VPS Beginner's Guide: Keep Your Forex EA Running Smoothly Without Interruption (Including Selection and Setup)

What is VPS? How to Use VPS to Make Your EA Trading More Stable? 

What is VPS? 

• Like renting a dedicated online workspace: This "online computer" is located in a professional data center with stable power and network.
• Independent operation: It works independently like a real computer, and you can control it remotely.
• You can install software: You can install the software you need on this VPS, such as your trading platform MT4 or MT5.

Why do you need VPS for EA trading? 

• "If the power goes out or the internet disconnects at home, will my EA stop trading?"
• "Do I need to keep my own computer on all the time for the EA to run? That consumes a lot of power and the computer might break down."
• "My internet is sometimes unstable, will it affect order execution speed?"

• Allow your EA to run 24/7 without interruption: Your EA needs the trading platform to be always on to work. If you run the EA on your own computer, once it shuts down, disconnects from the internet, or has issues, the EA will stop. Since VPS is always on, it ensures your EA keeps running even when you sleep or your computer is off, so you won’t miss trading opportunities.
• Improve stability and reliability: VPS is usually located in professional data centers with backup power and stable high-speed internet, greatly reducing the risk of trading interruptions caused by power outages, network disconnections, or hardware failures. This gives you peace of mind and reduces worries about technical problems.
• Potentially faster trade execution speed (low latency): If you choose a VPS server location close to your forex broker’s server, the distance your trade orders travel is shorter, which may speed up execution and help reduce slippage (the difference between the actual execution price and the expected price).
• Access anytime, anywhere: You can remotely connect to your VPS from anywhere with internet access (such as your home computer, laptop, or even mobile phone) to view and manage your trading platform and EA.

How to choose a VPS provider? 

• Location: Choose a VPS provider with server locations close to your forex broker’s servers. This helps reduce latency and improve trading speed. Many providers indicate their server locations (e.g., New York, London, Tokyo).
• Specifications: 
  • RAM and CPU: Like your computer’s memory and "brain." You need enough RAM and CPU resources to smoothly run your trading platform (MT4/MT5) and the number of EAs you plan to use. For users running only one platform, usually 1-2GB RAM and 1 core CPU are sufficient, but if you run many platforms or complex EAs, higher specs may be needed.
  • Hard drive: Usually doesn’t need to be very large; SSD (solid-state drive) is faster than traditional HDD.
  • Operating system: Most forex trading platforms (like MT4/MT5) run on Windows, so usually you need to choose Windows VPS.
• Reliability: Look for providers that guarantee high "uptime," such as 99.9% or higher. This means their servers rarely crash.
• Customer support: Choose providers offering 24/7 customer support. It’s very important to get timely help if you encounter technical issues.
• Price: Compare prices and plans from different providers. Some charge monthly, some yearly (usually cheaper). Watch out for hidden fees. Some forex brokers even offer free VPS to clients who meet certain trading volume or deposit requirements.
• Reputation and reviews: Check what other traders say about the VPS provider.

How to start using VPS? (Simple steps) 

1. Choose and register for VPS service: Based on the factors above, select a VPS provider and purchase a suitable plan.
2. Get login information: After payment, the VPS provider usually sends you the connection details via email, mainly including: 
   • VPS IP address (a string of numbers, like a computer’s address)
   • Username (usually Administrator)
   • Password.
3. Connect to VPS (using Windows computer as example): 
   
   
   1. On your own Windows computer, click the "Start" button.
   2. Type "Remote Desktop Connection" (or enter mstsc) and open this application.
   
   3. In the "Computer" or similar field, enter the IP address provided by your VPS provider.
   4. Click "Connect".
   
   5. The system will prompt you to enter username and password. Enter the username and password provided by your VPS provider.
   
   6. You might see a certificate warning, usually you can check "Don’t ask me again" and click "Yes" or "Continue".
   7. Once connected successfully, you will see a window like a new Windows desktop, which is your VPS desktop!
4. Install trading platform on VPS: 
   1. In the VPS desktop environment, open a web browser (usually pre-installed).
   2. Visit your forex broker’s website or the official MetaTrader website to download the MT4 or MT5 installer.
   3. Run the installer as you would on a normal computer and complete the installation of MT4 or MT5.
5. Install and run EA on VPS: 
   1. Copy your EA files (.ex4 or .ex5 files) to the VPS. You can use the "Local Resources" option in Remote Desktop Connection to share your local computer’s drives, or transfer files via other methods (like cloud storage).
   2. Place the EA files into the correct folder on VPS MT4/MT5 (usually MQL4/Experts or MQL5/Experts).
   3. Launch MT4/MT5 on the VPS, then load the EA onto the chart and enable automated trading as you would on a normal computer.
6. Keep running: Now, as long as your VPS stays running (you don’t need to stay connected all the time), your MT4/MT5 and EA will keep running.
   You can disconnect the remote desktop anytime, and the VPS will continue working. Next time you connect, you will see the platform still running.

Summary: VPS is a good partner for EA trading