Creating a Network Log

Video overview

The following video shows the process of creating the network log from the Chrome browser. You will save the network log as an HTTP Archive (HAR) file, which is a JSON-formatted archive file format used for logging web browser interaction with a site.

Following the video, the process is shown in a step-by-step format.

Create a network log from Chrome

The following steps lead you through using Chrome to create a network log.

1. Open a Chrome browser window or tab.
2. To be sure cached information in the browser does not affect the network log, you will first clear browsing data. To begin this process, from the options menu (three vertical dots) click the Clear browsing data... option.

   

3. Now in the actual interface, make the selections as shown in the following screenshot and click Clear browsing data button.

   

4. In the browser, again from the options menu, select Developer Tools.

   

5. Select the Network tab from the Developer Tools.

   

6. Paste the URL to the page that contains the Brightcove Player you are troubleshooting into the browser's address bar, and then press Enter to load the page. You will immediately see network traffic in the Network tab.
7. If network traffic is needed for when the player is playing a video, start the video.
8. Once you have the needed network traffic, right-click in the traffic area and select Save as HAR with Content option.

   

9. Save the file and send to the appropriate support personnel.

Create a network log from Firefox

The following steps lead you through using Firefox to create a network log.

1. Open a Firefox browser window or tab.
2. To be sure cached information in the browser does not affect the network log, you will first clear browsing data. To begin this process, from the options menu (three vertical lines), select the Preferences option and then Privacy & Security.

   

3. Scroll down. To the right of Cached Web Content, select the Clear Now button.

   

4. Close the Preferences tab.
5. In the browser, again from the options menu, select Web Developer, and then select Network.

   

6. Paste the URL to the page that contains the Brightcove Player you are troubleshooting into the browser's address bar, and then press Enter to load the page. You will immediately see network traffic in the Network tab.
7. If network traffic is needed for when the player is playing a video, start the video.
8. Once you have the needed network traffic, right-click in the traffic area and select the Save All As HAR option.

   

9. Save the file and send to the appropriate support personnel.

Create a web archive from Safari

The following steps lead you through using Safari to create a web archive (.webarchive) file. This is not the same as a HAR file.

1. Open a Safari browser window or tab.
2. To be sure cached information in the browser does not affect the network log, you will first clear browsing data. If you don't see the Develop menu in the top menu, then from the Safari menu, select Safari and then Preferences.
3. In the preferences dialog, select Advanced and then select Show Develop menu in menu bar.

   

4. From the Safari menu bar, select Develop and then select Empty Caches.
5. Paste the URL to the page that contains the Brightcove Player you are troubleshooting into the browser's address bar, and then press Enter to load the page.
6. From the Safari menu bar, select Develop and then select Show Web Inspector.

   

7. In the web inspector, select the Network tab.
8. Reload your web page in the browser. You will immediately see network traffic in the Network tab.
9. If network traffic is needed for when the player is playing a video, start the video.
10. Once you have the needed network traffic, click Export to generate a HAR file.

    

11. Save the file. This file may not contain the network information that support personnel may need to help with your issue.