Virtual Hosting (VPS)

Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are the standard infrastructure for serious EA operation. Running MetaTrader on a home PC introduces many failure modes that a VPS eliminates: - Power outages - Internet connection drops - Windows updates that reboot the machine - Antivirus interruptions - Local resource constraints (other programs slowing MT5) - Geographic latency to broker servers

VPS architecture: a hypervisor hosts multiple isolated Windows VMs on physical hardware. Each VPS user gets dedicated CPU/RAM/disk allocations. The provider maintains 24/7 power, internet, and physical security; the user is responsible for the VM's Windows configuration, MetaTrader installation, and EA management.

Key selection criteria for forex VPS:

1. Data centre location — the critical factor for execution latency. For brokers using LD4 Equinix data centre (London), choose a VPS in LD4 (typical 0.5-2ms latency). For US-based brokers, NY4 Equinix is the equivalent. Forex-specialist VPS providers explicitly market their data centre presence relative to major brokers.

2. Network reliability — uptime SLAs of 99.9%+ are standard. Verify the provider's actual uptime history rather than the marketing claim.

3. Resource allocation — for a single MT5 instance, 2 vCPU and 2 GB RAM is sufficient. For multiple MT5 instances or heavy EAs, 4 vCPU and 4 GB RAM. Dedicated CPU (not shared) reduces latency variance.

4. Operating system — Windows Server 2019 or 2022. Windows is required for MT4/MT5; Linux is not supported.

5. Backup and snapshots — daily backups protect against EA corruption, accidental deletions, or VM failures.

6. Cost — $15-$30/month is the standard retail price band. Premium colocated forex VPS can be $40-$100/month for high-resource configurations.

Common providers (categories, not specific endorsements): - Forex-specialist VPS: services specifically marketed for MetaTrader, often with broker partnerships and one-click MT5 installation - General cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud): more flexible but typically more expensive for equivalent performance; require manual MT5 setup - Bargain VPS: $5-$10/month providers — often acceptable for non-latency-sensitive trend EAs but inadequate for scalpers

Latency testing: use the `Ping` and `traceroute` tools from your VPS to your broker's MT5 server. Sub-2ms is excellent for HF strategies; under 10ms is acceptable for most strategies; over 20ms is problematic for scalpers.

MetaQuotes VPS: MetaTrader includes a built-in VPS rental service (`VPS` tab in the terminal). Convenient one-click setup but typically more expensive than third-party providers and limited customisation.