What’s a VPS and why use one?

In my previous article we discussed, what is an EA and their benefits. To read up on their disadvantages please follow the link to an article written by my colleague Daniel Vary here.

Today we are going to discuss how you would use a VPS to enhance the use of an EA, especially if you are running various EAs simultaneously.

What is a VPS?

A virtual private server (VPS) is a virtual program sold as a service by an Internet hosting service. The virtual dedicated server (VDS) also has a similar meaning. A virtual private server runs its own copy of an operating system (OS), and customers may have superuser-level access to that operating system instance, so they can install almost any software that runs on that OS. For many purposes it is functionally equivalent to a dedicated physical server and, being software-defined, can be created and configured much more easily. Depending on the resources that you choose, the location of the server, the virtualization technology, and the quality of your service, the price of your VPS will change. GO Markets provides a VPS to all its clients, it’s a free trading tool we make available which would otherwise come with a monthly fee.

Why would traders use a VPS and what advantages do they offer?

As a trader who is looking to incorporate an Expert Advisor in their trading strategy, they may well need the use of a VPS, this helps to facilitate a smooth working condition for one or several EAs running simultaneously and to run as effectively as possible. An Expert Advisor is a tool that is programmed to work 24/7, it is imperative that the running of your trading system and the vessel which it operates in i.e. computer or laptop is not disrupted, go offline or lose power, otherwise you will find that your EA won’t be able to operate, open, close trades or do whatever you intend to do with it.

A simple advantage to think about, is purely that a VPS enhances the EAs capabilities and with it, it may improve your trading goals. A VPS facilitates a smooth and quick link to a reliable server, that means it keeps the connection alive for as long as possible to allow the EA to do its job, getting access to a reliable server should be your highest priority, especially given the nature of how fast paced markets like Forex markets can be.

Choosing a VPS provider?

There are few important points that you need to look into when choosing the type of VPS you want to acquire. There are some key features to look understand to get a VPS that will fit within your EAs specifications, your trading strategy and style.

We will look at the specific features of the VPS shortly but first you need to consider which Operating System OS you like your VPS to run on, Windows or Linux?  Linux is an open-source operating system and is cheaper than windows. The Windows VPS hosting can be preferred if you are developing in .NET or if you have applications that are designed for the Windows platform.

RAM – It stands for random-access memory. It means that your computer RAM is essentially short-term memory where data is stored as the processor needs it. The Ideal RAM for a VPS for this purpose would be 4 GB. If you are running several EAs, which use up more than the available RAM, then may need to look for a bigger VPS or simply add another VPS on another account.

CPU – Central processing unit, is a principal part of any digital computer system, generally composed of the main memory, control unit, and arithmetic-logic unit. They have proved to work smoothly even at peak times depending on the quality and size of the processor. You need to have 14nm architecture with a multi-core for multitasking but a 6vCPU works in most normal cases.

Hard disk HDD – The traditional hard disk storage space will always be bigger and more inexpensive. But a solid-state drive is recommended for a VPS hosting. They are fast at rebooting; the performance is certainly huge and transfer speeds are more than the traditional disks. The SSDs are resilient during power failures, which makes them a perfect fit for VPS hosting. A faster hard drive is necessary because even if the RAM and CPU are fast you need an equally faster storage drive to service those requests

Go Markets VPS

As a valuable client of GO Markets, you can get access to a VPS once you have a live account with us. Simply, by applying for one via your Client Portal. The VPS runs on both MT4 and MT5 systems and allows you to execute trades using EAs, quicker and easier. GO Markets offers free monthly VPS access to clients completing a minimum trade volume of US$1m per calendar month (approx. 5 round turn FX lots). If this volume is not met, a VPS service fee will be applied per month which will be charged from trading account. Please see below the specifications of our VPS below. Our VPS is a Shared Hosting, managed Cloud based solutions running on Windows 2016.

Sources: Wikipedia, Babypips, GO Markets, operavps.com, www.websitebuilderexpert.com,