Redis is an in-memory data structure store used as a cache, message broker, and database. Redis 8 introduces improved memory efficiency, better persistence options, and enhanced cluster management. This guide installs and secures Redis 8 on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

Tested and valid on:

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Prerequisites

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS server
  • A user with sudo privileges

Step 1 – Install Redis

sudo apt update
sudo apt install redis-server -y

Step 2 – Configure Redis

Edit the Redis config to use systemd supervision and set a password:

sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf

Set:

supervised systemd
requirepass YourStrongRedisPass2026!

Step 3 – Start and Enable Redis

sudo systemctl restart redis-server
sudo systemctl enable redis-server
sudo systemctl status redis-server

Step 4 – Test Redis Connection

redis-cli
AUTH YourStrongRedisPass2026!
PING
SET testkey 'Hello Redis 8'
GET testkey
exit

Step 5 – Bind to Localhost Only

Confirm Redis only listens on localhost (default, but verify):

grep '^bind' /etc/redis/redis.conf

Step 6 – Tune Memory Usage

Set a maximum memory limit and eviction policy:

sudo nano /etc/redis/redis.conf

Add:

maxmemory 256mb
maxmemory-policy allkeys-lru
sudo systemctl restart redis-server

Step 7 – Allow Remote Access (optional)

Only do this on a private network. Edit bind address and open UFW:

bind 0.0.0.0
sudo ufw allow 6379/tcp

Conclusion

Redis 8 is installed and secured on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Use it as a session cache for PHP/Laravel applications, a Celery broker for Python, or a pub/sub messaging layer — Redis dramatically speeds up data-intensive workloads.