Using different PC for order/charting

November 27th, 2010, 06:20 AM

I was wondering if many users are using different computers for charting or order management ?

Or different virtual machines ? I have no real problems but was looking in the best of best setup ? Maybe this could be a good idea ? Thanks.

December 4th, 2010, 08:53 AM

I will speak on this subject...
I used to use 1 computer for charting/order entry/management, etc. But then I found out very quickly that if you have any issues/problems with this 1 computer and it almost always seems to happen when you are IN a LIVE trade... Then I'd have to scramble to find my broker's #, my account #, etc. and CALL THEM ON THE PHONE, and put my STOP in, or EXIT my position, etc.

So for what I have now, turns out to be very stable:
1 iMAC (yes MAC VERY STABLE) I run VM-WARE with Windows XP / Windows 7 on it, but only run 1 at a time...
I use the iMAC with 2 screens, this is in the center of my trading desk. I have the VM on the TOP display, and have ONLY my order entry software platforms running on this. I have the phone numbers for the different brokerage accounts that I trade from, on a notepad, right near my computer, with the phone numbers, account numbers, names, etc.

I keep the anti-virus updated, but as a RULE, I don't use the web on the order entry computer, and I NEVER install any software on it, other than Order entry software. this reduces the exposure of this machine to the internet potentially getting a virus. It runs fast, and its STABLE, which is what I want.

CHARTING COMPUTER:
this is a home-made PC. with 16 GIG of RAM, and 8 - 25" monitors. Its a nice setup, The monitors are placed 4 on one side of the iMAC, and 4 on the other, and mounted to stands, so I still have desk space.

This computer is just used for Charting Application IE NT, Esignal, Trade Navigator, etc.
When I am trading, I NEVER open up a web page from this computer. It works fine, and is very stable.

for watching the news or a webinar, i will use the iMAC and just open a web page from this, or skype, or what-ever from this in the center. It works out very good.

I encourage others to have multi-workstations, as this is the way to go, if you can do it...

Also I have a laptop on the side of my desk, with a alternate internet connection, incase I loose my ISP, I can quickly get up and running, by enabling the internet, and launch my charting platform, as well as my order entry software. Haven't had to do this yet.....knock on wood..........

February 18th, 2011, 07:39 AM

I now run 1 computer for the charting on DTN/IQFeed, and another computer is running sierracharts with TT for the ordering.

I have more than 1 charting program up, and I feel better now that my orders are on a dedicated computer.

February 18th, 2011, 08:00 AM

I have 2 computers. My main workstation is an i7. I have Windows 7 on it but use a VM with XP for another instance of NT. I've moved mostly to NT7...so I'm mostly in W7 now. I do not access the internet with this machine aside from broker connection.

Other computer is solely for Internet browsing...etc. 3 monitors.....1 of the monitors is shared with both computers via a KVM switch.

I've found that keeping trading seperated from 'normal internet activity' keeps my i7 computer clean/stable. It has one purpose - to hold an overclock stable and do what it does ;-).

February 18th, 2011, 11:58 AM

I run both my charting and order placements on VMWareFusion/Windows XP VM on my MacBook Pro 17". I don't do web or Emailing on this VM; just NT, MultiCharts, SierraChart (one at a time). I don't do backtesting; I only do Market Replay.

I do all web activities, Emailing, Skype, and run ONLY Mac apps (e. g. Jing, ScreenFlow, Safari, Opera, Firefox, etc ) on the Mac(host)-side.

My MacBook Pro 17" machine seems sufficient for my charting and for now, my order placement (I plan to have another MacBook Pro 17" just for order placement).

Lolu

Using different PC for order/charting

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Using different PC for order/charting