Running Metatrader under Linux - serious software bugs!

[irena]

Dear Forex traders,

Wanted to see if there are some among you running Metatrader under Linux, and what your experiences might have been.

I have been using Linux+Wine, and have MT4 demo accounts from several brokers, and one real account. Sofar I have experienced the following unpleasant things:

- after a while some of the demo accounts just died (and I had been logging in weekly)
- there is a trick about adding the exact numerical levels to Fib retracements: for anything in the world I wasn't able to make the trick work for my platforms under Linux. Tried it on another MT4 platform under Windows, and it worked fine in no time.

- this is perhaps the most serious issue: on my real account I was not able to place stop/limit orders when I wished to do so during the past week. I had to call the desk of my broker, and once they offered to place the orders for me, but the second time around they said that only market orders can be placed by phone! The tech support person suggested I reinstall the platform, or just go with Windows, to be safe!

Anyone have their platform under Windows, but use Linux+some virtual machine?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!
Happy Trades!
Irena

[raa]

Is there any particular reason to find a way to overcome such an artificial troubles with software, that can be easily resolved by using an appropriate platform, except the situation when trading is not the main goal and activity but some development/testing, etc. In later case most likely it would be better to look for answers at MT4 developers forums, etc.

PS I do Apple. But I run Win7 on it

[capsmart]

Hi Alex
A question concerning Apple and Mac. I like the big screens and how silently they operate but when you run windows I believe that you have the same problems with ordinary pc's like virus issues, crashes etc.
Some brokers offer web based platforms that you could run using Mac but you do not have all the indicators developed specifically for MT4.
Regards

[raa]

Hi Alex
A question concerning Apple and Mac. I like the big screens and how silently they operate but when you run windows I believe that you have the same problems with ordinary pc's like virus issues, crashes etc.
Some brokers offer web based platforms that you could run using Mac but you do not have all the indicators developed specifically for MT4.
Regards

Hi Vassilis, like you said I like the Mac hardware, design and quality of screens, but I could never stand their software, I think it is designed with retarded people in mind, but hey it is just my opinion. Was laughing so much when my wife got an iPhone and could not forward me an SMS nor copy an address from it!

But seriously, I never had any viruses on mine 1 main pc, one multimedia pc connected to home theater, two laptops and one ultra-mobile pc all running Windows in many years, just by having up to date sound anti-virus system (I use FREE AVG), and sound security settings in web browsers, and following basic security rules on not downloading and run executive files from unknown sources on web and email and visiting shady web sites.

In regards to crashed why they do happen on Windows and happen less (but still happen) on Mac: it has nothing to do with a software from Microsoft, but with many hardware and drivers vendors used for PC running Windows in comparison to a single hardware provider for MacOS (Apple). More choices you have - more problems can arise. If you stick to a good brand and go with recommended hardware combinations and drivers (i.e. purchasing white solutions), that including using only the best memory units when upgrading memory (because memory troubles from cheap or not exactly matching memory count for most blue screens), then you likely will never see any blue screen. And the good thing about running Windows on Apple is that this hardware is sound, drivers are provided by Apple with a Bootcamp and are not any shady or not properly tested ones, so in result Windows runs flawlessly.

I am testing now a real trading Oanda for some news trading, they use a Java-based platform that can run on any platform, but obviously I do main trading on MT4 and most importantly do my analysis on MT4. Although there is not big problem to use non-MT4 trading platform (which would be probably better than MT4 as is it simply very slow on entering or managing trades as it was designed for a dealing desk execution and all current STP bridges are that, bridges, so they are slow), despite one small thing of using a trade management EA, like MM2.1 from Dean, which is actually a great help to me, as I don't want to be glued to screen all the time. Although, probably it is possible either to find something or develop it in Java for both Oanda and Dukascopy (as an examples of non-MT4 platforms), but, well, it is not as simple as using something already available.

[capsmart]

Hi Alex
Yes I agree that implementing a sound security procedure will avoid viruses.
As long as you stay away from suspicious sources you should not have a problem.
I also agree concerning white solutions as you mention them but sometimes you cannot avoid them. You get a very nice, well known dvd writer that is simply not compatible with your very nice video card. Or one nice and expensive monitor that does not like your expensive and well known sound card. Unless you buy a ready made system where all the components are tested from the manufacturer you risk to face compatibility problems.
I remember once upon a time that I had two cd units on one computer and it was impossible to copy something from one to another. Both worked very nicely individually but never together. After searching in forums I found out that they could not co-exist.

[raa]

Hi Alex
Yes I agree that implementing a sound security procedure will avoid viruses.
As long as you stay away from suspicious sources you should not have a problem.
I also agree concerning white solutions as you mention them but sometimes you cannot avoid them. You get a very nice, well known dvd writer that is simply not compatible with your very nice video card. Or one nice and expensive monitor that does not like your expensive and well known sound card. Unless you buy a ready made system where all the components are tested from the manufacturer you risk to face compatibility problems.
I remember once upon a time that I had two cd units on one computer and it was impossible to copy something from one to another. Both worked very nicely individually but never together. After searching in forums I found out that they could not co-exist.

Indeed, Vassilis, when I say a "white system" I mean a pre-configured and pre-tested computer system from a trusted brand and seller. Surely, you can grab a lot of expensive parts and put them together only to see one problem after another. In most cases those problems are possible to eliminate (though selection of drivers, ports and interruptions used and other tweaks) and in result you have a very good custom-made PC, but first you need to know what you are doing, and second if we are talking about trading, not some ultimate gaming or processor powerhouse purpose-built Frankenstein monster PC - we are much better off with a shelf solution. Most brand notebooks can be a good example of a good white system built and tested by the manufacturers. And some desktops indeed too, but one should be careful there, as sellers tend to develop a configuration and assemble most of desktops themselves. Thus said, there are many white solutions that come pre-assembled from manufacturers available.

[raa]

Just in addition, as to comment Vassilis remark on how silent Mac run. Indeed, because iMac is essentially a notebook in the form factor of an LCD screen: it uses notebook board, memory, components, most likely processor too. However, there is a good compomise to the silence lovers

Get yourself a desk top pc in a micro-at form factor, those are used for home theater and other purposes, and run fanless. It has a DVI exit so you can connect a pretty good LCD monitor to it, even Apple Cinema if you like (lovely screen, yeah), and then you can even strap your small pc to the back of your big screen. I have one of those powering my home cinema.



Choosing a micro PC: Acer Revo R3600 vs ASRock 330 ION | gizwidge.com

It is running very good - no crashes, no driver issues, no troubles at all.

[Duck]

Dear Forex traders,
Wanted to see if there are some among you running Metatrader under Linux, and what your experiences might have been.

I have been using Linux+Wine, and have MT4 demo accounts from several brokers, and one real account. Sofar I have experienced the following unpleasant things:
Irena

Hi Irena,

I'm a Linux user and run MT4 on wine, and it runs well enough for me that I can do live trading with it. One glitch I have is modifying parameters on indicators -- I have to press F2 to make changes. I recently found that the breakout indicator available as part of the M1 strategy didn't work well for Sunday evenings, which I suspect is due to some glitch in MT4/wine. Box started a few hours early and looked screwy. But I was able to modify that indicator so it works fine running on either wine or windows.

I do run windows as an application on linux with vmware which works perfectly, but I can't have multiple desktops that way like I can with linux. (I've got 2 mt4 brokers so...)

I've not experienced any trade problems as you described though.

Would enjoy hearing from you. Best....

Neil