---
title: How to Install and Configure Redis on Linux Servers
description: "### What is Redis? Redis (Remote Dictionary Server) is an open-source, in-memory data structure store that can be used as a database, cache, and message broker. Known for its high performance, Redis supports data structures like strings, hashes, lists, sets,…"
url: "https://truehost.com/support/knowledge-base/how-to-install-and-configure-redis-on-linux-servers/"
updated: "2024-11-02"
category: Cloud servers in Kenya
---

# How to Install and Configure Redis on Linux Servers

### What is Redis?

Redis (Remote Dictionary Server) is an open-source, in-memory data structure store that can be used as a database, cache, and message broker. Known for its high performance, Redis supports data structures like strings, hashes, lists, sets, and more. It’s often used for applications requiring fast data retrieval, caching, real-time analytics, and session management.

### Prerequisites

Before installing Redis, ensure that:

1. **You have a Linux server** – Redis can be installed on distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and RHEL.
2. **Your server is updated** – Run system updates to ensure all packages are current.
3. **Basic command-line knowledge** – Familiarity with Linux commands will be helpful.

### Step 1: Update the Package Repository

Update your system’s package list to make sure you have access to the latest version of Redis:

##### **For Ubuntu/Debian**

```
sudo apt update
```

##### **For CentOS/RHEL**

```
sudo yum update
```

### Step 2: Install Redis

Redis is available through the default repositories on most Linux distributions, so you can install it directly using your package manager.

##### **On Ubuntu/Debian:**

```
sudo apt install redis-server -y
```

#### On CentOS/RHEL:

1. **Install EPEL Repository** (if not already installed):

```
sudo yum install epel-release -y
```

2. **Install Redis**:

```
sudo yum install redis -y
```

### Step 3: Configure Redis

The main configuration file for Redis is usually located at `/etc/redis/redis.conf` on Debian-based systems or `/etc/redis.conf` on Red Hat-based systems. Here are some common configurations you may want to adjust:

1. **Enable Persistence**: Redis stores data in memory, but you can enable data persistence to save it to disk.

- Open the configuration file:

```
sudo vi /etc/redis/redis.conf
```

- Locate the `appendonly` setting and set it to `yes`:

```
appendonly yes
```

2. **Set up a Password**: For security, set a password to protect your Redis instance.

- In the `redis.conf` file, locate `requirepass` and set a strong password:

```
requirepass YourStrongPassword
```

3. **Configure Network Binding**: By default, Redis binds to `localhost`. To allow access from other hosts, modify the `bind` setting in the configuration file:

```
bind 0.0.0.0
```

- **Note**: Enabling remote access requires strong security measures, such as firewalls and passwords.

4. **Set a Memory Limit**: Redis allows you to define a maximum memory usage, which can be helpful if you’re using it as a cache

- Set the memory limit by adding or updating the following lines in the configuration file:

```
maxmemory 256mbmaxmemory-policy allkeys-lru
```

5. **Define Save Intervals**: Redis can periodically save data to disk based on specific intervals.

- You can set save intervals in the configuration file like this:

```
save 900 1save 300 10save 60 10000
```

### Step 4: Start and Enable Redis

Once configured, start the Redis service and enable it to start at boot:

```
sudo systemctl start redis

sudo systemctl enable redis
```

To verify that Redis is running:

```
sudo systemctl status redis
```

### Step 5: Testing Redis

1. **Connect to Redis CLI**: Use the Redis CLI to connect to the Redis server.

```
redis-cli
```

2. **Authenticate** (if you set a password):

```
AUTH YourStrongPassword
```

3. **Ping the Server**: Test the connection by running:

```
ping
```

### Step 6: Enable Redis for External Access (Optional)

If you plan to access Redis from outside the server (e.g., for use with a web application hosted elsewhere), ensure the Redis port (6379) is open in your firewall:

```
# For UFW (on Ubuntu)
sudo ufw allow 6379

# For firewalld (on CentOS/RHEL)
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=6379/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload
```

**Warning**: Allowing external access to Redis without proper security settings is risky. Always use strong passwords, configure firewalls, or set up a VPN for secure access.

### Step 7: Verify the Installation

You can access Redis from your local or remote setup by running:

```
redis-cli -h -p 6379
```

### Final Word

Redis is now installed and configured on your Linux server. You’ve set up basic security, enabled persistence, and adjusted network and memory settings for optimal performance.