What is the NinjaTrader Multi-Provider setting?

The Multi-Provider setting is a feature built into NinjaTrader Desktop (version 8.1 or later) that enables users to connect to multiple account types and data sources simultaneously. This includes simultaneous connections to Live and Demo NinjaTrader accounts, evaluation accounts, and supported 3rd-party brokers or market data vendors.

Key Functions and Features

• Simultaneous Connections: It allows you to be connected to different brokerage technologies at the same time, such as connecting to both a Rithmic evaluation account and a Tradovate account.
• Manual Configuration: Once enabled, a "configure" button appears at the bottom of the Control Center > Connections dropdown. This allows you to manually create and manage unique connection profiles for different providers.
• Simulation Tools: Enabling Multi-provider is required to connect to the Simulated Data Feed for testing strategies and to make the Global Simulation Mode toggle visible in the Tools dropdown.
• Startup Behavior: If Multi-Provider mode is enabled, the platform will skip the initial login screen upon loading, requiring you to connect to your accounts via the Connections menu instead.

How to Enable Multi-Provider

To activate this setting, navigate to Tools > Settings from the Control Center. Under the General section, check the box next to "Multi-provider" and click OK. A restart of the NinjaTrader platform is required for the change to be fully applied.

After restarting, the configure button appears at the bottom of the Control Center > Connections dropdown, where you can create and manage your connection profiles.

Multi-Provider vs. Multiple Broker Add-On

It is important to distinguish between this setting and the paid Multiple Broker Add-on:

• Multi-Provider Setting: This is a free platform toggle that provides the technical capability to connect to multiple providers at once.
• Multiple Broker Add-on: This is a paid subscription ($99/month) required only to view and trade live through supported 3rd-party brokers such as Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, or Forex.com.
• Note: The paid add-on is not required to connect to multiple NinjaTrader Brokerage or evaluation (prop-firm) accounts, which is the common setup for Replikanto users.

Importance for Replikanto

For users of the Replikanto trade copier, enabling Multi-Provider mode is often necessary to copy trades between different brokers or to connect more than one broker to the same instance of NinjaTrader. With Multi-Provider on, you can keep several accounts connected at the same time (each shown with a green light in the Connections dropdown), and Replikanto can display and interact with all of them.