Set up MetaTrader 4 or 5 on a Forex VPS

A Forex VPS is a HyperDC Windows VPS that keeps MetaTrader 4 or 5 running around the clock, independent of your own computer, power and internet connection. This guide sets up the server, installs the terminals and makes sure your Expert Advisors keep working, also after updates and restarts.

Before you start

• A Windows VPS in the location closest to your broker's trading server; see the Forex VPS page for sizes and locations.
• Your trade account details from your broker: login number, password and server name.
• The Administrator details from the welcome email.

Step 1: Connect and secure the server

Connect with Remote Desktop, change the Administrator password and install updates: first steps on a Windows server. Limit Remote Desktop to your own IP addresses where you can, and consider changing the Remote Desktop port.

Step 2: Install the terminals

1. Download MetaTrader 4 or 5 from your broker's website, or from the MetaQuotes websites metatrader4.com and metatrader5.com.
2. Run the installer. For the first terminal you can keep the default folder.
3. For each additional terminal, run the installer again and choose Settings on the first screen to give it its own new folder, for example C:\MT5\BrokerA-Live and C:\MT5\BrokerB-Demo. Two copies cannot run from the same folder.
4. Rename the desktop shortcuts so you can tell the terminals apart.

Step 3: Log in to your trade account

In each terminal, open File › Login to Trade Account and enter your Login, Password and Server. Turn on Save password so the terminal reconnects automatically when it starts.

Verify: the connection indicator in the bottom-right corner of the status bar shows a connection to the trade server and the ping, and the Navigator lists your account.

Step 4: Allow automated trading

1. Open Tools › Options › Expert Advisors and allow automated trading for the terminal (the option is called Allow Auto Trading or Allow algorithmic trading depending on the version).
2. Leave Allow DLL imports off, unless an Expert Advisor you trust needs it.
3. Turn on the Algo Trading button in the toolbar (called AutoTrading in older versions); it is green when automated trading is on.
4. Drag your Expert Advisor from the Navigator onto a chart and allow trading in its settings.

Verify: the Expert Advisor's name appears in the top-right corner of the chart, and the Experts tab in the Toolbox shows that it was loaded.

Step 5: Keep the terminals running

• Disconnect, do not sign out. Close the Remote Desktop window when you are done; see Remote Desktop users and sessions.
• Control Windows Update. Set updates to Download only in SConfig and install them in a quiet market hour with a restart you plan; see fix Windows Update problems.
• Start the terminals after a restart. Put shortcuts of your terminals in the Startup folder (press Win + R and open shell:startup), and let Windows sign in automatically with Microsoft's Sysinternals Autologon tool. Autologon stores the password encrypted, but anyone who can restart the server gets the session, so keep the server's Remote Desktop access tight. Test it once with a planned restart and check that the terminals are running when you reconnect.
• Take a snapshot before Windows updates or a new Expert Advisor; Windows VPS plans include free snapshots.

Step 6: Keep memory use in check

Every terminal, chart and Expert Advisor uses memory. Close charts you do not need, and lower Tools › Options › Charts › Max. bars in chart (minimum 5000) if a terminal uses a lot; restart the terminal after changing it. Backtesting in MetaTrader 5 uses every processor core of the server, so run large optimisations outside trading hours or on a larger plan.

Troubleshooting

Connection errors, Expert Advisors that do not trade and terminals that close: see MetaTrader on a VPS: troubleshooting.

Next steps

• Fix common problems: MetaTrader on a VPS: troubleshooting.
• More users on the server: Remote Desktop users and sessions.