AUTH

Introduction and Use Case(s)

The AUTH command in Redis is used to authenticate a client connection using a password. This is essential for securing Redis servers by ensuring that only clients with the correct credentials can interact with the database. Typical scenarios include setting up password-protected access to production Redis instances or implementing multi-user environments.

Syntax

  1. AUTH [username] password

Parameter Explanations

  • username: Optional. The username of the Redis user when using ACLs (Access Control Lists). If omitted, Redis uses the default user.
  • password: Required. The password associated with the user or the default password if no username is provided.

Return Values

  • OK: Authentication was successful.
  • (error): Authentication failed due to incorrect password or other issues.

Examples:

  • OK
  • (error) ERR invalid password

Code Examples

  1. dragonfly> AUTH mypassword
  2. OK
  3. dragonfly> AUTH wrongpassword
  4. (error) ERR invalid password
  5. dragonfly> AUTH defaultuser mypassword
  6. OK
  7. dragonfly> AUTH defaultuser wrongpassword
  8. (error) ERR invalid password

Best Practices

  • Always use strong, complex passwords to secure your Redis instances.
  • Implement ACLs for more granular control over user permissions.

Common Mistakes

  • Not changing the default password, which poses a significant security risk.
  • Forgetting to use the correct format when ACLs are enabled, i.e., providing both username and password.

FAQs

What happens if I omit the username in the AUTH command?

If you omit the username, Redis will authenticate using the default user.

Can I change the password without restarting Redis?

Yes, you can update the password dynamically using the CONFIG SET command or through ACLs.

Is it possible to disable authentication?

By not setting a requirepass or configuring ACLs, Redis will not require authentication. However, this is not recommended for production environments.