Azure Cache for Redis

Core Functionality

• Caching: Store frequently accessed data in memory to reduce the load on your backend database and improve application performance.
• Session Management: Store user session data to provide fast access to session information, enhancing user experience.
• Real-Time Analytics: Store and process real-time analytics data, such as user activity logs and clickstream data, for quick insights.
• Message Queuing: Implement message queuing using Redis’ publish/subscribe capabilities for asynchronous communication between application components.

Well-Architected Framework

Reliability

• Tiers:

  • Basic: Single-node, suitable for development, testing, or non-critical workloads (not recommended for production).
  • Standard: Includes high availability (two-node configuration) with an SLA.
  • Premium: Offers advanced features like larger cache size (up to 120GB), data persistence, VNET support, clustering, geo-replication, and availability zones.

• Design Considerations:

  • High availability is a key focus, but the Basic tier lacks HA features.
  • Geo-replication requires manual failover steps during a disaster.
  • Persistence ensures data recovery after restarts.

• Reliability Recommendations:

  • Schedule updates for the cache.
  • Monitor and set alerts for performance metrics (e.g., CPU usage, memory, evicted keys).
  • Deploy within a VNET for better control over connectivity.
  • Use partitioning strategies to manage Redis instances effectively.
  • Implement retry policies for resilient connection handling.

• Checklist:

  • Ensure updates, monitoring, and best practices like data persistence or geo-replication are in place.
  • Follow guidance to administer Azure Cache for Redis effectively.

Operational Excellence

• Design Considerations:

  • Azure Cache for Redis is available in three tiers: Basic, Standard, and Premium. Only Standard and Premium tiers have Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
  • Premium tier offers advanced features like data persistence, clustering, geo-replication, and deployment across availability zones.
  • High Availability (HA) is a default feature in Standard and Premium tiers.

• Configuration Recommendations:

  • Schedule updates for Redis Server.
  • Monitor and set alerts for performance metrics (e.g., CPU usage, memory, server load).
  • Deploy within a Virtual Network (VNET) for traffic control.
  • Use appropriate caching types and configure data persistence or geo-replication based on business needs.

• Checklist for Operational Excellence:

  • Ensure updates are scheduled.
  • Monitor cache performance and set alerts.
  • Optimize the cache deployment and configuration.
  • Follow best practices for the connection multiplexer.

• Availability and Data Management:

  • Microsoft guarantees at least 99.9% connectivity between cache endpoints and Microsoft’s internet gateway.
  • Understand persistence options for data recovery and geo-replication for disaster recovery.

References

• Azure Cache for Redis Documentation
• Azure Cache for Redis Overview
• Azure Cache for Redis How-To Guides