Skip to main content
This page contains technical details about how Heron Copier works. If you are not interested in the technical details, you can skip this page and go ahead to the Quick Start Guide.While it is not necessary to understand how the copier works to use it, it is recommended to read this page so you can better understand how to use (and configure) the copier, especially if your use cases are complex.The copier is versatile, but it can’t “automagically” do everything for you. By understanding how it works, you can configure it accordingly.

​
Basic Principles

Heron Copier is a versatile trade copier that can be used in various scenarios. You can use the copier for as many master and slave accounts as your VPS/PC can handle. There is no limitation. The copier works by sending trade instructions from the master account to the slave account(s) via TCP protocol. It uses a “port” to establish a connection between the master and slave accounts. As an example, let’s have a look at the default IP address and port number used by the copier @ tcp://127.0.0.1:51124. The default server address @ tcp://127.0.0.1:51124 consists of the following components:
  • Protocol: tcp://
  • IP Address: 127.0.0.1
  • Delimiter: :
  • Port Number: 51124
The IP Address 127.0.0.1 is a special IP address that refers to the local machine (i.e. the same VPS/PC where the copier is running). And the Port Number 51124 is the default port number used by the copier. This means that, by using the default server address, you can already copy trades between accounts running on the same VPS/PC.

​
Multiple Master Accounts

What if you want to have more than 1 master account? It’s easy, just make sure to use a unique port number (e.g. tcp://127.0.0.1:51124 for the first master account, tcp://127.0.0.1:51125 for the second master account, etc.). For example, if you have 3 master accounts like the example above, you can use the following port numbers:
  • Master Account #1: tcp://127.0.0.1:51124
  • Master Account #2: tcp://127.0.0.1:51125
  • Master Account #3: tcp://127.0.0.1:51126
And the slave accounts will listen to their respective master account’s port number:
  • Slave Account #1: tcp://127.0.0.1:51124
  • Slave Account #2: tcp://127.0.0.1:51125
  • Slave Account #3: tcp://127.0.0.1:51126
This means that Slave Account #1 will listen to the first master account via port number 51124, Slave Account #2 will listen to the second master account’s port number 51125, and so on. Port number is like a “channel” that the master and slave accounts use to communicate with each other. There can only be one master account per port number, but you can have multiple slave accounts per port number.

​
Dashboard Page

 Unlike other local-based trade copiers, Heron Copier provides a centralized dashboard where you can see all your accounts at a glance without having to login to your VPS. The dashboard page is a page hosted on our server that allows you to monitor your accounts in real-time. All accounts connected to the copier will be displayed on the dashboard, along with their current status, balance, equity, and other relevant information. You can also see the trade history, open trades, and even close trades directly from the dashboard. Above is an example of how the dashboard communicates with the connected accounts. The Heron Copier EAs/apps can communicate both ways with the dashboard. They listen for commands from the dashboard and send updates to the dashboard. For example, when you click on the “Kill Switch” button on the dashboard, the dashboard sends a command to the selected account to close all trades. The selected account then closes all trades and sends a confirmation back to the dashboard. The dashboard then displays a message to the user that all trades are closed. This enables you, as the user, to manage your connected accounts directly from the dashboard.

​
So… Is the local version of Heron Copier really a local-based copier?

Yes, it is. Despite having a centralized dashboard, the local version of Heron Copier is still a local-based copier. All trades made by the copier will still originate from your VPS/PC’s IP address. The dashboard is just a tool to help you monitor and manage your connected accounts.
⌘I