69 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
69 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# NinjaTrader RAM Drive
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A guide to creating and using a RAM drive to speed up NinjaTrader.
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This involves placing the NT database folder (where all the downloaded data resides) into RAM.
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The one downside is that when you turn off your computer, that data is gone.
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NT will automatically rebuild the database the next time it launches, though.
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Still, make sure to save a backup of your database folder before attempting this, just in case.
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To begin, download the following tools:
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ImDisk Toolkit (for creating the RAM drive):
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[https://sourceforge.net/projects/imdisk-toolkit/](https://sourceforge.net/projects/imdisk-toolkit/)
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Link Shell Extension (for creating a symbolic link from the database folder on the RAM drive to the default NT directory):
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[https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html#download](https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html#download)
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First step is to create the RAM drive with ImDisk Toolkit.
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Here's what it should look like. Just click OK.
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![Create RAM Drive](./images/create_ram_drive.png)
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I created a 20GB one in the screenshot, but that's because I had lots of RAM to spare.
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At the time I'm writing this, the database folder on my machine is < 2GB, so you probably won't need anywhere near that much space.
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Next, format the drive.
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Just use the default settings:
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![Format RAM Drive](./images/format_ram_drive.png)
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In the end, you should see something like this:
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![RAM Drive Created](./images/ram_drive_created.png)
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Next, navigate to your NT directory.
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It's in your Documents folder by default.
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Example location:
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```
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C:\Users\<YOU>\Documents\NinjaTrader 8
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```
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Inside of that folder, there is a folder named db.
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Rename it so that it serves as a backup (e.g., "db-backup") .
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Now create the symbolic link so that any data written to the database goes to the RAM drive instead:
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Create a folder named "db" on the RAM drive (D:\ in the above example).
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If Link Shell Extension is installed, right click on that folder and select "Pick Link Source":
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![Pick Link Source](./images/pick_link_source.png)
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Then navigate back to your NT directory, right click and select "Drop As..." -> "Symbolic Link":
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![Drop as Symbolic Link](./images/drop_as_symbolic_link.png)
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Now when NT is launched, it should place all the downloaded data on the RAM drive instead of the SSD / HDD.
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