diff --git a/mbadmin.jps b/mbadmin.jps
index 8db59fb..814b366 100644
--- a/mbadmin.jps
+++ b/mbadmin.jps
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ actions:
     - cmd[cp]:
         user: root
         commands:
-          - SVC=$(systemctl list-unit-files --type=service | grep -oP '[\w@-]*redis[\w@-]*\.service' | head -1 | sed 's/\.service//'); if [ -z "$SVC" ]; then echo "Redis: NOT INSTALLED"; elif systemctl is-active --quiet "$SVC"; then echo "Redis: RUNNING (service=$SVC, socket=$(test -S /var/run/redis/redis.sock && redis-cli -s /var/run/redis/redis.sock ping 2>/dev/null || echo UNREACHABLE))"; else echo "Redis: INSTALLED but STOPPED (service=$SVC)"; fi
+          - bash /home/litespeed/mbmanager/scripts/install_redis.sh
     - return:
         type: info
         message: "${response.out}"
diff --git a/scripts/install_redis.sh b/scripts/install_redis.sh
index 40ec36b..83ba052 100644
--- a/scripts/install_redis.sh
+++ b/scripts/install_redis.sh
@@ -1,185 +1,390 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 #
-# Install and configure Redis server for WordPress on LLSMP/AlmaLinux
-# - Installs redis via dnf
-# - Configures Unix socket at /var/run/redis/redis.sock
-# - Sets litespeed user as member of redis group for socket access
-# - Enables and starts redis service
-# - Configures LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Object Cache via WP-CLI
+# install_redis.sh
+# Install and configure Redis server for WordPress on LLSMP/AlmaLinux.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   bash install_redis.sh              -- full install+configure flow
+#   bash install_redis.sh --status     -- status check only (no install)
+#
+# Flow:
+#   1. Check if Redis is already installed/running -> report and exit early if healthy
+#   2. Install redis package via dnf (idempotent)
+#   3. Locate and patch redis.conf for Unix socket
+#   4. Grant litespeed user group access to the socket
+#   5. Enable + start the service, wait for socket readiness
+#   6. Verify PING via socket
+#   7. Configure WordPress LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Object Cache
 #
 
-set -euo pipefail
+set -uo pipefail
+# NOTE: Not using set -e globally so we can handle each error explicitly
+# and produce meaningful messages instead of silent exits.
 
-# Colors
+# ── Colors & helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 RED='\033[0;31m'
 GREEN='\033[0;32m'
 YELLOW='\033[1;33m'
 BLUE='\033[0;34m'
 NC='\033[0m'
 
-info()      { printf "${BLUE}[INFO] %s${NC}\n" "$@"; }
-success()   { printf "${GREEN}[SUCCESS] %s${NC}\n" "$@"; }
-warning()   { printf "${YELLOW}[WARNING] %s${NC}\n" "$@"; }
-error_exit(){ printf "${RED}[ERROR] %s${NC}\n" "$@" >&2; exit 1; }
+info()      { printf "${BLUE}[INFO] %s${NC}\n" "$*"; }
+success()   { printf "${GREEN}[SUCCESS] %s${NC}\n" "$*"; }
+warning()   { printf "${YELLOW}[WARNING] %s${NC}\n" "$*"; }
+error_exit(){ printf "${RED}[ERROR] %s${NC}\n" "$*" >&2; exit 1; }
 
+# ── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 REDIS_SOCKET="/var/run/redis/redis.sock"
-REDIS_CONF="/etc/redis/redis.conf"
-REDIS_CONF_ALT="/etc/redis.conf"
+REDIS_SOCKET_DIR="/var/run/redis"
+REDIS_CONF_PATHS=("/etc/redis/redis.conf" "/etc/redis.conf" "/etc/redis6/redis.conf" "/etc/redis7/redis.conf")
 WP_ROOT="/var/www/webroot/ROOT"
 WEB_USER="litespeed"
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+STATUS_ONLY=false
 
-# ── 1. Detect active Redis conf path ────────────────────────────────────────
+# ── Parse arguments ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+for arg in "$@"; do
+    case "$arg" in
+        --status) STATUS_ONLY=true ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+# ── Helper: detect redis service name ────────────────────────────────────────
+get_redis_svc() {
+    systemctl list-unit-files --type=service 2>/dev/null \
+        | grep -oP '[\w@-]*redis[\w@-]*\.service' \
+        | grep -v 'sentinel' \
+        | head -1 \
+        | sed 's/\.service//'
+}
+
+# ── Helper: detect redis.conf path ───────────────────────────────────────────
 get_redis_conf() {
-    if [[ -f "$REDIS_CONF" ]]; then
-        echo "$REDIS_CONF"
-    elif [[ -f "$REDIS_CONF_ALT" ]]; then
-        echo "$REDIS_CONF_ALT"
+    for path in "${REDIS_CONF_PATHS[@]}"; do
+        if [[ -f "$path" ]]; then
+            echo "$path"
+            return 0
+        fi
+    done
+    # Last resort: ask rpm
+    local rpm_conf
+    rpm_conf=$(rpm -ql redis 2>/dev/null | grep '\.conf$' | head -1)
+    if [[ -n "$rpm_conf" && -f "$rpm_conf" ]]; then
+        echo "$rpm_conf"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    echo ""
+}
+
+# ── Helper: test redis socket connectivity ───────────────────────────────────
+test_redis_socket() {
+    if [[ ! -S "$REDIS_SOCKET" ]]; then
+        return 1
+    fi
+    local result
+    result=$(redis-cli -s "$REDIS_SOCKET" ping 2>/dev/null || true)
+    [[ "$result" == "PONG" ]]
+}
+
+# ── STATUS CHECK ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+do_status() {
+    local svc
+    svc=$(get_redis_svc)
+
+    if [[ -z "$svc" ]]; then
+        echo "Redis: NOT INSTALLED"
+        return 1  # signal caller that install is needed
+    fi
+
+    if systemctl is-active --quiet "$svc"; then
+        if test_redis_socket; then
+            success "Redis: RUNNING (service=$svc, socket=$REDIS_SOCKET, ping=PONG)"
+        else
+            warning "Redis: RUNNING (service=$svc) but socket unreachable at $REDIS_SOCKET"
+        fi
+        return 0
     else
-        echo ""
+        local state
+        state=$(systemctl is-enabled "$svc" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
+        warning "Redis: INSTALLED but STOPPED (service=$svc, enabled=$state)"
+        return 2  # signal caller: installed but stopped
     fi
 }
 
-# ── 2. Install Redis if not present ─────────────────────────────────────────
-install_redis() {
+# ── STEP 1: Install redis package ────────────────────────────────────────────
+step_install() {
     if command -v redis-server >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        info "Redis server binary already present at $(which redis-server)"
+        info "Redis binary already present: $(command -v redis-server)"
         return 0
     fi
 
-    info "Installing Redis via dnf..."
-    dnf install -y redis || error_exit "Failed to install Redis. Check dnf connectivity."
-    success "Redis installed successfully."
+    info "Redis not found. Installing via dnf..."
+
+    # Guard: check if dnf lock is held (another process installing)
+    local lock_retries=5
+    while fuser /var/lib/rpm/.rpm.lock >/dev/null 2>&1; do
+        if [[ $lock_retries -le 0 ]]; then
+            error_exit "dnf/rpm lock held by another process after 25 seconds. Try again later."
+        fi
+        warning "dnf/rpm lock detected, waiting 5s... ($lock_retries retries left)"
+        sleep 5
+        lock_retries=$((lock_retries - 1))
+    done
+
+    if ! dnf install -y redis 2>&1; then
+        error_exit "dnf install redis failed. Check: (1) internet connectivity, (2) dnf repo config, (3) run: dnf install -y redis"
+    fi
+
+    # Verify binary appeared post-install
+    if ! command -v redis-server >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        error_exit "dnf reported success but redis-server binary not found. Package may be broken."
+    fi
+
+    success "Redis package installed successfully."
 }
 
-# ── 3. Configure Redis for Unix socket ──────────────────────────────────────
-configure_redis() {
+# ── STEP 2: Configure redis.conf ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+step_configure() {
     local conf
     conf=$(get_redis_conf)
 
     if [[ -z "$conf" ]]; then
-        error_exit "Redis config file not found at $REDIS_CONF or $REDIS_CONF_ALT"
+        error_exit "Cannot find redis.conf after installation. Checked: ${REDIS_CONF_PATHS[*]}. Run: rpm -ql redis | grep conf"
     fi
 
-    info "Configuring Redis at $conf..."
+    info "Using Redis config: $conf"
 
-    # Backup original config (idempotent - only once)
+    # Backup (idempotent — only on first run)
     if [[ ! -f "${conf}.orig" ]]; then
-        cp "$conf" "${conf}.orig"
-        info "Original config backed up to ${conf}.orig"
+        cp "$conf" "${conf}.orig" || error_exit "Cannot backup $conf — check disk space and permissions."
+        info "Backed up original config to ${conf}.orig"
     fi
 
-    # Disable TCP listener (bind to 127.0.0.1 only, no external exposure)
-    sed -i 's/^bind .*/bind 127.0.0.1/' "$conf"
+    # Ensure socket directory exists with correct ownership BEFORE writing config
+    if ! mkdir -p "$REDIS_SOCKET_DIR" 2>/dev/null; then
+        error_exit "Cannot create socket directory $REDIS_SOCKET_DIR"
+    fi
+    # redis user must own the socket dir so it can create the socket file
+    if ! chown redis:redis "$REDIS_SOCKET_DIR" 2>/dev/null; then
+        warning "Could not chown $REDIS_SOCKET_DIR to redis:redis — socket creation may fail."
+    fi
+    chmod 755 "$REDIS_SOCKET_DIR"
 
-    # Enable Unix socket
+    # bind: restrict to loopback only (security hardening)
+    if grep -q '^bind ' "$conf"; then
+        sed -i 's/^bind .*/bind 127.0.0.1/' "$conf"
+    else
+        echo "bind 127.0.0.1" >> "$conf"
+    fi
+
+    # unixsocket path
     if grep -q '^unixsocket ' "$conf"; then
         sed -i "s|^unixsocket .*|unixsocket $REDIS_SOCKET|" "$conf"
     else
         echo "unixsocket $REDIS_SOCKET" >> "$conf"
     fi
 
-    # Set socket permissions so litespeed group can access it
+    # unixsocketperm: 775 so redis group members (litespeed) can r/w
     if grep -q '^unixsocketperm ' "$conf"; then
         sed -i 's/^unixsocketperm .*/unixsocketperm 775/' "$conf"
     else
         echo "unixsocketperm 775" >> "$conf"
     fi
 
-    # Sensible memory limit (256MB default, adjustable)
+    # maxmemory: only set if not already defined
     if ! grep -q '^maxmemory ' "$conf"; then
         echo "maxmemory 256mb" >> "$conf"
         echo "maxmemory-policy allkeys-lru" >> "$conf"
+        info "Set maxmemory 256mb with allkeys-lru eviction policy."
     fi
 
-    # Ensure socket directory exists with correct ownership
-    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$REDIS_SOCKET")"
-    chown redis:redis "$(dirname "$REDIS_SOCKET")"
+    # Verify config was written (sanity check)
+    if ! grep -q "^unixsocket $REDIS_SOCKET" "$conf"; then
+        error_exit "Config write verification failed — unixsocket not found in $conf after editing."
+    fi
 
-    success "Redis configuration applied."
+    success "Redis configuration applied at $conf"
 }
 
-# ── 4. Grant litespeed user access to redis socket ──────────────────────────
-configure_socket_access() {
-    info "Granting $WEB_USER user access to Redis socket group..."
-    if id "$WEB_USER" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        usermod -aG redis "$WEB_USER" || warning "Could not add $WEB_USER to redis group"
+# ── STEP 3: Add litespeed to redis group ─────────────────────────────────────
+step_socket_access() {
+    if ! id "$WEB_USER" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        warning "User '$WEB_USER' does not exist on this system — skipping group membership."
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    if ! getent group redis >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        warning "Group 'redis' does not exist yet — will retry after service start."
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    if id -nG "$WEB_USER" | grep -qw redis; then
+        info "$WEB_USER is already a member of the redis group."
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    if usermod -aG redis "$WEB_USER"; then
         success "$WEB_USER added to redis group."
     else
-        warning "User $WEB_USER not found, skipping group membership."
+        warning "usermod failed to add $WEB_USER to redis group. Socket access may be restricted."
     fi
 }
 
-# ── 5. Enable and start Redis service ───────────────────────────────────────
-start_redis() {
-    # Detect actual service name (redis, redis6, redis7, etc.)
+# ── STEP 4: Enable + start Redis service ─────────────────────────────────────
+step_start() {
     local svc
-    svc=$(systemctl list-unit-files --type=service | grep -oP '[\w@-]*redis[\w@-]*\.service' | head -1 | sed 's/\.service//')
+    svc=$(get_redis_svc)
 
     if [[ -z "$svc" ]]; then
-        error_exit "No Redis systemd service unit found after installation. Something went wrong."
+        error_exit "No Redis systemd service found after installation. Check: systemctl list-unit-files | grep redis"
     fi
 
-    info "Enabling and starting $svc..."
-    systemctl enable "$svc"
-    systemctl restart "$svc"
+    info "Enabling $svc at boot..."
+    systemctl enable "$svc" 2>/dev/null || warning "Could not enable $svc at boot (non-fatal)."
 
-    # Wait up to 10s for socket to appear
-    local retries=10
-    while [[ $retries -gt 0 ]]; do
+    info "Starting $svc..."
+    if ! systemctl restart "$svc" 2>/dev/null; then
+        local journal
+        journal=$(journalctl -u "$svc" -n 20 --no-pager 2>/dev/null || echo "unavailable")
+        error_exit "Failed to start $svc. Last 20 journal lines:\n$journal"
+    fi
+
+    # Wait up to 15s for socket to appear
+    local waited=0
+    while [[ $waited -lt 15 ]]; do
         if [[ -S "$REDIS_SOCKET" ]]; then
             break
         fi
         sleep 1
-        retries=$((retries - 1))
+        waited=$((waited + 1))
     done
 
     if [[ ! -S "$REDIS_SOCKET" ]]; then
-        error_exit "Redis started but socket not found at $REDIS_SOCKET after 10 seconds. Check Redis logs: journalctl -u $svc"
+        local journal
+        journal=$(journalctl -u "$svc" -n 20 --no-pager 2>/dev/null || echo "unavailable")
+        error_exit "Redis started ($svc) but socket not found at $REDIS_SOCKET after 15s.\nJournal:\n$journal"
     fi
 
-    # Verify connectivity
+    # Final PING verification
     local ping_result
     ping_result=$(redis-cli -s "$REDIS_SOCKET" ping 2>/dev/null || echo "FAILED")
     if [[ "$ping_result" != "PONG" ]]; then
-        error_exit "Redis socket exists but PING failed. Check Redis logs: journalctl -u $svc"
+        error_exit "Socket exists at $REDIS_SOCKET but PING returned '$ping_result'. Redis may have crashed."
     fi
 
-    success "Redis is running and responding on $REDIS_SOCKET"
+    success "Redis is running and healthy (service=$svc, socket=$REDIS_SOCKET, ping=PONG)"
 }
 
-# ── 6. Configure LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Object Cache ────────────────────────
-configure_wp_object_cache() {
+# ── STEP 5: Re-check group membership after service starts (socket now exists) ──
+step_verify_access() {
+    if ! id "$WEB_USER" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    # Ensure redis group exists now (created by service start)
+    if ! getent group redis >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        warning "redis group still not found after service start — skipping access check."
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    if ! id -nG "$WEB_USER" | grep -qw redis; then
+        info "Re-attempting to add $WEB_USER to redis group..."
+        usermod -aG redis "$WEB_USER" || warning "Could not add $WEB_USER to redis group."
+    fi
+
+    # Verify socket is accessible by litespeed group
+    local sock_perms
+    sock_perms=$(stat -c '%A %G' "$REDIS_SOCKET" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
+    info "Socket permissions: $sock_perms"
+}
+
+# ── STEP 6: Configure WordPress Object Cache ──────────────────────────────────
+step_wp_object_cache() {
     local plugin_script="$SCRIPT_DIR/configure_litespeed_plugin_object_cache.sh"
 
+    # Guard: script exists
     if [[ ! -f "$plugin_script" ]]; then
-        warning "configure_litespeed_plugin_object_cache.sh not found at $plugin_script - skipping WP object cache config."
+        warning "configure_litespeed_plugin_object_cache.sh not found at $plugin_script — skipping WP config."
         return 0
     fi
 
+    # Guard: WordPress present
     if [[ ! -f "$WP_ROOT/wp-config.php" ]]; then
-        warning "WordPress not found at $WP_ROOT - skipping WP object cache config."
+        warning "WordPress not found at $WP_ROOT — skipping WP object cache config."
         return 0
     fi
 
-    info "Configuring LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Object Cache with Redis socket..."
+    # Guard: WP-CLI available
+    if ! command -v wp >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        warning "WP-CLI not found — skipping WP object cache config. Install WP-CLI first."
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    # Guard: LiteSpeed Cache plugin active (run as litespeed to get correct WP context)
+    local plugin_status
+    plugin_status=$(sudo -u "$WEB_USER" -s wp plugin is-active litespeed-cache --path="$WP_ROOT" 2>/dev/null && echo "active" || echo "inactive")
+    if [[ "$plugin_status" != "active" ]]; then
+        warning "LiteSpeed Cache plugin is not active in WordPress — skipping object cache config."
+        warning "Activate it at: WordPress Admin > Plugins > LiteSpeed Cache"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    info "Configuring WordPress LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Object Cache..."
     if bash "$plugin_script" --enable --connection-type=socket --redis-socket="$REDIS_SOCKET" --wp-root="$WP_ROOT"; then
-        success "WordPress LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Object Cache configured successfully."
+        success "WordPress Object Cache configured successfully with Redis socket."
     else
-        warning "Failed to configure WordPress Object Cache. You can run it manually: bash $plugin_script --enable --wp-root=$WP_ROOT"
+        warning "Object Cache config script failed (non-fatal). Run manually:"
+        warning "  bash $plugin_script --enable --wp-root=$WP_ROOT"
     fi
 }
 
-# ── Main ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-info "======== Redis Install & Configure for WordPress (LLSMP) ========"
+# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# MAIN
+# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-install_redis
-configure_redis
-configure_socket_access
-start_redis
-configure_wp_object_cache
+# Must be root
+if [[ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]]; then
+    error_exit "This script must be run as root."
+fi
 
-success "======== Redis setup complete ========"
-info "Socket:  $REDIS_SOCKET"
-info "Config:  $(get_redis_conf)"
-info "Test:    redis-cli -s $REDIS_SOCKET ping"
+if [[ "$STATUS_ONLY" == "true" ]]; then
+    do_status
+    exit $?
+fi
+
+info "════════ Redis Install & Configure for WordPress (LLSMP/AlmaLinux) ════════"
+
+# Run status check first — if Redis is already healthy, nothing to do
+status_rc=0
+do_status || status_rc=$?
+
+if [[ $status_rc -eq 0 ]]; then
+    success "Redis is already installed and running. No action needed."
+    info "To reconfigure WordPress object cache, run:"
+    info "  bash $SCRIPT_DIR/configure_litespeed_plugin_object_cache.sh --enable --wp-root=$WP_ROOT"
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+if [[ $status_rc -eq 2 ]]; then
+    # Installed but stopped — skip install/configure, just start it
+    info "Redis is installed but stopped. Attempting to start..."
+    step_start
+    step_verify_access
+    step_wp_object_cache
+    success "════════ Redis re-enabled successfully ════════"
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# status_rc=1: not installed — full install flow
+info "Redis not installed. Starting full installation..."
+step_install
+step_configure
+step_socket_access
+step_start
+step_verify_access
+step_wp_object_cache
+
+success "════════ Redis setup complete ════════"
+info "Socket : $REDIS_SOCKET"
+info "Config : $(get_redis_conf)"
+info "Test   : redis-cli -s $REDIS_SOCKET ping"