Recording an HTTP test

The test creation wizard starts when you record a test. To record the test, a proxy recorder intercepts the HTTP traffic between the browser and the web server. You can record a test from Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or from another browser.

Before you begin

The following recorders are available for recording HTTP traffic from a browser:
  • SOCKS proxy recorder: Use this recorder when no proxy connections are required.
  • HTTP proxy recorder: Use this recorder when a proxy connections are required to connect to the network or when the client program does not support SOCKS.
  • Socket recorder: Use this recorder for low-level network traffic when the client does not support proxies.

If you are using Secure Sockets Layer (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 that the proxy recorder authenticate itself as the server and the server might require that the proxy recorder 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.

Procedure

To record an HTTP performance test with a browser:

  1. In the Performance Test perspective, on the toolbar click New Test From Recording New Test From Recording toolbar button or click File > New > Test From Recording.
  2. In the New Test From Recording wizard, click Create a test from a new recording, select HTTP Test, and click Next. If you are recording sensitive data, you can select a Recording encryption level.
  3. 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 Create the parent folder Create the parent folder icon to create a performance test project or folder.
  4. On the Select Client Application page, select the web browser to use. The type of application defines the recorder that can be used. The following client application types are supported for recording a service test:
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer: This option records traffic that is sent and received with Internet Explorer.
    • Mozilla Firefox: This option records traffic that is sent and received with Firefox.
    • Managed Application: This option starts a browser that is not in the list.

      On the Managed Application Options page, click Browse to specify the Program path. If necessary, specify the Working directory, and in Arguments, type the command-line arguments that the program requires.

      If the program requires user input from a command line interface, select Open console for user input.

    • Unmanaged Application: This option records HTTP traffic from one or multiple client programs that use a proxy. You must manually start the client programs, and the proxy recorder records all traffic that is sent and received through the specified network port.
  5. On the Recorder Settings page, depending on the browser that you selected, specify these details:
    1. Specify the recording method.
      • Select Record traffic with the proxy recorder to record HTTP or SOCKS traffic through a proxy.
      • Select Record traffic with the socket recorder to record low-level network traffic for applications where a proxy cannot be used. Use this option primarily when you are not using Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
      Note: 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. See Proxy recording preferences
    2. If the server requires client SSL authentication, you must 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 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.
    3. If you selected Mozilla Firefox, you can choose to use a temporary Firefox profile. This starts Firefox without any bookmarks, plug-ins, or toolbars that might be associated with your usual profile. Select Use an alternate Firefox profile, and then select Use a temporary Firefox profile.
    4. Click Advanced to specify whether to use an HTTP or SOCKS proxy recorder (if you selected Record traffic with the proxy recorder) to review and edit network connection settings that the browser uses, or to specify advanced SSL authentication settings.
  6. Click Finish. A progress window opens while your browser starts.
  7. In the browser address box, type the address of the web-based application to test, and activate the link.
    Note: 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.
  8. 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 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 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 Insert comment icon. You are prompted for a comment.
    • To add a screen capture to the recorded test, click the Capture screen icon Capture screen icon. Screen and window captures make your 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 Insert synchronization icon.
    • To manually add a transaction folder to the recording, click the Start Transaction icon Start Transaction icon and Stop Transaction icons Stop Transaction icon to start and stop the transaction. Transactions can be nested.
    • To insert a split point into the recorded test, click the Split pointSplit 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. See Splitting a HTTP test during recording for more information about splitting a test.
  9. After you finish the user tasks in the browser, stop the recorder. You can stop the browser by closing the client program or by clicking the Stop push button Stop icon in the Recording Control view.

Results

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

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