A home computer is not fit for arbitrage, and ping is only part of the problem: reboots, dropped internet, Windows updates mid-session — each of these little things eats the very edge this whole setup is built on. The industry-standard answer is a rented Windows server (VPS) that sits in a data center close to your broker's servers and never shuts down.
What the right server gives you
Two latencies — and both matter
This is the key difference between arbitrage and regular trading. The program lives between two points, and the path to each must be short: it receives the fast price stream from the OnlyProfit quote node — our nodes run in London, New York and Tokyo — and exchanges orders with your broker's server. The broker only ever talks to your VPS: nothing from it reaches the quote node. The ideal placement is a VPS sitting in the middle of this path — a stone's throw from both the quote node and the broker's server. Best case: all three points in one financial hub.
But if the VPS sits next to the broker yet an ocean away from the quote node (or vice versa) — the edge melts on transatlantic ping, no matter how fast everything else is.
The main rule: broker first — server second
The most common beginner mistake is buying a VPS before the broker is even chosen. The location is picked for two points at once: the specific broker's server and the nearest quote node. The right order:
- 1Pick a broker and register an MT account
The one you want to test. You'll get an email with credentials — including the server name.
- 2Check in the app where its servers are
The Connections section finds all of the broker's servers and measures the ping to each, details below.
- 3Rent a VPS at the right spot
Short-term or hourly.
- 4Measure ping from the server itself — and go
Both latencies fine — you're ready to launch.
The app itself shows where the broker's servers are
This is usually where the guessing starts: traders beg broker support for addresses or dig through forums. In OnlyForex it's built in, in the Connections section.
- 1Create a new connection
In Connections hit Add and pick the account type: MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, whichever your broker issued.
- 2Find the broker
Type the broker's name and hit Find. If its terminal is already installed, just click its name under the field. Paste from the broker's email fills in the server, login and password from the credentials email for you.
- 3Get the full list of the broker's servers
Each server comes with a live ping, measured right from your machine, and the number of access points.
- 4Pick the server from the email
The app connects to its fastest access point on its own, and the Advanced block lists every access point with its ping. Now match them up: where these points are and where the nearest quote node is (London, New York, Tokyo). Rent the VPS in that same spot.
- 5Check the login
Check login shows the account type, balance and leverage before you save.
The whole chain comes together in one place. No guessing, no blind buying.
Server requirements
The engine doesn't need expensive hardware — it needs stability and the right geography. Paying for 8 cores makes no sense: any money above this table is better left in the deposit.
Where to rent: three categories
How to measure ping properly
Do the final measurement from the VPS itself, not from your home computer — what matters are the “server → broker” and “server → quote node” paths; your home channel plays no part in them. Connect to the VPS over RDP, install the app and find the broker in Connections: the ping is then measured from that machine. Torn between locations? Compare 2–3 options on an hourly cloud: it costs pennies and kills the guesswork.
Checklist before you pay
- Broker chosen, location identified from the server list in Connections
- Windows included in the plan
Or you're ready to install it yourself.
- Ping measured from the server itself
- Rental is short: hourly or weekly
No point paying months ahead — the next account will get a new server with a new IP anyway.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start from a home computer?
To get to know the app — yes. For live work — no: it's a voluntary 50–100 ms head start handed to the broker, plus the risk of a dropped connection mid-trade.
Windows Server or regular Windows?
Both work (64-bit). Server editions are steadier for 24/7 operation, but Windows 10/11 is perfectly fine too.
Is the server different for OnlyBinary?
No, the same one works: from 2 CPU / 4 GB RAM. OnlyBinary doesn't require a server, but it's more convenient with one; details are in the OnlyBinary guide.
The full path — from renting a server to the first trade — is laid out in the guide: the chapters “What you need to start” and “From payment to launch” are open even before purchase. It's all done on your own in one evening, and if anything is left unclear — support is online 24/7.