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https://github.com/extrange/ibkr-docker

Run IBKR Gateway/TWS in a Docker container
https://github.com/extrange/ibkr-docker

algorithmic-trading

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Run IBKR Gateway/TWS in a Docker container

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README 

        
# Interactive Brokers in Docker



- [Interactive Brokers in Docker](#interactive-brokers-in-docker)

  - [Features](#features)

  - [Getting Started](#getting-started)

    - [Using `docker run`](#using-docker-run)

    - [Using `docker compose` (recommended)](#using-docker-compose-recommended)

    - [Environment Variables](#environment-variables)

  - [Docker Images](#docker-images)

  - [FAQ](#faq)

    - [How do I save TWS settings locally?](#how-do-i-save-tws-settings-locally)

    - [Cannot connect to API when using TWS](#cannot-connect-to-api-when-using-tws)

    - [Error: `library initialization failed - unable to allocate file descriptor table - out of memory/root/ibc/scripts/ibcstart.sh`](#error-library-initialization-failed---unable-to-allocate-file-descriptor-table---out-of-memoryrootibcscriptsibcstartsh)

    - [Which tag to use, `latest` or `stable`?](#which-tag-to-use-latest-or-stable)

    - [What is the difference between IB Gateway and Trader Workstation (TWS)?](#what-is-the-difference-between-ib-gateway-and-trader-workstation-tws)

    - [Do I need to download TWS separately?](#do-i-need-to-download-tws-separately)

    - [What ports does TWS/IB Gateway use internally?](#what-ports-does-twsib-gateway-use-internally)

    - [How do I configure the default login to paper/live trading?](#how-do-i-configure-the-default-login-to-paperlive-trading)

  - [Repository Architecture](#repository-architecture)



**Trader Workstation**



![](tws.jpg)



**IB Gateway**



![](ibgateway.jpg)



## Features



- **Fully containerized** TWS/IB Gateway, no external dependencies

- [**TWS API access**][tws-api] automatically configured and forwarded

- **Viewable in a browser** (via noVNC)

- **Auto-restart, auto-login** TWS/IB Gateway automatically via [IBC Alpha](https://github.com/IbcAlpha)



## Getting Started



### Using `docker run`



```bash

docker run -d \

  -p "127.0.0.1:6080:6080" \

  -p "127.0.0.1:8888:8888" \

  --ulimit nofile=10000 \

  -e USERNAME=your_username \

  -e PASSWORD=your_password \

  ghcr.io/extrange/ibkr:latest

```



### Using `docker compose` (recommended)



Create a `.env` file:



```bash

USERNAME=

# wrap password in single quotes if $, /, or \ are present

PASSWORD=''

```



`compose.yml`:



```yml

---

services:

  ibkr:

    image: ghcr.io/extrange/ibkr # latest, stable, 10.21, 10.21.1p etc

    ports:

      - "127.0.0.1:6080:6080" # noVNC browser access

      - "127.0.0.1:8888:8888" # API access

    ulimits:

      nofile: 10000 # See FAQ

    environment:

      USERNAME: ${USERNAME}

      PASSWORD: ${PASSWORD}

      # TWOFA_TIMEOUT_ACTION: restart

      # GATEWAY_OR_TWS: tws

      #

      # Variables prefixed with IBC_ override IBCAlpha`s config.ini:

      # IBC_TradingMode: live

      # IBC_ReadOnlyApi: yes

      # ...

      # See below for more details

```



**Important**: Boolean-like values (e.g. `yes`/`no`) must be wrapped in single quotes to prevent them from being interpreted as `True`/`False` by th YAML parser.



View at [localhost:6080](http://localhost:6080).



[TWS API][tws-api] is accessible at port `8888`.



### Environment Variables



| Variable               | Description                                                      | Default    |

|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|

| `USERNAME`             | Username                                                         | `edemo`    |

| `PASSWORD`             | Password                                                         | `demouser` |

| `GATEWAY_OR_TWS`       | What to start, either `tws` or `gateway`                         | `tws`      |

| `TWOFA_TIMEOUT_ACTION` | [2FA timeout action][twofa-timeout]. Either `restart` or `exit`. | `restart`  |

| `TWS_SETTINGS_PATH`    | (optional) Path to store TWS settings (see FAQ)                  |            |



Variables prefixed with `IBC_` will override settings in [IBCAlpha][ibc-alpha]'s `config.ini`, e.g.:



- `IBC_TradingMode` (default: `live`)

- `IBC_ExistingSessionDetectedAction` (default: `manual`)

- `IBC_ReadOnlyApi` (default: keep existing)

- etc.



See possible values [here][config.ini].



## Docker Images



See available tags and versions [here.][images]



## FAQ



### How do I save TWS settings locally?



If you want to save TWS settings locally (e.g. to persist settings across container runs), set `TWS_SETTINGS_PATH` to say, `/settings`. Then, add a bind mount on your local filesystem, such as in the following `compose.yml`:



```yaml

#...

  environment:

    TWS_SETTINGS_PATH: /settings

    #...

  volumes:

    - ./settings:/settings:rw

```



Now, TWS will load settings from your local filesystem for each container run.



### Cannot connect to API when using TWS



You will need to manually enable `Enable ActiveX and Socket Clients` (see this [issue][tws-api-issue]).



### Error: `library initialization failed - unable to allocate file descriptor table - out of memory/root/ibc/scripts/ibcstart.sh`



Ensure that you have the appropriate `ulimit nofile` set: either `--ulimit nofile=10000` (`docker run`) or `ulimits: nofile: 10000` (`docker compose`).



### Which tag to use, `latest` or `stable`?



`stable` is generally [preferred][stable-or-latest] as there are less bugs.



### What is the difference between IB Gateway and Trader Workstation (TWS)?



[TWS][tws] is a fully featured trading platform with many features.



[IB Gateway][ibgateway] has a minimal GUI and is used for API access to the trading platform, for example with automated trading. It also uses less resources.



See [here][tws-vs-gateway] for more differences.



### Do I need to download TWS separately?



Both the IB Gateway and TWS installation scripts include both IB Gateway and TWS, so downloading either is fine.



### What ports does TWS/IB Gateway use internally?



[TWS uses `7496` (live) and `7497` (paper), while IB gateway uses `4001` (live) and `4002` (paper).][tws-ports]



There is no need to change the port for this image, as it automatically forwards the correct port (based on trading mode and TWS/IB Gateway) to 8888.



### How do I configure the default login to paper/live trading?



Set the environment variable `IBC_TradingMode` to `paper` or `live`.



## Repository Architecture



- New versions of IB Gateway are checked for daily, and fetched if available, as a release (`detect-releases.yml`).

- A PR with the updated `Dockerfile` (obtained by running `build.sh  `) is automatically created

- I test the updated configuration (both IB Gateway/TWS)

- I then manually merge the PR, and tag the resulting commit with `git tag docker--`

- Pushing the tag triggers a docker build action (`publish.yml`, based on the `docker-` prefix), which reads the version and release channel (latest/stable) from the tag, and then fetches the repo at the tag's commit, builds from the appropriate folder (latest/stable), tags and pushes the image to [ghcr.io/extrange/ibkr][images].



[images]: https://github.com/extrange/ibkr-docker/pkgs/container/ibkr

[tws-api]: https://interactivebrokers.github.io/tws-api/introduction.html

[ibc-alpha]: https://github.com/IbcAlpha

[config.ini]: https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC/blob/master/resources/config.ini

[twofa-timeout]: https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC/blob/master/userguide.md#second-factor-authentication

[stable-or-latest]: https://github.com/IbcAlpha/IBC/blob/master/userguide.md#interactive-brokers-trader-workstation

[tws]: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/trading/tws.php

[ibgateway]: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/trading/ibgateway-stable.php

[tws-vs-gateway]: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32778954/interactive-brokers-api-trader-workstation-tws-vs-ib-gateway

[tws-ports]: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/?f=%2Fen%2Fgeneral%2Ftws-notes-954.php

[tws-api-issue]: https://github.com/extrange/ibkr-docker/issues/16#issuecomment-1514830115