Rithmic Connection Guide
Rithmic is the data feed infrastructure that connects your trading platform to your prop firm account. It's not a trading platform itself — it's the bridge between platforms like NinjaTrader and your prop firm's servers.
What Is Rithmic?
Think of Rithmic as the plumbing. Your prop firm uses Rithmic servers to host your evaluation account. Your trading platform (NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, etc.) connects to Rithmic to access your account data, submit orders, and receive market data.
Every order flows through this chain. Connection quality matters.
Rithmic Server Selection
When connecting, you must select the correct Rithmic server. Your prop firm will specify which one to use:
| Server | Used By | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Rithmic Paper Trading | Apex, Bulenox, Leeloo | Evaluation |
| Rithmic 01 | Some funded accounts | Live/Funded |
| TopstepX | Topstep | Both |
| Rithmic Test | Testing only | Demo |
Common Issues & Fixes
❌ 'Gateway not available' error
✅ Fix: The Rithmic server is temporarily overloaded (common during 9:30 AM ET open). Wait 5-10 minutes and retry. If persistent, contact your prop firm.
❌ 'Login failed' error
✅ Fix: Double-check username and password. Ensure you're connecting to the correct server (Paper Trading vs Live). Try copy-pasting credentials to avoid typos.
❌ No market data after connecting
✅ Fix: You may need to subscribe to CME market data through your prop firm. Check if data fees are included or require separate activation.
❌ Orders rejected immediately
✅ Fix: Check position limits. Your evaluation may restrict the number of contracts. Also verify you're trading during market hours (ES: Sun 6pm - Fri 5pm ET).
❌ Connection drops frequently
✅ Fix: Check your internet stability. Use a wired connection if possible. VPNs can cause connection issues — try without VPN. Close other bandwidth-heavy applications.
Only one connection per account: You can only connect one platform to a Rithmic account at a time. If you're connected in NinjaTrader, you can't also connect in Tradovate to the same account simultaneously.