Metatrader is a popular trading platform that can be used for trading various currencies in foreign exchange and crypto trading. While it’s a common practice to install it on personal computers, installing it on a server or a dedicated server of a VPS can provide you with a great deal of advantages, including dedicated resources, high performance, minimal latency, and automation. Today, we want to see how to install Metatrader on a server to establish a successful VPS and dedicated server crypto and foreign exchange trading.
Benefits of using a server for MetaTrader
Why would you purchase a server if you could just run it on your own personal computer or laptop? Let’s explore this a bit more in detail.
Performance: Trading needs precision for your trades to take place on time without delays. For this reason, a server will provide a perfect environment for that: since no other applications are operating on the device simultaneously with your MetaTrader, its resources are fully dedicated to it. This way, nothing can possibly interfere with your trading.
Latency: Latency is a key parameter when it comes to trading. As we’ve mentioned, trading requires extreme precision, so your trades take place exactly at the moment when you want them to happen. The reason for that is that currency exchange rates can change very rapidly, so catching the right moment is a decisive factor for a successful trade. By minimizing latency, you increase the chance of making a trade exactly on time.
Automation: Automation is an efficient approach to make your MetaTrader operate for you even while you’re away. Setting up automation scripts on a server is much more efficient than doing it on your PC since a server works 24/7, with little to no downtime, providing a continuous trading process.
Installing MT4 on a server
Step 1: Get yourself a server
The first step in installing MT4 on a server is to purchase a virtual private or a dedicated server. Calculate your needs in terms of resources, find a provider that can satisfy them in a convenient and affordable way, offering perhaps some additional features that you find profitable, and don’t forget to keep an eye on the server location with an eye on the location of your markets, to reach the optimal latency. Make up your mind whether you want to purchase a VPS or a dedicated server. A dedicated server will give you significantly more resources, but for a starting trader, the resources of a VPS will definitely suffice.
Also, keep in mind that you’ll rather need Windows VPS. Although you might run Metatrader on Linux through special additional applications like Wine, it has official native versions only for Windows.
After finding a suitable offer and purchasing it, pay attention to the email sent to you by your provider. There, you’ll find the server login credentials you’ll need for logging into your server later on.
Step 2: Login to your remote desktop
Login to your Windows server. If you’re a Windows user, the process is rather simple:
- Find the “Remote Desktop” application on your PC. The path to it varies depending on which Windows you use. You can also use the native search option to find it quickly.
- Launch the app and type the information that you have received from your hoster.
If you’re a Linux user, you will need to install a special app for connecting to a Windows remote desktop. One of the widely-used options is an app called “Remina.” Download and install it. After that, you’ll have to perform a similar procedure as described above.
Step 3: Download MT4
After entering your remote desktop, you’ll have to download the MetaTrader app. Launch the browser on your remote desktop and go either to your broker’s website or to the official web page of MetaQuote. Find the link to the installation file, download it, and install it.
Step 4: Configure MetaTrader
Now that MetaTrader is installed on your remote device, it only remains to configure it and start using it. First, launch it and configure it with your trading account details provided by your broker. Then, set up any Expert Advisors (EAs) or custom scripts you want to run on the server for automated trading.
Step 5: Test and Monitor
Start using your MetaTrader. Keep an eye on whether the app has no performance issues. Pay attention to the latency and figure out whether it’s the lowest latency you can get. If something doesn’t work as it’s supposed to work, don’t hesitate to contact your provider’s support. If you think that a different location will be better for your broker, you can also ask your hoster to migrate your server to a different location.
Conclusion
Voilà, your MetaTrader is installed and ready for operation. We hope that the instructions provided were clear enough, and now you can trade successfully with your freshly acquired server. Good luck, and thank you for your attention!