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Network Traffic on Android

If you have access to the end user's device, it can be helpful to inspect network traffic when troubleshooting a problem with the Geocortex Mobile App Framework.

Inspect Remote Network Traffic with Fiddler

The Geocortex Mobile App Framework for Android does not have a network log. However, you can inspect remote network traffic with a third-party web-debugging tool called Fiddler.

Fiddler cannot inspect network traffic that is local to the Android device itself, that is, requests to localhost or 127.0.0.1.

To inspect remote network traffic using Fiddler:

Step 1: Set up Fiddler on a Computer

1. On a computer that is on the same network as your Android device, download and install Fiddler.

2. Start Fiddler.

3. In the Fiddler menu, click Tools, and then click Telerik Fiddler Options.

   The Telerik Fiddler options window appears.

4. Click the Connections tab.

   The Connections page appears.

5. Select the Allow remote computers to connect checkbox.

6. Note the Fiddler listens on port number, as you will need this port number later.

7. Click OK.

8. Click OK.

9. Restart Fiddler.

   If prompted by the firewall, allow remote access for Fiddler. Otherwise, you may need to manually edit the firewall settings.

Step 2: Set up the Device

1. On the Android device, open the Android Settings.

2. Tap Wi-Fi.

3. Long-press the Wi-Fi connection that connects the Android device to the same network as your computer.

4. Tap Modify network.

5. Select the Show advanced options checkbox.

6. Scroll down to Proxy settings and select Manual from the drop-down menu.

7. In the Proxy hostname field, type the name of the computer with Fiddler installed.

   To determine the name of a Windows computer, hold down the Windows key and press the Pause/Break key.

8. In the Proxy port field, type the port number you noted earlier when configuring Fiddler.

9. In the Bypass proxy for field, type 127.0.0.1.

10. Tap Save.

Step 3: Inspect Traffic

1. On the computer, run Fiddler.

   If you are prompted by the computer's firewall, allow remote access for Fiddler.

2. On the Android device, start the Geocortex Mobile App Framework.

3. Use the Geocortex Mobile App Framework.

   Fiddler displays the remote network traffic.

4. To display more information about a particular network activity in Fiddler, click the activity and then click the Inspectors tab.

Inspect Both Remote and Local Web View Traffic with Chrome

It is possible to inspect both remote and local web view traffic by using Chrome's developer tools. The web view is the mechanism by which the Geocortex Mobile App Framework displays the Geocortex Viewer for HTML5.

This method only detects network traffic from the web view of the Geocortex Mobile App Framework. Unlike Fiddler, Chrome does not detect any Geocortex Mobile App Framework traffic outside of the web view.

To inspect both remote and local web view traffic using Chrome:

Step 1: Set up the Device

1. On the Android device, open the Android Settings.

2. If you do not have Developer options enabled, you must enable them:

   1. Tap About device.

   2. Scroll down to Build number, and tap it 7 times.

      Developer options are now enabled.

   3. Tap the back button to return to Android Settings.

3. Tap Developer options.

4. Scroll down to the USB debugging checkbox and select it.

5. Connect the Android device to the computer.

   The Android device prompts you to allow USB debugging.

   If you want to avoid this prompt in future, select the "Always allow from this computer" checkbox.

6. Tap OK.

Step 2: Set up Chrome on a Computer

1. If the computer does not have Chrome installed, download and install Chrome.

Step 3: Inspect Traffic

1. On the computer, start Chrome.

2. Type chrome://inspect in the web address bar and press Enter.

   The device should appear in the list of devices. If it does not, see Google's Get Started with Remote Debugging Android Devices documentation.

3. On the Android device, start the Geocortex Mobile App Framework.

   On the computer, Chrome should display an entry for the Geocortex Mobile App Framework called WebView in Geocortex.App.

4. In Chrome, click Inspect.

   Chrome opens the Developer Tools window.

5. Click the Network tab.

6. Use the Geocortex Mobile App Framework.

   Chrome displays the web view traffic.