Data Server Mode choice not being respected

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MC_Prog
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Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 14 Oct 2015

Hi.

I am observing that with machine #1 connected to a data source (CQG), when I start a 2nd machine the two machines being a ping-pong struggle to be connected to the source, each repeatedly disconnecting and reconnecting.

This is despite the fact that machine #2 was started up with Data Server Mode set to Offline.

Should it not be the case that having Data Server Mode set to Offline keeps the machine completely offine, so as not to interfere with another machine that is online?

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby JoshM » 15 Oct 2015

Should it not be the case that having Data Server Mode set to Offline keeps the machine completely offine, so as not to interfere with another machine that is online?
It seems that offline mode is not fully 'offline' (see point 2):
Online/Offline Mode

MultiCharts can be running either in online mode that allows user to receive real-time and historical data from data vendors’ servers, or customer can work in offline mode to develop studies and strategies and backtest them on locally saved historical data. There are 3 key points customers should know about the modes of MultiCharts:

(1) It is not possible to receive any data from your data source in offline mode.
(2) It is possible to connect a broker profile and place orders in offline mode.
(3) Offline/Online mode affects not only MultiCharts; it affects tsserver.exe process that are responsible for data in the software, so the selected mode will be set for MultiCharts, QuoteManager and Portfolio Backtester.
Source.

Did you perhaps had a Trade Bar connection to CQG active on machine #2?

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 15 Oct 2015

Hmmm. I will observe with your points in mind Josh. Thanks.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 22 Oct 2015

It seems that in the CQG case simply having a machine #2 where CQG is defined will cause a conflict with an operating machine #1 whenever MC is started on machine #2, regardless of online/offline setting.

Depending on how one reads what was written, this might be considered to be "as documented" behavior.

However, it is a real problem. This is not the behavior that is to be desired.

The desired behavior would be for starting up MC on machine #2 not to interfere with an operating machine #1 so long as machine #2 is in offline mode, or even online and not connected to the CQG broker profile.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby Henry MultiСharts » 02 Nov 2015

Hello MC_Prog,

We were unable to replicate this behavior on our end. As long as you have the CQG broker profile disconnected on the PC where MultiCharts is in Offline mode - it will not interfere with the other PC in Online mode.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 04 Nov 2015

OK checking more closely, it may be necessary on machine #2 to open a workspace where there is a chart set to a symbol from the feed in question.

IOW, Data Server Mode: Offline is not preventing MC from wanting to connect to the feed when a workspace/chart using that feed is opened.

The use case here is wanting to trade live on machine #1 (without any interruptions or hiccups), while running optimizations on saved historical data on machine #2 at the same time (against historical saved data only).

Not being able to run optimizations (on a separate machine) during trading hours is a major hindrance to research and development.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby TJ » 04 Nov 2015

Are you trying to use one MC license to run a 2nd copy of MultiCharts in a 2nd machine?

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 05 Nov 2015

No, both machines are licensed. The conflict is at the data feed level.

The data feed allows only one logon at a time. The problem is that both machines are trying to be that logon even when I've done my best to tell one of them to stay offline and work only with the historical data already on disk.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby JoshM » 08 Nov 2015

No, both machines are licensed. The conflict is at the data feed level.

The data feed allows only one logon at a time. The problem is that both machines are trying to be that logon even when I've done my best to tell one of them to stay offline and work only with the historical data already on disk.
Try blocking tsServer.exe with a firewall (even the standard firewall that comes with Windows will do).

If I recall correctly, that MultiCharts process performs the data downloads and connections. If that process is forced by the firewall to stay offline, it can't 'message back' to the data feed and trigger a login.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 09 Nov 2015

Thanks Josh.

Using the firewall seems a very logical suggestion as a work-around.

I just tried it, blocking outbound tsServer.exe as suggested.

What happened was this blocked the connection to the Digital Right system and MC popped up a dialog saying no realtime data would be available.

Image

Still though, when a workspace with CQG charts was opened, the connection ping-pong with the other machine began to happen.
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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby MC_Prog » 09 Nov 2015

As long as you have the CQG broker profile disconnected on the PC where MultiCharts is in Offline mode - it will not interfere with the other PC in Online mode.
With respect, and thanks for efforts so far, this sentence is simply not true, at least not here.

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Re: Data Server Mode choice not being respected

Postby Henry MultiСharts » 10 Nov 2015

As long as you have the CQG broker profile disconnected on the PC where MultiCharts is in Offline mode - it will not interfere with the other PC in Online mode.
With respect, and thanks for efforts so far, this sentence is simply not true, at least not here.
Please come to our live chat Monday-Friday 6:30 am - 1 pm EST to demonstrate this behavior remotely.


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