This step by step guide on how to setup Redis cache on Ghost covers deployment, configuration, and verification for Unraid Docker environments. Implementing Redis caching on Ghost dramatically improves page load times by storing frequently accessed content in memory.

Step 1: Deploy Redis Container

Before you can setup Redis cache for Ghost on your Unraid server, you need to install the Redis container! Navigate to the Docker tab in Unraid and click Add Container.

Configure these settings:

• Name: Redis
• Repository: redis:alpine
• Network Type: Bridge
• Container Port: 6379
• Host Port: 6379

Click Apply to create the container.

Step 2: Find Redis IP Address

Well, I guess you are not going to be able to setup Redis cache for Ghost if you can’t find the IP address of Redis and Ghost containers. To find those IP addresses, in Unraid terminal or SSH:

docker inspect Redis | grep IPAddress

Note the IP address (e.g., 172.17.0.14). You’ll need this for Ghost configuration.

Test Ghost to Redis connectivity:

docker exec -it Ghost bash

node -e "require('net').connect(6379, '172.17.0.14', () => console.log('Connected to Redis')).on('error', (e) => console.log('Error:', e.message))"
Connected to Redis

This should return “Connected to Redis“.

Step 3: Create Ghost Configuration File

Navigate to Ghost appdata directory:

cd /mnt/user/appdata/ghost
nano config.production.json

Add this configuration:

{
  "url": "http://localhost:2368",
  "server": {
    "port": 2368,
    "host": "::"
  },
  "mail": {
    "transport": "Direct"
  },
  "logging": {
    "transports": ["file", "stdout"]
  },
  "process": "systemd",
  "paths": {
    "contentPath": "/var/lib/ghost/content"
  },
  "caching": {
    "adapter": "redis",
    "redis": {
      "host": "172.17.0.14",
      "port": 6379,
      "password": "",
      "db": 0
    }
  }
}

Replace 172.17.0.14 with your Redis IP. Save with Ctrl+X, Y, Enter.

Step 4: Set File Permissions

chown 1000:1000 /mnt/user/appdata/ghost/config.production.json
chmod 644 /mnt/user/appdata/ghost/config.production.json

Verify permissions:

ls -lh /mnt/user/appdata/ghost/config.production.json

Should show -rw-r--r-- 1 1000 1000.

Step 5: Mount Config in Ghost Container

In Unraid Docker interface:

1. Click Ghost container icon → Edit
2. Click Add another Path, Port, Variable, Label or Device → Path
3. Configure:
   • Name: Config File
   • Container Path: /var/lib/ghost/config.production.json
   • Host Path: /mnt/user/appdata/ghost/config.production.json
   • Access Mode: Read/Write
4. Click Apply

Ghost restarts automatically.

You can also specify variable to set the value, but it seem to have no effect for me, only the Config File settings seem to work, perhaps some Unraid issue or something I have that I cannot be bothered to find out now. Test and let me know.

Step 6: Verify Ghost Started

Check Ghost logs in Unraid Docker tab (click Ghost icon → Logs) or via terminal:

docker logs Ghost --tail 50

Look for no Redis connection errors. Also verify that Ghost reads the config:

docker exec -it Ghost cat /var/lib/ghost/config.production.json

Step 7: Verify Redis Connection

Check Redis has active Ghost connection:

docker exec -it Redis redis-cli CLIENT LIST

You should see Ghost’s IP (typically 172.17.0.10) in connected clients.

Check cached items:

docker exec -it Redis redis-cli DBSIZE

Visit your Ghost site, then run DBSIZE again. The number should increase.

Monitor cache activity:

docker exec -it Redis redis-cli MONITOR

Navigate your Ghost site and watch cache operations. Press Ctrl+C to stop.

Check cache statistics:

docker exec -it Redis redis-cli INFO stats

Look for keyspace_hits and keyspace_misses. More hits than misses indicates effective caching.

Check memory usage:

docker exec -it Redis redis-cli INFO memory | grep used_memory_human

Conclusion

The persistent configuration file ensures your Redis setup survives Ghost container updates, Unraid server restarts, and Docker service maintenance without manual reconfiguration. With database queries reduced by 60-80% and page load times improved by 40-60%, your Ghost installation now delivers faster content to visitors whilst reducing strain on your Unraid array.

You might ask, why Ghost and why am I writing this on my Wordpress blog? I run Ghost self-hosted on my Unraid server as it’s way more easier and lightweight than Wordpress. Ghost doens’t have that many plugins and support like Wordpress, but for a blog, it’s perfect and super fast. Will I be running Ghost for BMO site? If I knew about Ghost back in 2013, then yes… I would’ve setup my site on Ghost, it’s that good and slick. At that time, it was mostly Wordpress, Joomla. Drupal was there but there wasn’t enough documentations to setup it that easily.

Also, why Redis if it’s for few users only? Meh!, I just wanted to try it. Nothing serious but it was fun to try.

That’s it, Enjoy!