Gaming apps use Redis for storing metrics like game scores, player profiles, and leaderboards.
Real-Time Analytics: Redis handles massive data streams for instant analytics and insights.
E-commerce: Redis optimizes the handling of shopping carts, product catalogs, and wish lists for better performance in online stores.

Prerequisites

Before we tell you the Redis installation process, ensure you have the following:

Ubuntu VPS: A Virtual Private Server running Ubuntu 22.04 or later is recommended for optimal performance and compatibility.
SSH Client: A secure shell client like PuTTY or the Terminal app (for Linux/macOS) to connect to your VPS.
VPS Provider (Optional): If you haven't purchased a VPS yet, consider Hostinger's virtual private servers. They offer various plans tailored to different workloads, including the KVM 8 plan for demanding tasks.
Connecting to Your VPS: Once you have your VPS, connect to it using your SSH client. You'll typically need the server's IP address and your SSH credentials.

How To Install Redis on Ubuntu?

Now, it's my turn to begin the installation process, but before that, let’s make sure everything is set up properly. To do that, you should connect to your VPS and make sure you’re using the newer version of Ubuntu (like 22.04 or newer versions). In this tutorial, we mentioned the methods and steps for newer versions and if you’re using the older versions, you may need to use some other commands. And the most important thing, don’t forget to make a backup of your important data before making any big change to your VPS. So, you'll have a backup plan if something goes wrong. Let's get started.

1- Install Redis Server

Once connected to your server via SSH, follow these steps to install Redis. It’s a good practice to create a superuser account instead of using the default root account to minimize accidental command execution risks. First, create a new user:

adduser your-username

Set the password and provide any additional information. Now, grant this user sudo privileges:

usermod -aG sudo your-username

Switch to the new user:

su your-username

Go to the home directory:

cd

Update your system repository to ensure you install the latest software version:

sudo apt update

Now, install Redis:

sudo apt install redis

Check the installed Redis CLI version to verify the installation:

redis-cli --version

Ensure the Redis service is active by checking its status:

sudo systemctl status redis

If Redis isn’t running, start it manually:

sudo systemctl start redis

Enable Redis to start automatically after a reboot:

sudo systemctl enable redis

2- Configure Redis

By default, Redis listens to all IP connections, which can pose a security risk. To bind Redis only to specific IP addresses (like localhost), modify the `redis.conf` file:

sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf

Locate the line:

bind 127.0.0.1 ::1

Specify the IP addresses Redis should bind to, separating multiple addresses with spaces. Make sure the localhost address (`127.0.0.1`) is included for testing purposes.

To enhance security, enable password authentication by modifying the `requirepass` directive:

requirepass your-secure-password

Save and exit, then restart Redis to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart redis

3- Check Redis Functionality

To confirm Redis is working, connect using the CLI:

redis-cli

Authenticate with the password set in the configuration file:

auth your-secure-password

Test connectivity with a ping:

ping

You should receive a `PONG` response. To test caching, store and retrieve a test message:

set test "Redis is working"

get test

Quit the shell:

quit

4- Rename Dangerous Commands

Redis includes several commands that can be potentially destructive. To improve security, you can rename or disable these commands. For example, renaming `FLUSHALL` to `IWANTTO_FLUSHALL`:

rename-command FLUSHALL IWANTTO_FLUSHALL

Disable a command by setting its new name to an empty string:

rename-command FLUSHALL ""

Save and restart Redis to apply these changes.

5- Maintaining Redis

To ensure Redis runs smoothly, follow these maintenance tips:

Regular backups: Enable automatic backups or create snapshots using Redis’s `SAVE` command.
Monitor performance: Use tools like Prometheus or Grafana to track memory, CPU usage, and latency.
Security updates: Regularly update Redis by running `apt update && apt upgrade`.
Security controls: Enable password authentication, configure SSL, and set up firewalls for additional protection.

By following these practices, you can maintain Redis and ensure it remains performant and secure.

Conclusion

So, before reading this blog post, you might be looking to improve application performance, implement real-time analytics, or build scalable systems. Now, Redis, this game-changer tool, can help you with those. In this guide, we tried to teach you how to install Redis on Ubuntu. Now, you can do it easily and enjoy its perfect features like exceptional speed, flexibility, and reliability. These features make it a valuable tool for any use case. Now, Redis is so popular among developers because of its in-memory data storage, efficient data structures, and strong features.

Category: Ubuntu