Mirus Futures

Before setting up, please make sure your computer meets or exceeds the Recommended PC Requirements to the right. NinjaTrader and Zen-Fire are powerful technologies. Systems that do not meet the Recommended PC Requirements could possibly encounter performance issues with NinjaTrader or Zen-Fire.

*Remember to refer to the Things You Should Know section at the end of this guide for important information regarding NinjaTrader, Zen-Fire and the trading your live account!

If you are already running the latest version of NinjaTrader, you can continue on to the next section, Updating Ninja for Live Trading.

Recommended PC Requirements

• Windows XP (preferred) or Windows Vista 32 bit
• Intel Core2 Duo (preferred) or similar processor 2GHz or faster
• 1GB RAM using XP, 2GB using Vista
• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
• Broadband Internet DSL/Cable Download speed 768.0 Kbps

**Wireless connections and wireless keyboards/mice are not recommended

**Protection from Firewalls, Anti-Virus, and Anti-Spyware software should be turned off while trading!

Setting Up NinjaTrader

If you have not downloaded and installed NinjaTrader, please follow the steps below.

Click here to download the latest version of NinjaTrader.

Click here to register for your free NinjaTrader Direct License Key.
DynamicDOM users, click here to register for NinjaTrader Direct with DynamicDOM.

*For an explanation and details regarding License Keys, please refer to the Things You Should Know section.

Install the software on your computer. It will prompt you for your License Key. (Fig. 1)

Your License Key was emailed to you after you registered at the link above. Once NinjaTrader has started up, continue on to the next section.



NEXT SECTION: CONNECTING TO ZEN-FIRE

These instructions are ONLY for those who have already been using NinjaTrader and simply need to update their platform for trading with Zen-Fire. If you are new to NinjaTrader, please follow the steps in the Introduction and then proceed to Connecting to Zen-Fire.

Updating NinjaTrader for Live Trading

NinjaTrader must be set up to trade your account with Zen-Fire. First, you will need a Live License Key. When you register for a free License Key, or subscribe to NinjaTrader, and they will e-mail you your License Key.

Click here to register for your free NinjaTrader Direct License Key.
DynamicDOM users, click here to register for NinjaTrader Direct with DynamicDOM.
*For an explanation and details regarding License Keys, please refer to the Things You Should Know section.

Enter your License Key by going to the Control Center and going to the Help menu > License Key. Enter the License Key in the window that comes up. (Fig. 2)

After entering the License Key, it will ask if you want NinjaTrader to start in Global Simulation Mode. If you click Yes to this question, NinjaTrader will start in Global Simulation Mode and you must turn it off before you can trade your live account.
This is a feature that locks all of NinjaTrader in your Sim account. It can be turned on or off by going to File > Global Simulation Mode. If it has a check-mark next to it, it is currently active. It must be turned off to trade your live account. If you click Yes to this question, NinjaTrader will start in Global Simulation Mode and you must turn it off before you can trade your live account.

You are now ready to set up your connection to Zen-Fire.

NEXT SECTION: CONNECTING TO ZEN-FIRE

Connecting to Zen-Fire

Now that NinjaTrader is installed and your License Key loaded, we need to create a Zen-Fire Account Connection.


After launching NinjaTrader from your desktop, the Control Center window will appear. Go to the Tools menu > Account Connections. (Fig.3)

A small window will appear. Click the Add button. This will bring up a larger window. Click Next to get to the window you see in (Fig. 4).

Enter a connection name of your choice, then select Zen-Fire in the Provider field and click the Next button.

Do not change any other settings in this window unless advised by your account manager.

Now enter the Username and Password provided by your broker and hit Next. (Fig. 5)
DO NOT click the 'Settings >>' button

Your account connection has been created. Click Finish and close the Account Connections setup window.

View Video Demo outlining "Adding a New Connection".


NEXT SECTION: TRADING WITH ZEN-FIRE

Trading With Zen-Fire & NinjaTrader

Your connection to Zen-Fire is now set up. It's time to connect to your account.

In the Control Center window, click on the File menu > Connect > (your Mirus connection).(Fig. 5)

Each time you start NinjaTrader, this is what you will do first to begin trading.

Confirm you have connected by checking for the green 'Connected-Zen-Fire' status in the lower left corner of the Control Center. (Fig. 6)

View Video Demo on "Trouble-Shooting your Connection".

If you go to the Accounts tab, you will not see your account’s balance until you place your first live trade. You don't need to get into a position, you can place a trade far away from the market and then cancel it, but this will force Ninja to access our Orders Server and download your account balance.

Once connected, go to the File menu > New and select the Order Entry window you will be trading from (i.e. Static SuperDOM or Chart). (Fig. 7)

In this example, the Static SuperDOM has been selected.

Once open, ensure you have selected a contract in the Instrument Field, as well as your Live Account from the Account drop down menu. (Fig. 8)

If the Account field is grayed out (as shown here), then go to the Control Center window and uncheck 'Global Simulation Mode' in the File menu. If 'Global Simulation Mode' is also grayed out, then you'll need to enter a live NinjaTrader license key.

Another visual indicator that you are in Live Trading Mode is that the trading window’s background will change to a brighter color than the default gray.

You are now ready to trade your live account!

Continue on to the Things You Should Know section for important information about NinjaTrader, Zen-Fire and trading your account.

NEXT SECTION: THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Things You Should Know

Now that your live Account Connection is set up, NinjaTrader must be setup for Live Trading. You will need a Live License Key to trade your account.

NinjaTrader and License Keys

Features within NinjaTrader are enabled and disabled depending on the License Key being used. Free license keys are available through NinjaTrader, but limit some functionality. Only the Subscription-based version allows for the use of NinjaTrader's full feature-set for live trading (such as ATM strategies, trailing stops, OCO orders, third-party indicators, and NinjaScripting).

To register for a free license key, or to purchase a subscription, you can register with NinjaTrader here. Once they have processed your information, NinjaTrader will email you a license key.

Firewalls, AntiVirus and AntiSpyware

Zen-Fire is an intense trading engine. When connected, your computer rapidly receives large amounts of data. Software such as Firewalls, AntiVirus and AntiSpyware have a tendency to see this stream of data as something that could possibly be bad for your computer and may end up blocking out parts of the data or the entire connection. This can result is orders not getting filled, inaccurate price reporting and disconnects. We recommend turning off all active protection from these programs before connecting to Zen-Fire and during trading.

Know What You're Trading

No matter what you’re trading, the more you know about it, the more effective you can be. You should learn as much about what you are trading as you can, or at least know where to find the information. Every exchange has its own website that provides details on every product they carry. Below are some of those exchanges’ websites.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR ACCOUNT

BROKER

Mirus Futures performs all functions of a broker, including technical support, customer service, trade desk support, and opening the accounts. This should be the first point of contact for clients regardless of the issue. Your “Account Manager” is the representative assigned to your account, and will most often be the person assisting you.

CLEARING FIRM

This organization works with the exchanges to handle confirmation, delivery, and settlement of transactions. In addition, they hold customer funds and supply statements to clients, however, they rely on the brokerage firm to communicate with clients.

TECHNOLOGY

NinjaTrader is a front-end trading platform, providing advanced charting, market analytics, automated trading, and trade simulation. This is the program you will see on your computer and use to execute your orders. Zen-Fire is a trading engine that provides fast, unfiltered data to the trading platform and order routing to and from the exchanges.