Multi-broker License Key
The Multi-broker License Key is only needed if a user wants to connect to a live 3rd party brokerage account. Like a Funded Interactive Brokers account for example.
If they are just "Evaluation Accounts" or "Prop Firm Accounts", those users should have been given an Evaluation License Key that once imported gives them the "Evaluation (Rithmic)" Entitlment on their account.
That is included with their evaluation account for Free vs the Multi-broker add-on which isn't necessary and would cost them $99 a month if they didn't previously purchase a License Key before we switched to the account plan system in March of 2023. Users who had purchased a Lifetime License Key before this, even if single broker, have been upgraded with Multi-broker add-on for free for life.
The Evaluation Key is needed for a Rithmic-Based Evaluation account to show within NinjaTrader. If the user doesn't have this, the connection would still establish, but they wouldn't see the account in the platform.
To verify if they have the Evaluation (Rithmic) entitlement, they can go to the Control Center > Help > About. Under Entitlements, they should see "Evaluation (Rithmic)". If not, that is why they don't see the account.
If it is a Tradovate-based Evaluation account, they don't have to worry about the License Key or Multi-broker add-on.
Tradovate-based connections don't need a License Key, even if it has been provided to them. If they import it, it won't hurt or break anything, it just isn't necessary at all.
Finally, if a user does have the Multi-broker add-on, this would also allow them to see their Rithmic-based Evaluation accounts.
If a user does want to add the Multi-broker add-on to their account, they may do so by following the guide below:
Multiple Tradovate Connections in NinjaTrader
The "NinjaTrader" connection type can have as many concurrent connections as you want to different NinjaTrader or Tradovate-based accounts.
The limiting factor would be how many concurrent connections each connection can have as that is dictated by the provider.
I know a NinjaTrader Brokerage account can have Two concurrent connections to different platforms.
I think other providers only limit it to One active connection, but you would have to check each one directly
Multiple Rithmic Connections in NinjaTrader
The "Rithmic for NinjaTrader Brokerage" connection can only have ONE connection per platform
You can set multiple connections up, but it will only let you connect to One of them at a time.
If you want to switch between connections, they would need to disconnect from the first, and then go back in and click on the 2nd one to connect to it instead.
I recently discussed a similar thing here in this forum post that might provide some additional insight:
Lifetime License Key Prior to 2015
Additionally, most users don't have the ability to see the "Rithmic" connection type in their platform and will NOT be able to activate that unless they purchased a lifetime license key before 2015.
If you have two active Rithmic-based connections at once, this is most likely how it is being done.
This will NOT be a valid way for most users to have two active Rithmic-based connections at the same time so I wouldn't even suggest it unless you reinforce that they had to have Purchased the License Key before 2015 and there is no way around that. Those people were grandfathered into a prior agreement and we will not be able to make exceptions for newer users.