Copy trading is one of the most efficient ways to participate in the Forex market, but it only works when your platform never goes offline. If you rely on a home computer or laptop, even a short power cut, internet disruption, or accidental shutdown can cause missed trades, broken signal connections, and real financial losses. Running Copy Trading on VPS solves this completely.

A VPS operates in a professional data center with 99.9% uptime, dedicated resources, and a stable internet connection, which means your MetaTrader terminals and trade copier EAs keep running 24/7, whether your local machine is on or not.

In this guide, you will learn how to set up a Forex VPS with an Ubuntu Linux OS, install MetaTrader using Wine, configure a remote desktop environment, and deploy your copy trading EAs so your platform stays live 24/7.

Requirements for Copy Trading on VPS

Before you start the Copy Trading on VPS, you need a VPS running Ubuntu 24.04 or Ubuntu 22.04 with root or sudo access. Also, you need a stable Forex VPS connection, including a public IP with open RDP access, so your Copy Trading on VPS setup can stay reachable 24/7.

If you are looking for a reliable Forex VP, you can check PerLod Hosting plans, which offer a stable connection and 24/7 uptime.

Now follow the steps below to set up Copy Trading on VPS.

Remote Desktop Configuration for Copy Trading Platform

By default, a VPS has no graphical interface. To interact with MetaTrader visually, you need to install a lightweight desktop environment and enable Remote Desktop (XRDP) so you can connect from your local machine.

Run the system update and upgrade with the command below:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install XFCE with the command below, which is an efficient desktop environment ideal for a Forex VPS:

sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies -y

Then, install XRDP to enable incoming remote desktop connections:

sudo apt install xrdp -y

Configure the XRDP service to default to the XFCE desktop layout upon login with the command below:

echo xfce4-session > ~/.xsession

Finally, restart XRDP to apply the configuration:

sudo systemctl restart xrdp

Install Wine for the Copy Trading Platform

MetaTrader is a Windows application, so that it won’t run on Linux by default. Wine lets you install and run it on your VPS without needing a full Windows virtual machine.

Now that your desktop environment is ready, connect to your VPS using Remote Desktop from your local machine and install Wine with the commands below. Since MetaQuotes dropped 32-bit support in 2024, all current MT4 and MT5 builds require a 64-bit Wine environment.

Run the system update to identify the newly enabled 32-bit repositories:

sudo apt update

Install the 64-bit Wine binaries, which are needed to run modern MetaTrader builds:

sudo apt install wine64 -y

Also, generate a dedicated 64-bit Windows prefix specifically for your trading platform with the command below:

WINEPREFIX=~/.wine64 WINEARCH=win64 winecfg

Set up Copy Trading Platform via Wine on Linux VPS

At this point, you can easily use Wine to download and install your Copy Trading on VPS.

Open the terminal inside your remote Linux desktop and run the command below to download the official installation file:

wget [BROKER_LINK] -O mt4setup.exe

Use the command below to launch the Windows installer securely inside your 32-bit sandbox:

WINEPREFIX=~/.wine64 wine mt4setup.exe

Follow the graphical prompts to complete the installation, and repeat the process if you need a second terminal.

Install the Master and Follower EAs

The trade copier works through two EAs:

• One is installed on the Master terminal that sends trades.
• One on the Follower terminal that receives and copies them.

Note: For this to work efficiently, the execution speed between your VPS and your broker must be as fast as possible. Learn more about how server location affects your trades in our guide on how to Reduce Slippage with Forex VPS.

You must place each EA file in the correct MetaTrader folder for them to work properly. To do this, follow the steps below:

Launch both MetaTrader terminals and navigate to File, followed by Open Data Folder in each window.

Paste your Transmitter EA file into the MQL4/Experts directory of the Master terminal. And paste your Receiver EA file into the MQL4/Experts directory of the follower terminal.

Finally, restart the platforms, attach the EAs to any active chart, and confirm that Allow Auto Trading is enabled.

Once both EAs are attached to the charts, AutoTrading is enabled, and you have configured your specific risk settings, the system will copy trades 24/7. You can now safely close the Remote Desktop window without shutting down the VPS or closing the MetaTrader terminals.

FAQs

Conclusion

Running Copy Trading on VPS is the only reliable way to ensure you never miss a trade due to hardware failure, power cuts, or lost internet connections. By using Ubuntu Linux and Wine, you can save money on expensive Windows server licenses while keeping your MetaTrader terminals running smoothly 24/7.

Before trusting the setup with live funds, always test your trade copier on demo accounts for at least 48 hours to confirm lot sizes and latency.

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