NT for Linux ... ?

[splat]

please port NT to Linux and mac

I have had to install Windoze so I can run NT. This is the first time I have had a Windoze machine in years, and I really wish it could be just a bad memory. Trading deserves a better platform.

It is probably pretty difficult to port NT, since it is based on .NET, and MS love to lock in their customers, but there is an open source implementation of .NET, called Mono, which might make it possible.

[littlefish]

If you have to use virtualization on the mac then truthfully it doesn't work on a mac. It's simply running on windows in a virtual machine.

Any windows binary will run on windows within a virtual machine in any environment.

Here is a screenshot I have taken moments ago showing ninjatrader running on xp within a virtual machine (google Virtualbox) on linux.

The problem with virtualization is the extra load put on a system having to run windows on top of itself. This is what everyone would like to get around by having ninjatrader compiled to natively execute on which ever operating system.

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

Unfortunately not on Linux, for the MAC you can use several virtualization packages (Paralles, Bootcamp, VMWare).

[sam30]

That's great news. Will it also work on linux ?
NT7 will use dotnet 3.5 so how can you port it to Mac ?
Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Ben]

Hello,

NT7 will work on a Mac. NT7 is due out this year.

[Jc_oz]

Challenge for NT

I just want to echo the sentiment that has been raised here for the support of a Linux/Mac version of NT...

As of Friday, I have had a gut full of windows and the instability on my 18 month old PC.
My system is dual boot with Windows Vista (possibly the worst windows based operating system ever) and Linux.
Linux is solid, it has not once failed me on this hardware!

I am a demo/micro account trader at this point... I am looking for a stable platform and I am considering Mac or Linux at this stage so that I can take my trading to the next level.

I respect NT so much that if it was available for Mac or Linux, that would even affect my decision on which flavour of Linux or purchase of Mac...

Great product you have developed... but I cannot justify buying your product for a windows platform.

I truly hope NT will broaden it's horizons in the near future...

Regards,

Jc

[Treggs]

When I have a few hours spare I'll run through the process again and make some notes on what I did. Once I have my thoughts gathered I'll start an appropriate thread.

Hello Treggs,



That is an excellent idea and I would recommend doing so.

[NinjaTrader_Michael]

Hello Treggs,



That is an excellent idea and I would recommend doing so.

[Treggs]

Unfortunately Linux/Wine is not supported. It may or may not work. You would need to try on your own.

Cheers for the feedback. As of today I am a paying customer based on this support forum and the good experiences I have had so far.

Would it be appropriate to start a new thread for those that are trying to get it working?

[sam30]

I also got it working but there are so many limitations that it's not usable for me : charting is very slow and you have to edit manually a config file to add a zenfire account.

[NinjaTrader_Dierk]

Unfortunately Linux/Wine is not supported. It may or may not work. You would need to try on your own.

[Treggs]

Guys, this is my first post and I have just recently started using NT for charting and I intend to buy it for trading. I have been playing with it in Ubuntu (under wine) to try and get it running and I managed to get it to load and connect to my esignal historical data feed.

I have had to use winetricks to install a few extra bits and pieces and although it's not perfect it does run.

Since NT gets that far, would it be possible to get some sort of support on wine? Seems so close. I'm no Linux guru but I'd be happy to help with testing if volunteers are needed.

My trading software is the only thing keeping me in windows. Would love to be windows free. Wouldn't we all

edit: Just noticed the dates on the posts. Apologies if there is a more appropriate thread this could have gone under

[Gains]

NinjaTrader_Dierk,

I missed this follow up until just today.

Thanks for the thoughtful answer. It's easy for us idealists to imagine the perfect solution without regard for the real world hurdles the coders face. :-)

Thanks to the entire team for all your efforts and for dealing with that list of our suggestions for "improving" Ninja that must number in the thousands by now.

Anxiously watching my calendar and waiting for v 7.

Gains

[NinjaTrader_Dierk]

Guys, although we do not support Linux (nor plan to do so in near future) here are some thoughts on Mono:
- nice approach which I have been monitoring since its first days, however complete support of system .NET assemblies (dependeant on .NET version) could be the limiting factor
- many broker/provider APIs are non .NET code (=unmanaged code =native code) and would not run on Mono

Due to these facts (and lots of details related), Mono unfortunately is no option at this time.

[ctrlbrk]

Cool thanks for the info and welcome to the NT forums!

My main desktop is an E6850 @ 3.0Ghz with 8GB. This weekend (or next) I am building a Q6600 w/8GB system that I need for other business reasons that will run 3 VMs but they are almost always low CPU resources, so I plan to throw a 4th VM on it for some NT backtesting as needed.

I agree with the VirtualBox single CPU being a serious drawback. For this new box, I am going to see if VMware ESXi is compatible with the hardware (not sure since it isn't a server box). I've run ESX in production environments and it's great, and now that ESXi is free I think that beats the other option of doing a core OS then VMware on top of that, or Server 2008 with Hyper-V. And the drummed down ESXi is perfect for this, don't need VirtualCenter for HA/DRS etc.

I'm also still planning on switching my primary desktop from Vista x64 to Ubuntu 8.10 x64. I've got in a dual boot now and am messing around with it. The major disadvantage right now holding me back is the nVidia triple-monitor support is lacking, can't do any desktop effects, compiz, etc. For that setup I prefer VirtualBox over VMware to run my XP box for Outlook 2007 and Ninja. Since I wont be backtesting, single CPU in the VM is acceptable.

Hopefully, if I proceed with that, VirtualBox will add multi-CPU support within the VM's before Ninja adds multi-core support in NT7. Cuz if not, that would suck!

Mike