'*' is a multi-bulk reply, they're handled in the various redis_sock_read_multibulk_reply_* functions.

Do you have a test case for this error? I've tried running SORT on a non-existing sorted set, and have received no error:

<?php

$redis = new Redis();
$redis->connect('127.0.0.1', 6379);

$redis->del('x');
var_dump($redis->sort('x'));

?>

→

array(0) {
}

That's what surprised me as well here is a sample code :

        $this->zInter($tempKey, $sortedSets);

        $res = $this->sort($tempKey, array("by" => $sortBy,
                                       "limit" => array((int)$offset, (int)$limit),
                                       "sort" => $order,
                                       "store" => $sortTemp));

The case was zInterStore failing because one of the sorted set was non existing resulting in the sort command failing as well. (and throwing the error mentioned)

I think it's related to the fact we use "store" , the extension uses "redis_long_response" which itself use redis_sock_read where they was no way of handling * as response type. (which seems weird as when we use store it should be a long response and not a multi_bulk)

I get the same error when using brpoplpush with a timeout of 10 seconds on any type of connection... (normal or persistent)

PHP Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'RedisException' with message 'protocol error, got '*' as reply type byte'

    $data = $redis->brpoplpush($queue, $workingQueue, 10);

When using

    $redis->brpop($queue, 10);

There is no problem.

I'm using the latest versions of https://github.com/nicolasff/phpredis/ with redis 2.2.11

(the command on redis-cli works fine btw)