Azure Cache for Redis Client integration

The Aspire Azure Cache for Redis client integration is used to connect to an Azure Redis cache using StackExchange.Redis. To get started with the Aspire Azure Cache for Redis client integration, install the 📦 Aspire.StackExchange.Redis NuGet package.

dotnet add package Aspire.StackExchange.Redis

Add Redis client

In the Program.cs file of your client-consuming project, call the AddRedisClient extension method to register an IConnectionMultiplexer for use via the dependency injection container. The method takes a connection name parameter:

builder.AddRedisClient(connectionName: "redis");

After adding the IConnectionMultiplexer, you can retrieve the connection instance using dependency injection:

public class ExampleService(IConnectionMultiplexer redis)
{
    // Use redis...
}

For more information, see:

• StackExchange.Redis documentation for examples on using the IConnectionMultiplexer.
• Dependency injection in .NET for details on dependency injection.

Properties of the Azure Cache for Redis resources

When you use the WithReference method to pass an Azure Cache for Redis resource from the AppHost project to a consuming client project, several properties are available to use in the consuming project.

Aspire exposes each property as an environment variable named [RESOURCE]_[PROPERTY]. For instance, the Host property of a resource called redis becomes REDIS_HOST.

Azure Managed Redis

The Azure Managed Redis resource exposes the following connection properties:

When access key authentication is enabled:

For example, if you reference an Azure Managed Redis resource named redis in your AppHost project, the following environment variables will be available in the consuming project:

• REDIS_HOST
• REDIS_PORT
• REDIS_URI

Add Redis distributed cache

For caching scenarios, you can add a Redis-based distributed cache using the AddRedisDistributedCache method:

builder.AddRedisDistributedCache(connectionName: "redis");

This registers an IDistributedCache implementation backed by Redis:

public class ExampleService(IDistributedCache cache)
{
    // Use cache...
}

Add Redis output cache

For output caching scenarios in ASP.NET Core, you can add a Redis-based output cache using the AddRedisOutputCache method:

builder.AddRedisOutputCache(connectionName: "redis");

This configures Redis as the output cache store for your web application.

Add keyed Redis client

There might be situations where you want to register multiple IConnectionMultiplexer instances with different connection names. To register keyed Redis clients, call the AddKeyedRedisClient method:

builder.AddKeyedRedisClient(name: "primary-cache");
builder.AddKeyedRedisClient(name: "secondary-cache");

Then you can retrieve the connection instances using dependency injection:

public class ExampleService(
    [KeyedService("primary-cache")] IConnectionMultiplexer primaryRedis,
    [KeyedService("secondary-cache")] IConnectionMultiplexer secondaryRedis)
{
    // Use redis connections...
}

For more information, see Keyed services in .NET.

Configuration

The Aspire Azure Cache for Redis library provides multiple options to configure the Redis connection based on the requirements and conventions of your project. A ConnectionString is required.

Use a connection string

When using a connection string from the ConnectionStrings configuration section, you can provide the name of the connection string when calling AddRedisClient:

builder.AddRedisClient(connectionName: "redis");

The connection information is retrieved from the ConnectionStrings configuration section:

{
  "ConnectionStrings": {
    "redis": "myredis.redis.cache.windows.net:6380,password=your_password,ssl=True"
  }
}

Use configuration providers

The library supports Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration. It loads settings from configuration using the Aspire:StackExchange:Redis key:

{
  "Aspire": {
    "StackExchange": {
      "Redis": {
        "DisableHealthChecks": true,
        "DisableTracing": false
      }
    }
  }
}

Use inline delegates

You can configure settings inline:

builder.AddRedisClient(
    "redis",
    settings => settings.DisableHealthChecks = true);

Observability and telemetry

Aspire integrations automatically set up Logging, Tracing, and Metrics configurations.

Logging

The Aspire Azure Cache for Redis integration uses standard .NET logging for connection events and errors.

Tracing

The Aspire Azure Cache for Redis integration will emit the following tracing activities using OpenTelemetry:

• StackExchange.Redis.*

Metrics

The Aspire Azure Cache for Redis integration currently doesn't expose custom metrics by default, but uses standard Redis monitoring capabilities.