Free MetaTrader VPS
Amazon web services (AWS) has been on our geek radar for a long time. It’s only recently that I found the time and a reason to bother giving it a spin. AWS offers 750 hours of free monthly usage on their lowest tier system. You can run a free MetaTrader VPS without needing to spend $30-40 per month.
The biggest disadvantage to using AWS is the number of steps involved. I have a staff of 4 full time programmers, yet it still took us quite awhile to figure out how to configure everything properly. Luckily for you, the steps below will save you all the hassle.
Sign up for a free MetaTrader VPS
- Sign up for an account with Amazon AWS. Assuming that you’ve already done business with Amazon before, use the same account information to keep yourself from getting confused.
- Even though you don’t plan to use any paid services, Amazon requires a credit card before you’re allowed to create instances (which is basically a VPS). The easiest way to do this is to visit the My Account section.
Click on the circle at the top right. After clicking it, click “Payment Method” on the left, which is highlighted in the other red circle
- Click My Account / Console, which is the same place that you clicked to complete step 2.Click on EC2, Virtual Servers in the cloud.
Click EC2 to start creating the free MetaTrader VPS.
- Click the big blue button that says AWS Launch Instance
Click the blue button that says “Launch Instance”.
- A new screen loads titled “Create a New Instance.” On the left side, change the radio button so that it appears next to the Quick Launch Wizard. New options will load on the right side of the screen.Scroll down until you see a Windows server option that reads “Free Tier Eligible”. Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Base 64 bit is fine.
The top of the screen allows for naming the instance. Name the instance “Free MetaTrader VPS” to make it obvious what you intend to use it for.
Choose a key pair, which handles the cryptography. Select “Create New” to keep it nice and simple. Amazon will force you to download a .pem file. It’s very important that you remember where you saved this file.
Push continue.
Select the Quick Launch Wizard Option. Scroll on the right side to select Microsoft Windows Sever 2008 Base 64 bit. Make sure the words “Free Tier Eligible” appear underneath.
- Wait up to a minute on the new screen. When AWS is ready, you will have the opportunity to push the Launch button.Check that the type reads “t1.micro”. This means that you’re getting a free VPS to run MetaTrader.
The final step in the creation process. Push launch at the bottom right.
Accessing the Instance
The fact that you pushed launch is anti-climactic. It’s going to be another 5 minutes before you can use the free VPS. Sit back and read your favorite blog to kill some time.
After waiting 5 minutes, then we can get started.
- If you’re in the EC2 dashboard, click Instances on the left menu.When the new page loads, you’ll see a grid listing the available instances. If you followed the steps properly, you’ll see one labeled Free MetaTrader VPS. Right click on it, then select Connect.
Click Instances on the left. Then, right click on the option that says Free MetaTrader VPS. Select Connect at the top.
- A screen loads called “Console Connect”. The important information appears near the top. The username is always “Administrator”. The password should appear if you did not select a key pair.If you did select a key pair, then click on the link Retrieve Password. You’ll need to upload the .pem file that Amazon provided at the time that you created the keys. Amazon decrypts the file and supplies a password for the VPS.
Once you know the user name and password, click the link to Download Shortcut File. Save this in an obvious location such as your Desktop or My Documents. The file type is .rdp.
If your browser allows you to choose the name, change it to something understandable like “Free MetaTrader VPS.rdp”.
Click on Download Shortcut Link to easily access your MetaTrader VPS.
- Double click the icon that you saved to Desktop.
Double click the shortcut icon to access the free MetaTrader VPS.
- Type in the password where prompted
Windows Remote Desktop asks for a password.
- Start installing MetaTrader like you would on any other computer. It looks like you’re on a brand new computer – because that’s exactly what you’ve done.
Congratulations – you just finished setting up your free VPS courtesy of Amazon Web Services.
Lightweight Technical Specs
You’re getting what you pay for. The free VPS is barely above the minimum specs for running MetaTrader.
The setup comes with 613 MB RAM and the equivalent of a single processor. If you’re not computer savvy, that’s like running MetaTrader on a computer that you bought in 2000.
Running demanding expert advisors or any calculation intensive MQL file will stall the system. The setup is sufficient for bare bones trading and not much else.
Help
Did you get stuck anywhere in the process? Leave comments below so that we can answer your question and make the instructions more clear.
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Hi Shaun,
I’ve just followed your very clear instructions and managed to create myself a MT4 VPS. Thanks for the heads up.
Daniel
Very cool! I’m glad that you were able to set it up easily.
Btw, how do you upload files to it? I decided to share a drive in my computer and place files there as it seems the easiest option.
The easiest way is to cut and paste. Minimize the VPS window. Find your file, right click and select copy.
Open the VPS window again. Right click on the desktop and select Paste. Windows handles the file transfer process for you.
It’s not very efficient for large files. Google Drive, TransferBigFiles.com and other services are better in those situations.
You neglected to point out that Amazon only provide their Free Service to new customers!
If you signed up more than 365 days ago, then you get charged!
Free Service ends after 365 days.
[Quote=Shaun Overton]Sign up for an account with Amazon AWS. Assuming that you’ve already done business with Amazon before, use the same account information to keep yourself from getting confused.[/quote]
Don’t use an existing account or you’ll get burned!
Hi John,
I wasn’t aware of that. Thank you for bringing that to everyone’s attention.
Hello People,
I guess this is not the best platform to ask this question. But you guys seem to be expert traders.
I am new to algorithmic trading and exploring various options. Just wanted to a quick feedback, if windows machines suits best for this need. And Do you think Meta Trader is the way to go ?
Thanks,
Amit
Hi Amit,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, a Windows based VPS and MetaTrader is a great way to start. MT4 has its pitfalls, but I do believe it’s an excellent starter platform for new traders. I really like the flexibility it offers to easily switch brokers without needing to learn a new software platform.
Hi, thank you for such usefull guide. Sorry for this silly question, how to change the administrator password ? thank you in advance
Hi David,
That’s a great question (seriously). You would expect to be able to change the Windows VPS password in AWS. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. You’re stuck with the complicated passwords that Amazon generates. You can decrypt the password using the .pem key file.
Hi Shaun, many thanks for the prompt reply, you are the best
Dear Shaun,
I have an EA that I want to test live and the free VPS seems ideal. Will it be able to cope with an EA that basically uses an AMA and an MACD with a couple of if.then rules, or will this make the whole system grind.
Thanks,
Simon
Hey Simon,
Your EA sounds like a great fir for AWS. I doubt that you’d see much of a performance penalty.