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Open-Source Databases · Grokzen

docker-redis-cluster

docker-redis-cluster is a Docker image that quickly spins up a local Redis cluster (3 masters, 3 slaves) for development, demo, and testing purposes. It is explicitly not intended for production, Kubernetes, or multi-environment deployments.

Source: GitHub — github.com/Grokzen/docker-redis-cluster
1.5k
GitHub stars
560
Forks
Shell
Primary language
MIT
License (OSI-approved)

Key facts

Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.

FieldValue
RepositoryGrokzen/docker-redis-cluster
OwnerGrokzen
Primary languageShell
LicenseMIT — OSI-approved
Stars1.5k
Forks560
Open issues21
Latest release3.0.6 (2016-01-01)
Last updated2025-10-04
Sourcehttps://github.com/Grokzen/docker-redis-cluster

What docker-redis-cluster is

Dockerfile-based project providing pre-built Redis cluster images with 6 instances (ports 7000–7005), optional Sentinel support, configurable node counts, and IPv6 capability. Built from Redis source; supports multiple Redis versions (latest 3 major versions maintained).

Quickstart

Get the docker-redis-cluster source

Clone the repository and explore it locally.

terminalbash
git clone https://github.com/Grokzen/docker-redis-cluster.gitcd docker-redis-cluster# follow the project's README for install & configuration

Need it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.

Best use cases

Local Development & Testing

Quickly prototype Redis cluster client code and integration logic on a developer machine without manual cluster setup.

Demos & Presentations

Stand up a working Redis cluster in minutes to showcase cluster behavior, failover, or replication without complex configuration.

Redis Client Library Development

Test cluster-aware client libraries (e.g., redis-py-cluster) against a consistent, repeatable cluster topology.

Implementation considerations

  • Requires Docker 1.10+; latest version recommended. Verify your Docker version before pulling.
  • macOS users must set `REDIS_CLUSTER_IP=0.0.0.0` or pass `-e IP=0.0.0.0` for cluster discovery to work (hardcoded IP issue noted in README).
  • Configurable via environment variables: `MASTERS`, `SLAVES_PER_MASTER`, `INITIAL_PORT`, `BIND_ADDRESS` allow topology customization without rebuilding.
  • Sentinel support is optional (`SENTINEL=true`); runs 3 sentinel instances on ports 5000–5002 if enabled.
  • IPv6 support available; requires Docker IPv6 configuration and `--network host` for proper NAT behavior.

When to avoid it — and what to weigh

  • Production Deployments — Project explicitly states it is not suitable for production, staging, or test environments. Use dedicated Redis operators or managed services instead.
  • Kubernetes / Orchestrated Environments — Not designed for Kubernetes or container orchestration beyond single-machine Docker. Cluster discovery, networking, and persistence are hardcoded for local use.
  • Data Persistence Requirements — No mention of persistent storage; intended for ephemeral development clusters. Risk of data loss on container restart.
  • High-Availability Scenarios — Single-machine design; no cross-host replication, load balancing, or resilience mechanisms for distributed deployments.

License & commercial use

MIT License. Permissive; allows commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution.

MIT is a permissive OSI license permitting commercial use. However, this is a development/demo tool explicitly unsuitable for production. Any commercial deployment should use a production-grade Redis solution and treat this repo as a reference only.

DEV.co evaluation signals

Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.

SignalAssessment
MaintenanceActive
DocumentationAdequate
License clarityClear
Deployment complexityLow
DEV.co fitGood
Assessment confidenceHigh
Security considerations

Designed for local development only. No authentication, TLS, or network isolation mentioned. Exposes Redis ports directly; suitable only for isolated dev machines. No security audit or CVE tracking data provided. Not intended for untrusted networks.

Alternatives to consider

Official Redis Docker Image + redis-cli cluster create

Lightweight, official, production-capable. Requires manual cluster init but gives full control and future-proofs against deprecated dev containers.

Bitnami Redis Cluster Helm Chart

Production-grade, Kubernetes-native, persistent storage, monitoring. Overkill for local dev but suitable for staging/production.

docker-compose with redis:latest services

Minimal setup, no pre-built images, full transparency. More verbose config but avoids vendor lock-in to this specific project.

Software development agency

Build on docker-redis-cluster with DEV.co software developers

This tool is excellent for local development and Redis client testing. If you need production-grade Redis clustering or Kubernetes deployment, consult our DevOps team to explore managed services or cloud-native alternatives.

Talk to DEV.co

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docker-redis-cluster FAQ

Can I use this in production?
No. Project explicitly states it is for local development/demo only. For production, use managed Redis services (AWS ElastiCache, Azure Cache, Redis Enterprise) or Kubernetes operators.
How do I change the number of cluster nodes?
Set environment variables: `MASTERS` (default 3), `SLAVES_PER_MASTER` (default 1), and `INITIAL_PORT` (default 7000). Total nodes = MASTERS × (SLAVES_PER_MASTER + 1).
Why does Redis cluster discovery fail on macOS?
Docker's network stack requires binding to 0.0.0.0 on macOS. Set `REDIS_CLUSTER_IP=0.0.0.0` environment variable or use `-e IP=0.0.0.0` in docker run.
Will my data persist if the container stops?
Unknown / likely no. Project documentation does not mention persistence mechanisms; assume ephemeral storage suitable for dev/test only.

Custom software development services

DEV.co is a software development agency delivering custom software development services to companies building on open source. Our software developers and web developers design, integrate, and ship production systems — spanning web development, APIs, AI, data, and cloud. If docker-redis-cluster is part of your open-source databases roadmap, our team can implement, customize, migrate, and maintain it.

Ready to Evaluate for Your Team?

This tool is excellent for local development and Redis client testing. If you need production-grade Redis clustering or Kubernetes deployment, consult our DevOps team to explore managed services or cloud-native alternatives.