Today’s browsers have developer tools that can capture all network traffic. For Chrome and Firefox, the traffic can be saved as an HTTP Archive file (HAR). Internet Explorer saves the same data in an XML format. LoadStorm can use either recording format to make test scripts.
These recordings contain HTTP tracing information about each and every request made to a server and the response to that request. These archives are frequently used to gather timing data about objects being loaded by a web browser, which can then be used to pinpoint performance problems. LoadStorm automatically converts the recordings into test scripts, going through each request like a checklist and sending identical requests to the target server.
Make a Recording using Chrome
Make a Recording using Firefox
Firefox has a developer console that can view network traffic, but it can’t preserve this data between pages and it can’t export HAR files. Instead it needs two add-ons to have this functionality: Firebug and NetExport. See below for instructions on how to:
- Download and install Firebug
- Download and install Net Export
- Create a Recording in Firefox
Firebug is a developer console add-on for Firefox that allows dynamic editing of HTML and CSS files, viewing of network traffic, and much much more. To download and install Firebug:
1. Navigate to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/firebug/.
2. Click “Add to Firefox”.
3. Firefox will give a popup window asking for permission to install the add-on. Click “Allow.”
NetExport
NetExport is a plugin for Firebug that adds an Export button to the Net tab. To download and install NetExport:
1. Navigate to https://getfirebug.com/releases/netexport/.
2. Click on the latest version of NetExport (as of this writing, it’s “netExport-0.9b3.xpi”). 3. Firefox will give a popup window asking for permission to install the add-on. Click “Allow.”
4. Firefox will say that it needs to restart to fully install this add-on. Restart Firefox.
Create a Recording
Make a Recording using Internet Explorer 11
IE cannot export a HAR file, but it can save as a HAR-style XML file. LoadStorm is capable of reading these files. Follow these steps to create a recording in IE 11.
