Proxy and VPN
How do I configure a proxy or VPN to access the test environment?
Markus avatar
Written by Markus
Updated over a week ago

For some tests, a proxy or VPN is needed to connect to our customers' test environments. If that's the case and only when the test requires that separate connection, you will see it below the test environment URL towards the top of the test overview page.

In this article, you'll find information how to connect to a proxy or VPN and what VPN tools you can use.


Proxy

In a test, when a proxy is required to connect to the customer's website, all relevant information is displayed in the Access section on the test detail page: URL and port of our test IO proxy server as well as your credentials to connect to it.

The URL and port information is needed to set up the connection to our proxy server. Check out chapter Setup on how to set it up for your operating system and browser.

After setting up the proxy and trying to connect to a website via your browser, your browser will show a prompt and ask for your credentials (username and password).

Rules

Regarding our test IO proxy, please stick to the following rules:

  • The test IO proxy may only be used for customer projects; it is not for private use.

  • The test IO proxy may only be used for tests that require using a proxy. For all other tests, you must deactivate the test IO proxy before you start testing.

Setup

In the following text, we will show you how to setup a test IO proxy on different environments:

Windows

  1. Open the Settings app.

  2. Click on Network & internet in the left menu.

  3. Open Proxy settings.

  4. Under the Manual proxy setup section click on the Set up button.

  5. Enable Use a proxy server

  6. Enter the test IO Proxy URL and Port under the Proxy IP address and Port, and click on the Save button.

7. Open the browser and access the website which needs to be tested. You will be asked for a Username and Password, please enter here your credentials which are given to you under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page.

macOS

  1. Open the System Preferences app.

  2. Click on Network.

  3. Open Advanced... settings.

  4. Click on the Proxies tab.

  5. Enable Web Proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS)

  6. In both options, enter the test IO Proxy URL and Port under the Secure Web Proxy Server section. Also, check and the Proxy server requires password, and enter your Username and Password which are given to you under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page.

  7. After you have entered all details click on the OK button and then click on Apply button.

  8. Open the browser and access the website which needs to be tested. If you are asked again for a Username and Password, please enter here your credentials which are given to you under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page.

Android

  1. Open the Settings app.

  2. Navigate to Wi-Fi part.

  3. Long tap on your wifi connection and tap on Manage network settings.

  4. Tap on Show advanced options.

  5. Tap on Proxy and change it to Manual.

  6. Enter the test IO Proxy URL and Port and click on the Save button.

7. Open the browser and access the website which needs to be tested. You will be asked for a Username and Password, please enter here your credentials which are given to you under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page.

iOS

  1. Open the Settings app.

  2. Tap on Wi-Fi.

  3. Tap on the info (i) icon on a currently connected network.

  4. Scroll down to HTTP PROXY section and tap on Configure Proxy.

  5. Select Manual.

  6. Enter the test IO Proxy URL and Port under the Server and Port.

  7. Enable Authentication and enter your Username and Password which are given to you under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page and click on the Save button.

  8. Open the browser and access the website which needs to be tested. If you are asked again for a Username and Password / Proxy Authentication, please enter here your credentials which are given to you under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page.

Drony app on Android

  1. Download the Drony app from Play Store.

  2. Open the Drony app and navigate to the Settings screen.

  3. Under the Networks section, select the type of Network on which you want to configure the proxy. Note: If you selected Wi-Fi, on the Network list screen, please select the network on which your device is connected.

  4. Now on the Network details screen, you should fill in Hostname, Port, Username, and Password. In the Hostname, you should enter the test IO proxy URL. In the Port, you should enter the test IO proxy port. In Username and Password, you should enter your Username and Password which are given to you. All these details (Hostname, Port, Username, and Password) you can find under the Access section - Proxy part on the Test Cycle Overview page.

  5. After you have entered the Hostname, Port, Username, and Password, make sure that the Proxy type is set automatically to Manual, if not, please set it to Manual. Now go back to the Log (Home) screen and tap on the OFF button (so that it gets changed to ON - or in other words: Start the Log). Note: If there is a popup window in which you are notified that Droni wants to setup a VPN, please allow this.

  6. After the Log is started, you can put the app in the background and start testing.

Proxy Setup in Drony app - Settings part - Network details screen

Video - Proxy setup for Android and Windows


VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is used to establish a secure connection between remote networks across the Internet, so you can access e.g. private company networks or websites that are only accessible from a specific country. In order to use a VPN, you need a special software tool that enables you to set up a connection to it.

Both for mobile and desktop environments, there are multiple apps and programs that you can use. You can download it to your mobile device or as a program for your desktop computer. There are also add-ons for common browsers like Firefox and Chrome.

Below, we present you a few tools – both free and fee-based – that you can use to set up a VPN connection for testing.


Tunnelbear

Tunnelbear is a free app available for mobile and desktop environments. After opening the app, you can see a virtual map with different tunnel exits in different countries. You have the possibility to select one of the available countries and to then establish a connection to the respective server in the chosen country. In the free version of the app, you get a certain free amount of data volume per month; usually 2 GB. For paid users, this limit is removed.


ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a fee-based VPN software available both for mobile and desktop environments. There are different pricing models available starting from around 8 to 9β€―$ per month.

With ExpressVPN, you have access to over 100 cities in nearly 100 countries and can switch between servers unlimited.


Other tools:

  • NordVPN (fee-based)

  • Cisco AnyConnect VPN Secure Mobility Client (if you have VPN information but need a desktop program to connect to that VPN)


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