Real World Solutions - Using Charles Proxy to overcome VPN issues

Real world solutions – Using Charles Proxy to overcome VPN issues

This is the second post in a series of posts on real world solutions to problems that come up in projects I’ve worked on.The post won’t mention anything specific about who the project was for, as that doesn’t actually matter, but its more about the solution that was implemented. The first post in this series related to Apache network configuration tweaks.

Charles Proxy in an expert tool and has many uses, which I’ve discussed in several other posts – bandwidth throttling, rewriting HTTP response codes, adding breakpoints, viewing encrypted SSL comms etc.

In a recent project, I also managed to use Charles Proxy to overcome VPN issues, which were preventing me testing a website in a particular browser.

The VPN software – Pulse Secure – worked fine in Windows 10 when I was testing via Chrome and Firefox browsers. However, via Edge browser, I couldn’t get the VPN to work and couldn’t connect to the test url. The same error kept occurring – ‘The Network Connect session timed out’ just after starting it. I researched the error code, tried other approaches – to have the VPN running via another browser, tried uninstalling and reinstalling the VPN software via Edge browser, but none of these worked.

Finally, I decided to try the following workaround – have the VPN running on my iMac in OSX, which had already been working, then setup my Windows 10 machine to use my iMac as a Proxy to access the internet. This involved updating the Windows 10 machine to setup the Proxy settings with the IP address and relevant port for my iMac, plus running Charles Proxy on my iMac. This then provided the solution and I was able to test the website in Edge browser.

Further Charles Proxy posts:

About my testing services: iOS App Testing / Android App Testing / Website Testing

We’ve worked with Pat Walsh on a number of very different projects, from interactive video projects to mobile apps. His work is very thorough and has quickly become an essential and important phase of all the production work we do at Storythings. He’s thorough, diligent, and a pleasure to work with.

Matt Locke, Director, Storythings

We hired Pat to help with QA of a music streaming app. We needed someone with that magic “6th sense” of where the bugs are lurking; the ones which developers tend to miss. Pat more than fulfilled this need, with highly methodical approach and a great eye for detail.

Subsequently Pat has provided QA services for a personal app project of mine, finding a significant issue which had been lurking for some time.

Pat is a real asset to any team – highly competent technically but also easy going and a great guy to work with. Highly recommended!

Andrew Ebling, Head of App Development, Composed

Pat came to Composed to respond to our (increasingly urgent) need of QA on mobile and web and I can testify he more than fulfilled the task. On the Android side, his very structured approach (first exploratory testing, then focus on defining test plans for a variety of scopes) and his clear knowledge of the latest mobile technologies have quickly paid off. He was involved directly with the developers (including myself) and this very dynamic relationship enabled us to annihilate bugs swiftly and efficiently.

David Ferrand, Android Developer, Composed

Pat is an excellent one-stop-shop for testing Apps and Websites. He is a self-starter who just knows what needs to be done and gets on with it, and is responsive to requests for any specific testing requirements. He provides test plans and reports as a matter of course and was a pleasure to work with. I will definitely be working with Pat again if the opportunity arises.

Andrew Birley, PM, Storythings

Pat has been absolutely incredible at testing each of our projects he works on. He’s very professional, organised and diligent. I look forward to using him again in the future.

Oliver Thurtle, Director of Technology, Drum

Pat performs comprehensive website testing for us, across all the main browsers and platforms, including mobile devices. His flexible approach to testing and clear feedback enable us to have confidence that the business end of our website is still working smoothly after system updates and changes.

Steve Liu, Manager, Wicked Lasers

Pat Walsh fixed my site within hours of my contacting him – his WordPress website fix service clearly works!

Douglas Green, Douglas Software

Couldn’t recommend Pat highly enough. He goes beyond what you’d expect of a QA tester, commenting more broadly on user experience and even design. He’s quick, efficient and thorough – couldn’t ask for any more.

Rob Calvert, Director, Click

Pat Walsh provided Kingston Valdes with a professional and personable service that was excellent value. The site was built and tested quickly, we are delighted with the results, and we have already had positive feedback from some of our clients. If you’re thinking of building a new site or adapting an existing one, I’d certainly recommend speaking with Pat about it.

Kathy Valdes, Kingston Valdes

Real world solutions – Using Charles Proxy to overcome VPN issues

Real world solutions – Using Charles Proxy to overcome VPN issues

About my testing services: iOS App Testing / Android App Testing / Website Testing

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