Redis is a lightning-fast, distributed, in-memory key-value database often used as a fast cache in applications where performance is paramount. It's commonly used as a lightweight distributed queue and has a distributed pub/sub feature for dispatching messages to various recipients without building the functionality itself. However, Redis deployments can be complicated, ranging from single nodes to multi-node clusters or hybrid in-memory/on-disk deployments via Redis on Flash. Ensuring peak performance is crucial to maintain a top-notch user experience and alleviate the burden on transactional databases. Monitoring Redis is critical due to its potential points of failure with more nodes in the cluster. Key metrics worth watching include status metrics such as uptime, system memory, connected clients, commands processed per second, keyspace hits and misses per second, error metrics like rejected connections and sync errors, and performance metrics like cache hit ratio. To monitor Redis effectively, one can use New Relic's integration, which collects critical performance data from the Redis server and sends it to the New Relic platform for viewing in pre-built dashboards or creating custom queries and charts. By monitoring these key metrics, developers can identify potential issues before they impact user experience and optimize Redis performance accordingly.