A forex VPS is a small always-on Windows server that keeps MetaTrader 5 running when your own computer is asleep. For copy trading it matters twice over: trades are only mirrored while the terminal is connected, and a VPS near the broker's server reduces execution latency.
For a single MT5 terminal running the Aurex copier, 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM and an SSD is comfortable. Choose a data centre close to your broker's servers rather than close to you.
Latency matters less than uptime for copy trading. A copier only mirrors trades while the terminal is connected, so a terminal that sleeps with your laptop misses entries and, worse, misses exits. A VPS removes that failure mode entirely.
Choose the data centre by broker location, not by your own: London (LD4) and New York (NY4) host most forex liquidity. Keep Windows updates on a manual schedule so a reboot never lands mid-session, and verify the terminal reconnects automatically after restart.
Not strictly, but it is strongly recommended — the copier only mirrors trades while MetaTrader 5 is running and connected.