Forex VPS: latency, stability and running Expert Advisors
An Expert Advisor works only while its terminal is running. A home computer shuts down, sleeps, updates and loses the network — which is why algorithms are usually kept on a VPS.
Latency
Order time is the network latency to the trading server plus the broker's processing. Choose a server close to the broker's: for example, IC Markets Global runs its MetaTrader server in New York and its cTrader server in London. For a grid with levels tens of pips apart a few milliseconds are rarely decisive; for scalping they are.
Stability matters more than speed
- Terminal auto-start after a server restart, and a check that the EA is attached to its chart again.
- Control of automatic Windows updates — a scheduled restart in the middle of trading stops the EA.
- Memory headroom: several terminals on a small VPS lead to freezes.
- Monitoring: an alert when the terminal loses connection or stops updating data.
Options
- A broker VPS — some brokers offer it free under deposit or volume conditions (for example, Fusion Markets has a sponsored VPS programme and Tickmill a Tickmill VPS; the broker discloses the terms).
- MetaTrader's built-in virtual hosting — runs a copy of the EA in a data centre near the broker's server.
- Your own VPS — maximum control, but you do the administration.
The FOX experience
FOX Professional analytics takes its quotes from a terminal on its own VPS. The practical lesson: the most common cause of "missing" data was not speed but simple things — power, device sleep and terminal restarts — which is why we run separate data-freshness monitoring.
Sources
- Alpari — About
- Alpari — Available trading account types
- Alpari — Deposit & withdrawal methods
- RoboForex — About the company
- RoboForex — ECN account
- RoboForex — ProCent account
- FXOpen — group entities
- FXOpen — trading accounts (INT)
- FXOpen UK — why us
- Pepperstone — trading accounts (global)
- Pepperstone — trading accounts (Australia)
- Pepperstone — trading accounts (UK)
- Pepperstone — licensing
- IC Markets Global — account overview
- Tickmill — accounts overview
- Tickmill — Raw account
- Fusion Markets — why Fusion
- Fusion Markets — Zero account
The materials are for information only and are not investment advice. Leveraged trading carries a high risk of losing money.
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