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Trader's
Desktop Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: How do I logon to my
virtual desktop?
A: Windows 2003
VM's: Logging into the
virtual desktop is easily accomplished by visiting the IP of the desktop directly
in your web browser (i.e.
http://YourVirtualDesktopIP).
Here you will find shortcuts to MS Remote Desktop and VNC (if
enabled). Most subscribers save the shortcuts to their
PC's desktop, so they can simply double click to connect. Using
the RDP shortcut is important with WIndows 2003 VM's to avoid
opening duplicate sessions. Windows 2008 VM's: you can
login with regular RDP.
Q: Can I migrate my
Trader's Desktop to a different CNS datacenter if I change my
broker?
A:
Absolutely. Shut down the VPS (start->shutdown) and open a
support ticket. It usually takes 3-4 hours and the IP
address will change. The VPS will otherwise be the same
with your programs and everything else as you left it.
Only the IP's will change because each address is assigned to a
unique CNS datacenter. There is no charge to migrate
between CNS datacenters.
Q: What are the
benefits of
Windows 2008 R2?
A: Windows
2008 R2 SP1 is the latest Microsoft OS. Windows 2008 is
the same family as Windows 7. Windows 2003 is in the same
family as XP. 2008 is a much newer, more modern operating
system and will take advantage of the latest CPU features.
Win2008 Network I/O signifigantly faster than 2003.
Q: My Internet connection is
slow and unreliable. What happens if my Internet
disconnects while I'm on my virtual desktop?
A:
It's exactly the same as if you walked away
from the keyboard. The virtual desktop will keep running
your programs, including your EA's. Simply logon again when your Internet is
back up and you will rejoin your running session.
Q: Is support available
24/7/365 and staffed by real people?
A:
YES! We realize support is critical, most especially for
traders. We maintain a 'EMERGENCY' support queue, in
addition to the normal support queues. This is the
equivalent to dialing 911 or 999, so please only use it for
emergencies. To open a support ticket, please logon to
your control panel and click "help desk", then "submit ticket". You will be surprised
how quickly we jump right on your issue, regardless of the
priority! We also have a lot of helpful information
available at our
helpdesk.
Q: My Internet connection is
slow. How is the virtual desktop fast?
A:
It seems fast because the Internet connection
between the virtual desktop and the Internet is extremely fast.
Your computer is merely a terminal (i.e. a screen, keyboard and
sound), it doesn't take a lot of bandwidth or even CPU to run.
There is a second life for old laptops!
Q: Can I share files between my
computer and my virtual desktop?
A:
Yes! The Windows Remote Desktop Client can easily be
configured to map your local drives, printers, COM ports, etc..
Instructions to setup these devices are included in our
logon
instructions. When properly setup, your computer's
hard disk(s) will be displayed in the virtual desktop file
explorer as mapped drives. You can interact with these
resources as any other disk. Remember that this is a file
transfer between your computer and the virtual desktop, so the
speed will be limited to your internet speed.
The VNC client also has great
file transfer features.
Q: What is the difference
between the Market Maker edition and the value or standard editions?
A:
The value and standard editions will throttle back heavy CPU usage. The
Market Maker
edition has quad dedicated CPU cores. The Market Maker edition is designed
for extremely active traders.
Q: Can I install my own
software or do I need to buy yours?
A: You can absolutely
install your software. Our software is available by
subscription and always up to date, so it generally will work
out to be a better deal (because purchased software usually
costs more to upgrade). That being said, you can install
your own software. Download and install it from the web
browser or send the file through the mapped remote desktop
disk(s). Install as you normally would on any other PC.
Q: Can my desktop be configured
to start my programs automatically after a reboot?
A: Yes,
we include our own CNS Autoboot software. Autoboot will
restart your applications, and monitor the health of your
trading terminals. It will send alerts and/or restart the
application or VM after any number of conditions occur.
Please review the
Autoboot documentation for more information.
Q: How do I backup my virtual
desktop?
A:
Logon to control panel and take a "snapshot".
A snapshot is a point in time that you can restore back to.
Q: Are Windows updates
installed for me?
A:
No! Windows updates often require a
reboot, and so we do not install updates for you. You
should instead click on the update icon in the system trey when
you are ready to install updates and can tolerate a reboot of
your VM. Our goal is to NEVER reboot your VPS.
Please do not hesitate to open a support ticket if you would
like Windows updates installed automatically on a scheduled
day/time.
Q: Is my virtual desktop safe
from viruses?
A:
It's only as safe as you are. It is
just like any other Windows computer. Obviously, if you
download and install a virus then you will infect your VM
(virtual machine). We include Windows defender, and you
are also able to install your prefered software.
Q: Is my virtual desktop safe
from hackers?
A:
Each virtual desktop is it's own system,
running on Windows 2003/2008 Enterprise server. It is as safe
as you keep your password. Your virtual desktop is behind
two firewalls and we are constantly employing proactive network
monitoring and other countermeasures to identify threats
early and address them. We generally decline business from
users who tend to attract a high level of abuse (you know who
you are). We include free
two-factor authentication to provide you the most secure
virtual desktop service on the Internet, and encourage you to
utilize it. Configuring 2FA and installing
RDP Randomzier will result in the most secure VPS possible.
Q: Do you offer incentives for
referring new subscribers?
A:
Our
affiliate program pays up to $30/month for every subscription.
[READ
MORE]
Q: What happened to the free
trials?
A:
We are no longer offering free trials due to the abuse it
brings. We stand behind our 30 day money back guarantee.
Q: Other companies offer a
bigger disk to start. Why don't you?
A:
Most traders do not use much disk space.
Other companies offer large disk because they don't have much
else to compete with us, but this is actually counter
productive. The problem with a big disk is that it will
take longer to migrate your desktop to a different node or to
clone it. This can cost you money if you experience a
problem while you have an open position in the market. Our
support team is always on standby to migrate your virtual
desktop to a different server in the event of a failure. A
migration is literally a copy of your VM to a different server
over an internal network. The bigger the disk, the longer
a migration will take and you will be out of the market that
much longer. Sure, problems are extremely rare but it is
irresponsible to sell you more disk than you will likely ever
need just to make a buck, while costing you valuable time in the
event of a problem.
Q: Ok, I'm almost convinced.
But why should I choose Commercial Network Services?
A: You don't need
to take our word for it. Ask around on the Internet and
you will find our reputation is second to none. We have
been in business since 1995. Our founder is not only a computer expert but also
a trader himself, who is very much involved in the day to day
operations of CNS. He would never allow you to setup your
trading platform in any system that he himself would not trade
from. Subscribers in over 100 countries put their trust in
CNS for their trading needs.
Q: Where can I read more
information?
A:
We have a lot more information posted in our
Knowledge Base and video tutorials are available
here.
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