Record an HTTP test

Record an HTTP test

Overview

A proxy recorder intercepts the HTTP traffic between the browser used by RPT, and the destination site.
The following recorders are available for recording HTTP traffic from a browser:

Recorder Description
SOCKS proxy recorder Use when no proxy connections are required.
HTTP proxy recorder Use when proxy connections are required to connect to the network or when the client program does not support SOCKS.
Socket recorder Use for low-level network traffic when the client does not support proxies.

If you are using SSL, the proxy recorder can cause authentication problems because SSL relays traffic between the client and the server. Depending on the authentication method in place, the client might require the proxy recorder to authenticate itself as the server, and the server might require the proxy recorder to authenticate as the client. If the client program requires an authenticated server, you must either have access to the server certificate keystore and provide it to the proxy recorder or configure the client to accept the default certificate from the proxy recorder instead of the certificate from the actual server.

Record an HTTP performance test with a browser

In the Performance Test perspective, on the toolbar, click the icon...
New Test From Recording icon

...or click...
File | New | Test From Recording

In the New Test From Recording wizard, click....

Create a test from a new recording | HTTP Test | Next

If you are recording sensitive data, click...

Recording encryption level

...and select the encryption level to record.
On the Select Location page, select the project and folder to create the test in, type a name for the test, and click Next.

If necessary, click the icon...
Create the parent folder icon

On the page...

Select Client Application

...select the web browser to use.

The following client application types are supported...

Microsoft Internet Explorer Record traffic sent and received with Internet Explorer.
Mozilla Firefox Record traffic sent and received with Firefox.
Google Chrome Record traffic sent and received with Chrome.
Apple Safari Record traffic sent and received with Safari.
Opera Record traffic sent and received with Opera.
Managed Application Record a browser not in the list.
Unmanaged Application Record HTTP traffic from one or multiple client programs that use a proxy. Manually start the client programs, and the proxy recorder records all traffic sent and received through the specified network port.

To record HTTP or SOCKS traffic through a proxy, click...

Record traffic with the proxy recorder

To record low-level network traffic for applications where a proxy cannot be used, click...

Record traffic with the socket recorder

Use this option primarily when you are not using Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer. When using proxy recording, you can filter out HTTP or HTTPS requests to a specific endpoints so that any requests to those endpoints are not recorded.
If the server requires client SSL authentication, provide the client certificate keystore for the proxy recorder to be authenticated by the server as though the proxy recorder were the client. Select the checkbox...

The server requires a specific client certificate

Specify the file name and password of the server certificate keystore.

If multiple certificates are required, click Multiple certificates, and click Add to specify a certificate keystore file name and password for each host name and port.
If you selected Mozilla Firefox, you can choose to use a temporary Firefox profile.

Use an alternate Firefox profile

...and then select...

Use a temporary Firefox profile

This starts Firefox without any bookmarks, plug-ins, or toolbars that might be associated with your usual profile. Select the check box...
If you clicked...

Record traffic with the proxy recorder

...click Advanced to specify whether to use an HTTP or SOCKS proxy recorder to review and edit network connection settings that the browser uses or to specify advanced SSL authentication settings.
If you clicked...

Record traffic with the socket recorder

...specify advanced SSL authentication settings.
If you selected Managed Application...

On the Recording Method page, click a recorder to record HTTP traffic and click Next.
On the Managed Application Options page, for Program path, click Browse to select the program.
If necessary, specify the Working directory, and in the Arguments field, set the command-line arguments that the program requires. Click Next.
If the program requires user input from a command line interface, select the Open console for user input check box. Click Next.

Depending on the recording method that you selected, complete one of the following steps:

On the Proxy Recorder Settings page, specify whether to use an HTTP or SOCKS proxy recorder to review and edit network connection settings that the browser uses or to specify advanced SSL authentication settings.
On the Socket I/O Recorder Secured Settings page, specify advanced SSL authentication settings.

If you selected Unmanaged Application, on the Proxy Recorder Settings page, specify whether to use an HTTP or SOCKS proxy recorder to review and edit network connection settings that the browser uses or to specify advanced SSL authentication settings.

Click Finish. A progress window opens while your browser starts.

In the browser address field, set the address of the web-based application to test, and activate the link.
If you enter the address of a secure website (one that starts with https:), your browser might display a security alert. Depending on the security certificate for the site, you might be required to accept a security risk to proceed with the recording.

Complete the user tasks to test. While you are recording, follow these guidelines:

Wait for each page to load completely. This wait does not affect performance results, because you can remove extra waiting time (think time) when you play back the test.
Do not change any browser preferences.

You can use the Recorder Test Annotations toolbar to add comments, record synchronizations, or take screen captures during the recording.

To change the page name, click the Change page name icon .
In the resulting test, the page element in the test editor uses the new name; however, the original name is preserved in the Page Title Verification Point area so that page title verification points still work correctly.
To add a comment to the recorded test, click the Insert comment icon . You are prompted for a comment.
To add a screen capture to the recorded test, click the Capture screen icon .
Screen and window captures make the tests easier to read and help you visualize the recorded test. You can change the settings for screen captures and add a comment to the image.
To manually add a synchronization point to the recording, click the Insert synchronization icon .
To manually add a transaction folder to the recording, click the Start Transaction icon and Stop Transaction icons to start and stop the transaction. Transactions can be nested.
To insert a split point into the recorded test, click the Split point icon icon.
With split points, you can generate multiple tests from a single recording, which you can replay in a different order with a schedule.
To filter packets that display during recording sessions, click the Filter packets icon.
You can specify the filter criteria for the following elements:

SAP packet type
SAP packet attribute
Socket packet type
Socket packet attribute
Packet type
Proxy connection IDs
Citrix events
A group of conditions
Remote host

You can add and remove packet filters as needed.

After finishing the user tasks in the browser, stop the recorder. You can stop the browser by closing the client program or by clicking the Stop icon in the Recording Control view.

Results

A progress window opens while the test is generated. After the test is complete, the Recording Control view displays the Test generation completed message, the test navigator lists the test, and the test opens in the test editor.

Related concepts:
Record reliable HTTP tests
Record reliable HTTP tests Configure Internet Explorer for recording from a secure web site
Split an HTTP test during recording
Reset browser LAN settings if recording is interrupted
Create HTTP tests manually
Record Adobe Flex content
Record Microsoft Silverlight applications
Set HTTP test generation preferences
Create tests
Record sensitive session data
Record a test with digital certificates

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Recorder	Description
SOCKS proxy recorder	Use when no proxy connections are required.
HTTP proxy recorder	Use when proxy connections are required to connect to the network or when the client program does not support SOCKS.
Socket recorder	Use for low-level network traffic when the client does not support proxies.

Microsoft Internet Explorer	Record traffic sent and received with Internet Explorer.
Mozilla Firefox	Record traffic sent and received with Firefox.
Google Chrome	Record traffic sent and received with Chrome.
Apple Safari	Record traffic sent and received with Safari.
Opera	Record traffic sent and received with Opera.
Managed Application	Record a browser not in the list.
Unmanaged Application	Record HTTP traffic from one or multiple client programs that use a proxy. Manually start the client programs, and the proxy recorder records all traffic sent and received through the specified network port.