VPS Setup for 24/7 Trading

What it is

Live strategies require MT5 with the Strateda EA running at all times to receive and execute trade signals. If MT5 closes — because your computer sleeps, restarts, or loses power — signals cannot be executed and trades are missed.

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) solves this. A VPS is a remote Windows machine running in a data center with guaranteed uptime and internet connectivity. You install MT5 and the Strateda EA on the VPS, and it runs 24/7 without depending on your local machine. You connect to it via Remote Desktop (RDP) to configure and monitor, then disconnect — MT5 keeps running in the background.

This is the standard setup for anyone running live algorithmic strategies. Most brokers and prop firms expect (or require) a VPS for automated trading.

How to access it

You need a Windows VPS from any provider. Choose one whose data center matches the Strateda server region you intend to use — this minimises the round-trip latency between your MT5 terminal and Strateda's backend, which is the primary latency factor for live trading. See Server Selection for a full explanation of how the two network paths work.

Recommended specs:

• OS: Windows Server 2019 or 2022
• RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB if running multiple MT5 terminals)
• CPU: 1–2 vCPUs
• Location: Match to your intended Strateda server region. If you plan to use US East in Strateda, choose a US East VPS. If you plan to use EU Central, choose a European VPS (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London). This keeps the Strateda↔MT5 round trip as short as possible.

As a secondary benefit, a US East VPS is also geographically close to the broker execution infrastructure most brokers use — resulting in slightly lower order execution latency compared to running MT5 from Europe.

Once you have a VPS, connect via Remote Desktop, install MT5, and set up the Strateda EA following the Expert Advisor Setup guide — the same process as on your local machine.

What you see

After the basic MT5 and EA installation, configure three things to ensure unattended 24/7 operation:

1. Auto-logon after reboot

Windows VPS instances occasionally reboot (updates, maintenance). Without auto-logon, MT5 won't start because no user session exists.

1. Press Win + R, type netplwiz, press Enter.
2. Uncheck "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer".
3. Click Apply, enter your password twice, click OK.

After any reboot, Windows now logs in automatically and creates the desktop session MT5 needs.

2. Auto-start MT5 via Task Scheduler

Configure MT5 to launch automatically whenever the user logs on:

1. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, press Enter.
2. Click Create Basic Task.
3. Name it MT5 Terminal (or MT5 Terminal 1, MT5 Terminal 2 if running multiple).
4. Trigger: When I log on.
5. Action: Start a program → browse to terminal64.exe in your MT5 installation folder.
6. Finish.

Use the default setting "Run only when user is logged on" — MT5 requires an active desktop session to function.

If you run multiple MT5 terminals (e.g., for different broker accounts), create a separate task for each.

3. Automated Windows updates and reboot

Schedule updates for when markets are closed to avoid disruption:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update.
3. Set "Configure Automatic Updates" to Enabled, Option 4 (auto-download and schedule the install):
   • Day: Every Saturday
   • Time: 03:00 AM
4. Set "No auto-restart with logged on users" to Disabled (this allows the reboot to proceed automatically).

This creates an automated chain:

1. Updates download silently during the week.
2. Saturday 03:00 AM: updates install (markets are closed Friday 5 PM – Sunday 5 PM EST).
3. VPS reboots if needed.
4. Auto-logon restores the desktop session.
5. Task Scheduler launches MT5.
6. The EA reconnects and resumes trading before markets reopen Sunday evening.

How to interpret it

RDP disconnect behavior

This is the most common VPS mistake for new users:

• Close the RDP window (click X) — The session stays alive in the background. MT5 keeps running. This is correct.
• Never click Sign Out or Log Off — This terminates the desktop session and kills MT5. All EAs stop. Trades will be missed until you reconnect and restart.

When you're done checking on the VPS, always close the Remote Desktop window — never sign out.

Monitoring checklist

After initial setup, verify the automated chain works:

1. Reboot the VPS manually and confirm that Windows logs in automatically, MT5 starts, and the EA shows Connected status — all without your intervention.
2. Disconnect RDP (click X) and wait a few minutes. Then reconnect and confirm MT5 is still running.
3. Check the Experts tab in MT5 after the first Saturday maintenance window to confirm the EA reconnected successfully after the automated reboot.

Update schedule reference

Update type	Frequency	When
Windows Defender definitions	Weekly	Saturday 03:00 AM (auto)
Security patches	Monthly (Patch Tuesday)	Following Saturday 03:00 AM
Cumulative updates	Monthly	Following Saturday 03:00 AM

All updates install during the weekend market closure, minimizing any risk of disruption to live trading.

Example

A trader on the Pro plan deploys a DEMA/EMA crossover on EURUSD for live trading:

1. They provision a Windows VPS in New York (US East — matching the Strateda US East region, minimising the Strateda↔MT5 round trip and placing the terminal close to broker execution infrastructure in New York).
2. They install MT5, log in to their broker account, and set up the Strateda EA per the setup guide. The EA Region is set to US East in the inputs.
3. They configure auto-logon, auto-start MT5 via Task Scheduler, and Saturday 03:00 AM update schedule.
4. They test by rebooting the VPS — within 2 minutes, MT5 is running and the EA shows Connected. No manual intervention needed.
5. They close the RDP window (not sign out) and leave the VPS running.

The strategy now runs 24/7. The trader checks in via RDP a few times per week to review performance, but the VPS handles all restarts and reconnections automatically. When Patch Tuesday updates install the following Saturday at 03:00 AM, the VPS reboots, auto-logs in, launches MT5, and the EA reconnects — all before markets reopen Sunday evening.