📘 Amazon ElastiCache Redis: Installation & Connection Guide

This is a complete guide for installation and connection to Amazon ElastiCache Redis, covering both local testing with Redis CLI and cloud-based connection via EC2.

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✅ 1. What is ElastiCache Redis?

Amazon ElastiCache for Redis is a fully managed in-memory data store and cache service. It’s widely used to boost web application performance by reducing latency through fast, in-memory data retrieval.

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🔧 2. ElastiCache Redis Setup in AWS

Step 1: Create a Redis Cluster

1. Go to AWS Console → ElastiCache → Redis → Create Cluster

2. Choose:

   • Cluster Mode: Disabled (single node) or Enabled (sharded)
   • Node type: cache.t3.micro (Free tier eligible)
   • Replicas: Optional
   • VPC: Select existing VPC
   • Subnet group: Default or custom
   • Security group: Add inbound port 6379 (from EC2's SG)

3. Enable Redis Auth Token (recommended for security)

4. Click Create

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🧩 3. Allow Access: Security Group Settings

Modify Security Group attached to Redis:

• Inbound Rule:

  • Type: Custom TCP
  • Port: 6379
  • Source: EC2 Security Group or specific IP

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💻 4. Connect from EC2 Instance

Step 1: Launch EC2

• Ensure it’s in the same VPC and subnet as Redis
• Use Amazon Linux 2 or Ubuntu

Step 2: Install Redis CLI

For Amazon Linux / Amazon Linux 2:

sudo yum update -y
sudo yum install curl tar pip gcc jemalloc-devel -y
pip install redis
curl -O http://download.redis.io/redis-stable.tar.gz
tar xzvf redis-stable.tar.gz
cd redis-stable
make
sudo cp src/redis-cli /usr/local/bin/

For Ubuntu:

sudo apt update -y
sudo apt install redis-tools -y

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🔌 5. Connect to ElastiCache Redis

Get Redis Endpoint

• Go to ElastiCache Console → your cluster → Configuration endpoint

Standard Redis (No Auth)

redis-cli -h your-cluster-endpoint.amazonaws.com -p 6379

With AUTH Token:

redis-cli -h your-cluster-endpoint.amazonaws.com -p 6379 -a your_redis_password

Serverless Redis with TLS:

redis6-cli --tls -h myredis-wjptpw.serverless.use1.cache.amazonaws.com -p 6379

Use redis6-cli for TLS-based Serverless Redis connections

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📦 6. Example Redis CLI Commands

set greeting "Hello from Redis"
get greeting
del greeting

set x hello
get x

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🔐 7. Best Practices

• 🔒 Use Redis AUTH in all environments
• 🚫 Do NOT expose Redis to the public internet
• 🔐 Use Security Groups and VPC isolation
• 📈 Monitor using Amazon CloudWatch

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🧪 8. Optional: Python Redis Client

Install Redis Client

pip install redis

Python Example Code

import redis

r = redis.StrictRedis(
    host='your-cluster-endpoint.amazonaws.com',
    port=6379,
    password='your_redis_password',  # Optional if AUTH is not enabled
    decode_responses=True
)

r.set('framework', 'flask')
print(r.get('framework'))

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📚 References

• AWS ElastiCache Docs
• Redis CLI Reference
• Redis Python Client