VPS is short for “virtual private server”. When you get a VPS, you are getting a personal allotment of space and bandwidth on a server in a datacenter somewhere. A VPS usually comes loaded with the Windows or Linux operating system. You are then able to remotely log in to your server from your home (or work) computer and use it as if it was sitting right there in your office.  Some of the benefits of using a VPS instead of your own home computer to run your expert advisor are:

• It frees up your computer to do other things. It is simply impractical to run MT4 and a bunch of other applications simultaneously. It will bog your computer down.
• A VPS runs non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thus you don’t have to leave your home computer on all the time, and you need not worry about your power going off and missing a trade or worse, getting out of a trade.
• Likewise, a VPS maintains a constant high-speed internet connection – probably much faster and more stable than the one you have at your home. Again, you need not worry about a local internet outage that might strand some of your trades and leave you in a state of panic.

Just for clarification, a VPS differs from a standard web hosting account on a web server in a couple of important ways:

• You are usually permitted to install any software that you wish. It is essentially your server to do with as you please. So you can load MT4 and any expert advisor that you choose.
• You are typically guaranteed a certain amount of system resources (disk space, bandwidth and CPU usage) to do with as you see fit.

So, how much does a VPS cost? You can find them from $18 per month to over $100 per month. The primary difference will be in resources offered. To run one EA, you won’t need anything too robust, and one of the cheaper plans should serve you well. Two of the lower cost providers on the market are SWVPS.com and VPSLand.com. You might check them out if you decide a VPS is for you.