Desktop Companion - Proxy Recorder
The Desktop Companion allows you to run the RealLoad Proxy Recorder component locally on your desktop. Recorded HTTP(S) requests will then appear in the Editor tab.
There are two main sections in this chapter:
- How to configure your web browser.
- Hot to record a web session.
Configure your Web Browser
You’ll have to configure the listening TCP port of the integrated RealLoad Proxy Recorder in your web browser (host: 127.0.0.1, default port: 18080). We strongly recommend using a web browser that allows you to configure proxy settings independently of the operating system’s proxy settings, for example Firefox (Chrome and Edge do not support this feature).
Import the Proxy Recorder CA Certificate
Security Warning
You should never import the RealLoad Proxy Recorder CA certificate into a web browser that you use for everyday activities such as online banking, etc. Furthermore, you should never import the Proxy Recorder CA certificate into the operating system’s “trust store”.
In case if you ignore this security warning, you must delete the Proxy Recorder CA Certificate in the web browser or in the operating system as soon as possible after recording a web surfing session. Then reboot the operating system.
For the web browser to trust HTTPS (SSL) web server certificates issued on the fly by the local Proxy Recorder, you’ll need to import the Proxy’s CA certificate as follows:
1: First export the Proxy Recorder CA certificate to a file: In the Desktop Companion’s “Proxy Recorder” tab, click the “Export CA Certificate”. Then select a folder where the certificate is to be stored. It will be stored in a file named RecProxyCert.cer.
2: Then import the Proxy Recorder CA certificate into Firefox: In Firefox call Settings
Click Privacy & Security:
Scroll down to Security - Certificates, and click ‘View Certificates…’
In the Firefox Certificate Manager click first on Authorities and then on ‘Import…’
Select the CA Root Certificate you downloaded before and check the “Trust this CA to identify websites” box. Then click OK
The CA Root Certificate is now imported into Firefox:
Configure Proxy Settings
In the Firefox “Settings” scroll to the bottom of the page where “Network Settings” are located.
Select “Manual proxy configuration” and configure the Proxy Host to 127.0.0.1 and the Proxy Port to 18080 for both HTTP and HTTPS. Enable the checkbox “Also use this proxy for HTTPS” and click the “OK” button.
Test Browser Configuration
Navigate to any HTTPS page. You shouldn’t see any warnings about untrusted SSL certificates beings used.
If you check the certificate of the site you’re visiting, the issuer should be “Real Load Pty Ltd”, as shown in the below screenshots.
Recording a Web Session
Before starting recording, you should clear the browser cache each time.
Then navigate to the “Editor and Proxy Recorder” tab and expand the “Proxy Recorder Controls” area:
To start the recording click on the “Start Recorder” button:
Then enter the URL in the web browser:
We recommend adding Page Breaks while recording - every time before you click a button in the web browser or submit a form.
Click “Stop Recorder” after recording is completed.
After recording, proceed as follows:
- Restore the original proxy settings in the browser and, if necessary, delete the Proxy Recorder CA certificate in the browser.
- Delete HTTP requests for unwanted domains.
- Upload the recorded web session to the RealLoad portal and post-edit it in the HTTP Test Wizard.
