How to copy trades between machines on a local network?

Replikanto has a feature that allows it to receive trades from another Replikanto via the local network (the same WiFi, for example). In this case, you can send trades from a Replikanto running on machine A to another Replikanto running on machine B within your home or office with no extra cost, although all Replikantos must have valid licenses.

What is Local Network Copying?

Network Node Mode (Local Network) (also called Network Mode) allows you to copy trades between Replikanto instances on the same local network without using internet-based Remote Copy. This is ideal for:

• Copies within the same home or office on the same WiFi/network
• Situations where you want to avoid internet latency
• Multiple trading computers in the same physical location
• Testing configurations before deploying to remote locations

Prerequisites

Before setting up local network copying, ensure:

• Valid licenses: Both Replikanto instances (leader and follower) must have valid licenses
• Network connectivity: Both machines must be on the same local network (same WiFi/router)
• Firewall configured: Windows Firewall on the follower machine must allow inbound connections (see Why can't I copy trades over my local network?)
• Same instruments: Both Replikanto instances must have the same instruments available
• Same Replikanto version: Keep the leader and every follower on the same Replikanto version. A follower that receives trades from a leader running a newer version writes this warning to the NinjaTrader Log tab: "You are receiving trades from a leader running a newer version of Replikanto. Update Replikanto on this machine so that both sides behave the same way."

Finding Your Follower's IP Address

To connect from the leader to the follower, you need the follower machine's IP address on the local network:

1. On the follower machine, open Command Prompt (Windows)
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for "IPv4 Address" under your network adapter (usually 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)
4. Use this IP address when registering the node on the leader machine

Step 1: Configure the Follower (Receiving Machine)

On the machine that will receive trades (the follower), turn on Network Node Mode (Local Network):

Important steps:

1. Right-click the Replikanto window and select Network Node Mode (Local Network). A check mark next to it means the mode is on.
2. Select the Network Adapter that connects to your local network (right-click the Replikanto window > Properties > Network Replikanto > Network Adapter; usually Ethernet or Wi-Fi, whichever this machine uses to reach your router)
3. Note the IP address and Port displayed (default port is 4547)
4. Don't forget to select the follower accounts that will be copying the leader's trades
5. Tick the Check to turn it on box under Node IP and Port (it then reads Uncheck to turn it off) and keep Network Node Mode (Local Network) checked. The follower only receives trades from the network while that box is ticked.

Properties > Network Replikanto: 1 = Network Adapter (the connection this machine uses to reach the router), 2 = Port (4547 by default).

The follower machine ready to receive: 1 = Node IP and Port to type on the leader, 2 = the box that turns receiving on (ticked, it reads Uncheck to turn it off), 3 = the follower accounts turned on.

The follower is now ready to receive trades from the network.

Step 2: Configure the Leader (Sending Machine)

On the machine that will send trades (the leader), register the follower as a node:

Important steps:

1. In Replikanto, locate the Replikanto Nodes section (below Follower Accounts; local network nodes go in the left grid, with the Node IP and Port columns)
2. Click the empty row at the bottom of that grid (it shows 192.168.1.10 in grey) and type the follower's IP address and Port (from Step 1)
3. Click the circle next to the node to enable sending trades to that remote follower
4. Ensure the leader account you want to copy from is properly configured

The leader is now configured to send trades to the follower.

Step 3: Test the Connection

Verify that local network copying is working:

1. On the leader machine, select an instrument in both leader and follower accounts
2. Place a test trade (limit order works best for testing) on the leader account
3. Check that the trade appears on the follower account
4. If the trade copies successfully, your setup is complete!

Troubleshooting

Trades Not Copying

If trades aren't copying from leader to follower:

1. Verify network connectivity: Can you ping the follower machine from the leader?
2. Check firewall: Ensure Windows Firewall on the follower allows inbound connections on port 4547 (see Why can't I copy trades over my local network?)
3. Verify IP and port: Ensure you entered the correct IP address and port (default: 4547)
4. Check network adapter: Ensure you selected the correct network adapter on both machines
5. Verify accounts are selected: Ensure follower accounts are properly selected in the configuration
6. Check for Http Listener errors: See Fix "Error when trying to initialize the Http Listener"

Firewall Blocking Connection

If you suspect the firewall is blocking the connection:

• Temporarily disable Windows Firewall on the follower and test if trades copy
• If they copy with firewall disabled, add proper rules by following Why can't I copy trades over my local network?
• Check for third-party firewall software (Norton, McAfee) that may also need configuration

IP Address Changes

If your follower machine's IP address changes (can happen with DHCP):

• Update the node registration on the leader with the new IP address
• Consider setting a static IP address for the follower machine in your router settings

When the Local Network Port Is Released

The follower listens on the local network port (4547 by default) while Network Node Mode (Local Network) is on. Starting with Replikanto 1.7.0.0, the port is released when Network Node Mode (Local Network) is turned off in every tab, or when the last Replikanto window is closed. In earlier versions the port could stay in use until NinjaTrader was closed; if you are on an older version and need to free or change the port, restart NinjaTrader or update Replikanto.