Optimizing your trading setup with a Forex VPS can significantly improve your trading experience, profitability, and speed. A common question among traders is how many MT4/MT5 terminals they can run on a VPS. The number of terminals or currency pairs you can run on a VPS depends on various factors unique to your MT4 and EA configurations. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the key considerations and provide practical tips to help you make the most of your Forex VPS.
Understanding CPU and RAM Usage
All programs, including MT4 and EAs, consume CPU and RAM resources on the VPS. The available CPU and RAM resources are limited based on the VPS plan you have chosen. It is essential to monitor the usage of these resources to ensure optimal trading performance.
CPU Usage
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is responsible for executing instructions of computer programs. The more tasks running on your VPS, the higher the CPU usage. To ensure efficient trading, it’s crucial to avoid overloading the CPU usage and leave enough resources for very active market sessions with higher demands.
RAM Usage
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary storage used by your VPS to store data for running applications. More RAM is required when running multiple MT4/MT5 terminals, charts, and EAs. It is vital to monitor your VPS’s RAM usage to prevent running out of memory and causing disruptions in your trading operations.
Number of Charts and Their Impact
The number of charts you have open in each MT4 terminal affects the CPU and RAM usage. More charts require additional CPU and RAM resources. It is recommended to run each MT4/MT5 terminal as “lean” as possible, running only what is needed and nothing more.
VPS Plan Selection: SOLO or PRO
If you plan to run 1 or 2 MT4 terminals with 1-3 charts in each, starting with a SOLO or PRO plan should be sufficient. You can observe the CPU and RAM utilization in the Task Manager of the VPS. When no MT4 terminals are running, the CPU load should be zero.
Gradual Expansion: Adding More MT4 Terminals
Start by running the first MT4 terminal, open the necessary charts, and activate your EAs. Observe the CPU and RAM usage in the Task Manager. If the CPU and RAM are not fully consumed, you can continue adding more MT4 terminals and opening charts with EAs.
Resource Utilization: Keeping It Below 80%
To ensure optimal performance of the VPS, it is recommended not to exceed 80% of the available CPU and RAM resources. Maintaining CPU usage below 80% (on average) allows for resource usage spikes during high market activity.
Upgrade Options: When to Consider a More Powerful VPS Plan
If you need to add more MT4 terminals and the CPU and RAM utilization is already above 80%, it may indicate the need for a more powerful VPS plan. In such cases, you can contact support to perform an upgrade.
Performance Optimization: Best Practices
Performance optimizing your MT4/MT5 terminals should allow running more terminals and charts. If you need help optimizing your VPS MT4/MT5 terminals, inquire about the best practices with support. Some optimization tips include hiding symbols you will not trade, which saves memory and CPU usage.
Monitoring VPS Resources: Using Windows Task Manager
VPS CPU and memory usage can be monitored with Windows Task Manager (shortcut CTRL-SHIFT-ESC). On the Performance tab of Windows Task Manager, ensure the “Available” and “Free” fields (in Windows 2008/2012) don’t show that you’re running too low. Low memory is considered less than 150Mb in aggregate remaining. If you need more memory for your VPS, inquire on an upgrade with support.
Factors Affecting the Number of MT4/MT5 Terminals
The number of MT4/MT5 terminals you can run on your Forex VPS depends on:
- The number of symbols you are receiving data for
- The number of charts you have open in each MT4/MT5
- The number of indicators on each chart
- The number of EAs on each MT4/MT5
- The number of open trades your EAs concurrently manage on average
- The CPU intensity of your EAs or indicators
A conservative guideline is 2-4 MT4/MT5 terminals (with a handful of charts) per CPU core, but this will depend on each client’s overall configuration.
Conclusion
The specific number of MT4/MT5 terminals and currency pairs you can run on a Forex VPS will depend on the resources required by your individual configurations. It’s advisable to monitor resource usage and upgrade your VPS plan if needed to ensure smooth and efficient operation. By understanding and managing the factors affecting your VPS performance, you can optimize your trading setup for maximum profitability and speed.
