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Installation & Initial Setup

Introduction​

Before you can build powerful applications with Redis, you need a solid, reliable installation and initial server setup. This lesson guides you through the process of installing Redis on various platforms, configuring basic options, running your first Redis server, and verifying your environment. We’ll focus on practical, step-by-step instructions, code examples, and best practices to ensure a smooth start.

Installing Redis​

Redis is supported on Linux, macOS, and Windows (unofficially). Let’s cover the most common installation methods.

Installing on Linux​

Option 1: Using Package Manager (Recommended for Ease)

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install redis-server

For CentOS/RHEL (with EPEL repository enabled):

sudo yum install epel-release
sudo yum install redis

Option 2: Building from Source (Latest Features & Customization)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential tcl  # Prerequisites
wget http://download.redis.io/redis-stable.tar.gz
tar xzf redis-stable.tar.gz
cd redis-stable
make
sudo make install

Then run the built server:

src/redis-server

Note: Building from source is recommended if you need the latest version or want to customize the build.

Installing on macOS​

Using Homebrew:

brew update
brew install redis

Installing on Windows​

Redis doesn't officially support Windows, but you can use Memurai (a Redis-compatible Windows solution) or unofficial builds, or run Redis in WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux).

WSL2 Example:

  1. Install WSL2 and Ubuntu from Microsoft Store.
  2. Use the Linux installation steps inside WSL2.

Verifying the Installation​

Check the installed Redis version:

redis-server --version

Start the Redis server:

redis-server

In another terminal, test the CLI:

redis-cli
127.0.0.1:6379> PING

Output should be:

PONG

Running Redis as a Service​

On most Linux distributions, Redis can run as a managed system service.

Start Redis:

sudo systemctl start redis

Enable Redis to start at boot:

sudo systemctl enable redis

Check status:

sudo systemctl status redis

Stop Redis:

sudo systemctl stop redis

Basic Configuration​

On first install, Redis uses a default configuration file, usually at /etc/redis/redis.conf or /usr/local/etc/redis/redis.conf.

Common Configuration Options​

  • Port: Default is 6379. Change with port 6380.
  • Bind Address: Default is 127.0.0.1. To listen on all interfaces: bind 0.0.0.0
  • supervised: Set to systemd if using systemd-based Linux distributions.

Example (in redis.conf):

port 6380
bind 127.0.0.1
supervised systemd

Restart Redis after changes:

sudo systemctl restart redis

Connecting to Redis​

Using Redis CLI​

redis-cli -p 6379
127.0.0.1:6379> SET mykey "Hello, Redis!"
OK
127.0.0.1:6379> GET mykey
"Hello, Redis!"

Using Python (redis-py)​

Install the client:

pip install redis

Connect and test:

import redis

r = redis.Redis(host='localhost', port=6379, db=0)
r.set('language', 'Python')
print(r.get('language'))  # Output: b'Python'

Initial Security Considerations​

  • Do not bind to 0.0.0.0 in production unless protected by a firewall.
  • Set a password in redis.conf: 
    requirepass your-strong-password
  • Never run Redis as root.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls​

  • Forgetting to restart Redis after configuration changes.
  • Opening Redis to the internet without protection: Never bind to public IPs without authentication and firewall.
  • Running multiple instances on the same port: Each instance must have a unique port.
  • Assuming Redis persists data by default: By default, Redis uses RDB snapshots, but improper shutdowns may cause data loss.

Summary​

  • Redis can be installed via package manager, Homebrew, or from source.
  • Always verify your installation and connectivity.
  • Use the configuration file for basic options (port, bind address, supervision).
  • For production, secure your instance and never expose Redis directly to the internet.
  • Always restart Redis after changing configuration.

Quiz​

1. What is the default port Redis listens on?
A) 8080
B) 6379
C) 11211
D) 3306

Answer: B) 6379

2. Which command verifies if your Redis CLI can communicate with the server?
A) CHECK
B) CONNECT
C) PING
D) STATUS

Answer: C) PING

3. On Linux, which command starts Redis as a service?
A) redis-cli start
B) redis-server --daemonize yes
C) sudo systemctl start redis
D) start redis

Answer: C) sudo systemctl start redis

4. What is a common security mistake during initial setup?
A) Setting a strong password
B) Binding Redis to 0.0.0.0 without a firewall
C) Running Redis on a non-default port
D) Running Redis as a non-root user

Answer: B) Binding Redis to 0.0.0.0 without a firewall

5. Where is the main Redis configuration file usually located on Ubuntu?
A) /usr/local/redis.conf
B) /etc/redis/redis.conf
C) /var/redis/redis.conf
D) /opt/redis/redis.conf

Answer: B) /etc/redis/redis.conf

Congratulations! You’re now ready to move beyond installation and start using Redis in more advanced operational scenarios.