Browser
Browser checks perform full-page render of a URL, using a specified version of Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer.
With Browser checks, you can execute performance monitoring of all application components including style sheet rendering, image loading, and video streaming, and connections other content sources.
Subtypes
Firefox
*Soon to be Deprecated* Firefox check uses Mozilla Firefox to access the URL.
Chrome
Chrome checks use Google Chrome to access the URL.
Internet Explorer
An Internet Explorer uses Microsoft Internet Explorer to access the URL.
Scenarios
Checks can contain a Selenium browser automation scenario.
Using scenarios in your Web check allows you to verify that the site behaves as expected.
You can add a scenario to your browser check from the check configuration view.
Add Scenario
Upload Scenario
Click Add Scenario
The Add Scenario Dialog is shown.
Enter a Name for the scenario
Click Choose File
The file browser is shown.
Browse to the directory where you have the scenario file stored
Select the appropriate file
Click Open
The scenario is uploaded.
Click Save
The dialog is closed, and the scenario added.
Debug Scenario
The Debug Scenario view allows you to replace, edit or test the scenario.
Click Debug Scenario
The Debug Scenario view is shown.
Upload
The scenario can be replaced by a different scenario, or a newer version of the same scenario by uploading a locally stored scenario file.
Upload Scenario
Click Upload New File
The file browser is shown.
Browse to the directory where you have the scenario file stored
Select the appropriate file
Click Open
The scenario is uploaded.
Test
You can do a quick manual test run of scenarios added to your check.
Test Scenario
The settings for the test run is under the heading How would you like to test your scenario
Item | Description |
|---|---|
URL | URL to run the scenario on. |
Browser | Browser type and version to use for the test. |
Location | Location to run the test from. |
Custom Headers | Additional HTTP Header to send together with each request. |
Test Scenario | Run the test. |
Testing
While the test is running, progress is displayed next to the run button.
You can cancel the test at any time by clicking Cancel.
Result Summary
Success
When a scenario test run is successful, this is indicated by the execution summary:
Failure
If any of the steps in the scenario fails, this is indicated in the summary.
Screenshots
If the scenario is configured to use screenshots, they are displayed as part of the result summary.
Add
You can add commands to the list.
Add Command
Click Add Step
Select a command from the dropdown list
Double-Click the Target
Enter the target for the command
Double-Click the Value
Enter a suitable value
Click Save Scenario
Commands
The list of commands in the debug view shows each step in the scenario, and allows you to add, delete or modify steps.
Commands List
Column | Description |
|---|---|
Command | Name of command. |
Target | Target for the command. |
Value | Command value, if any. |
Reorder Commands
Commands in the list can be reordered by clicking the command row, and dragging it to a new position.
Download Scenario
To download a scenario to the local computer:
Click Download Scenario
The scenario is downloaded to the default download folder for your browser.
Mask Values
When command values contain sensitive information, they can be masked. This will prevent the value from being displayed in results.
Example
Let’s assume you use a scenario with the following commands:
Command | Target | Value |
|---|---|---|
open | |
|
selectWindow | | |
type | | |
type | | {{$ Unknown macro: {maskapicaPassword}
}} |
clickAndWait | |
If you want to mask the value secretPa$$word in the Check Result page the following steps are required:
Add the command
Storeto store the password as a variable with the prefixmaskapica
Use this variable with the actual command which uses the password.
Your commands should now look like this:
Command | Target | Value |
|---|---|---|
store | | |
open | |
|
selectWindow | | |
type | | |
type | | {{$ Unknown macro: {maskapicaPassword}
}} |
clickAndWait | |
When Synthetic Monitoring runs a check using this scenario the result will be saved with the executed scenario commands list as the example above. When Synthetic Monitoring shows the check result on the check results page Synthetic Monitoring will recognize that there is a command value which starts with maskapica.
The command’s target will be masked on the the check results page:
Command | Target | Value |
|---|---|---|
store | | |
open | |
|
selectWindow | | |
type | | |
type | | {{$ Unknown macro: {maskapicaPassword}
}} |
clickAndWait | |
Execution Log
After a test run has ben executed for a scenario, a test execution log becomes available.
View
The execution log is collapsed by default:
To show the full execution log, click the expand button
Column | Description |
|---|---|
Order of execution. | |
Name | Name of command. |
Target | Target for the command. |
Value | Command value, if any. |
Severity | Severity of error, if any. |
Offset | Start time. |
Duration | Execution time. |
Success
Details for a successful test run are shown in the execution log:
Failure
If any of the steps in the scenario fails, any failed steps are indicated in the execution log.
####
The errors are also displayed in the list of commands in the Debug:
The Edit Scenario dialog allows you to add, replace, or download scenarios for the check.
Edit Scenarios
Click Edit Scenario
The Edit Scenario Dialog is shown.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Name of Scenario | Identifier for display purposes. |
Created | Timestamp for when the scenario was created. |
Last Updated | Timestamp for when the scenario was last edited. |
Configure Scenario
A scenario consists of a scenario/script .prxdat file (or a .zip containing the script file and resource files) that has been compiled to a .class file.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Filename | Name of the file(s) |
Description | Scenario description from the scenario file. |
Last Updated | Timestamp for when the scenario file was uploaded. |
Individual files can be deleted from the scenario with the delete file button.
The scenario can be replaced by a different scenario, or a newer version of the same scenario by uploading a locally stored scenario file.
Upload Scenario
Click Choose File
The file browser is shown.
Browse to the directory where you have the scenario file stored
Select the appropriate file
Click Open
Click Upload New File
The scenario is uploaded.
Click Save Scenario
The dialog is closed.
Using the Browser Check Wizard
Check Creation Wizard
With the browser check wizard (applicable for any browser) you can create a check and configure the basic settings.
Step 1: Name and Description
In the first step, you can add a check name and relevant information.
Step 2: URL, Scenario And Location
The second step allows you to configure the basic properties
Options
Item | Description | Comment |
|---|---|---|
URL | URL to access. | |
Browser Version | Browser version to use for the check. | Depending on the version, additional options may be available. |
Scenario | Scenario file. | |
Location | Locations for the check. | Note: If you select multiple locations, a separate check will be created for each location. |
Buttons
Step 3: Interval, Thresholds & Monitor Groups
In the third step, you can define how often the check is to run, basic reporting settings and add administrative settings.
Frequency
Item | Description | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Frequency | Time between data retrieval. | If set to |
Thresholds
Item | Description | Comment |
|---|---|---|
High Warning Threshold | A warning is triggered above this value. | |
High Error Threshold | Severity level Threshold calculation method and settings. | Error is triggered above this value. |
Low Warning Threshold | Severity level Threshold calculation method and settings. | A warning is triggered below this value. |
Low Error Threshold | Severity level Threshold calculation method and settings. | Error is triggered below this value. |
Treat 3rd party URL as Warning | Errors generated by third party URLs are handled as Severity level events. |
Groups
Item | Description | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Monitor Groups | Monitor Groups for the check. |
Step 4: Confirm & Create
The final step provides an overview of the check configuration and allows you to create it.
Click Create to add the check and open the Configuration view.
Record WebSockets Option
The WebSocket Option, found under Browser Check Behavior, allows you to record WebSocket stream communications.
Results
When the check records WebSockets, you can get a detailed view of the recorded data by expanding the relevant result Waterfall Diagram row to show the details about the WebSocket recording.
View
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Record Websockets | Turn WebSocket stream recording on or off. |
NTLM
The NTLM section allows you to configure Authorization settings for NTLM.
Configuration
Option | Description |
|---|---|
NTLM | Turn NTLM On/Off. |
Protocol | Protocol version. Select |
Domain | The Windows (AD) domain for the user. |
Username | User name for login. |
Password | Password for login. |