> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.quanorix.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Trading Platform Agent

> What the TPA is, why compute runs on your PC, and which jobs it can run.

# Trading Platform Agent

The **Trading Platform Agent (TPA)** is a lightweight app that runs on **your PC**. Quanorix keeps your account, shared market data, and UI in the cloud; heavy compute (generation, validation, portfolios when applicable) runs on the agent linked to your account.

## Why it exists

* Avoids saturating shared servers with long genetic searches or walk-forwards.
* Uses your machine’s CPU/RAM, with local control (workers, bar cache).
* One active agent per account (MVP): pairing again replaces the previous one.

## What you need

1. Download and install the TPA ([Install and pair](/en/tpa/install)).
2. Complete **Link / pair** until the agent is **online**.
3. Have market data downloaded (and, on the agent, the [M1 cache](/en/tpa/cache) synced when a job needs it).

## Tray icon states

| State     | Icon color | Typical tooltip        | Meaning                      |
| --------- | ---------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| `offline` | Gray       | Quanorix TPA (offline) | No usable tokens / heartbeat |
| `online`  | Green      | Quanorix TPA (online)  | Ready to claim jobs          |
| `running` | Blue       | Quanorix TPA (running) | Running a job                |

## In the web app (Profile)

Under **Profile → Agent status** you will see:

* **No agent linked** — pairing not done yet.
* **Connected · \<name>** — linked and online (recent heartbeats).
* **Linked (offline) · \<name>** — an agent is registered but not online (TPA closed, network, etc.).

You can **Unlink agent** from Profile to clear the link.

## Job types on the agent

Depending on product routing, the TPA may run compute jobs assigned to your account (e.g. generation). Data jobs (cloud downloads) stay on the server path; the TPA provides local cache when a compute job needs M1 series.

## Next

* [Install and pair](/en/tpa/install) — step-by-step (tray → web → confirmation).
* [Data cache](/en/tpa/cache).