Run multiple Redis instances in Ubuntu

If you run a Redis instance on your Ubuntu server and would like run an another Redis instance on the server, here’s how you can do so. Download the source code of the version of Redis you wish to install

export REDIS_VERSION="2.8.4"

mkdir -p ~/builds
cd ~/builds
wget http://download.redis.io/releases/redis-${REDIS_VERSION}.tar.gz

Compile it

tar xvzf redis-${REDIS_VERSION}.tar.gz
cd redis-${REDIS_VERSION}
make

Ensure the compiled redis binary works correctly

sudo apt-get update && apt-get install -y tcl8.5
make test

Install redis

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/Cellar/redis/$REDIS_VERSION/
sudo make PREFIX=/usr/local/Cellar/redis/$REDIS_VERSION/ install
sudo chown -R $USERNAME /usr/local/Cellar/redis/

Symlink the redis-server and redis-cli binaries

cd /usr/local/bin
sudo ln -s /usr/local/Cellar/redis/$REDIS_VERSION/bin/redis-server redis-server-${REDIS_VERSION}
sudo ln -s /usr/local/Cellar/redis/$REDIS_VERSION/bin/redis-cli redis-cli-${REDIS_VERSION}

Create the redis config file

sudo mkdir -p /etc/redis
sudo cp ~/builds/redis-${REDIS_VERSION}/redis.conf /etc/redis/redis-${REDIS_VERSION}.conf

and configure redis

sudo vim /etc/redis/redis-${REDIS_VERSION}.conf

Create a systemd unit file to start/stop redis

cd /etc/systemd/system/
sudo wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/nisanth074/e50927870749b9d825ea831759c11c64/raw/77d14455141e8e5730eef8826236aa95a83965dc/redis-server.service.erb
sudo erb redis-server.service.erb > redis-server-${REDIS_VERSION}.service
sudo rm redis-server.service.erb

In case you’re on a version of Ubuntu that was released prior to Ubuntu’s switch to systemd, create an init script

cd /etc/init.d/
sudo wget https://gist.githubusercontent.com/nisanth074/e50927870749b9d825ea831759c11c64/raw/0dcbee0eb002006f189eebb714d811cee4720482/redis-server.erb
sudo erb redis-server.erb > redis-server-${REDIS_VERSION}
sudo rm redis-server.erb

Start redis

# If Ubuntu 15.04 or newer
sudo systemctl start redis-server-$REDIS_VERSION
# Otherwise
sudo /etc/init.d/redis-sever

Configure Ubuntu to start Redis at boot time

# If Ubuntu 15.04 or newer
sudo systemctl enable redis-server-#{REDIS_VERSION}
# Otherwise
sudo update-rc.d redis-server defaults