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Configure a Synthetic Scenario

⚙️ Configure Browsers for Synthetic Scenarios

GermainUX synthetic scenarios can run with Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge in headless mode. Legacy Internet Explorer scenarios require a visible Windows desktop session and a dedicated configuration.

Before deployment, confirm that:

  • The browser is installed on the GermainUX Engine host.

  • The corresponding WebDriver is available.

  • The browser and WebDriver versions are compatible.

  • The Engine account can execute both the browser and driver.

  • The synthetic scenario is configured to use the correct browser, driver, Monitoring Node, and Engine.

Modern Selenium releases include Selenium Manager, which can manage supported browser drivers automatically. If the GermainUX deployment requires an explicit driver path, install and configure the driver manually. See Selenium Manager.

Firefox in Headless Mode

Install Firefox

Install the current stable Firefox release using the package-management process approved for your Linux distribution.

Ubuntu 

sudo apt update
sudo apt install firefox

Verify the installation:

firefox --version

Firefox installation methods can vary by Ubuntu release and package policy.

Install GeckoDriver

Download a GeckoDriver release compatible with the installed Firefox version:

After downloading the correct Linux archive:

tar -xf geckodriver-<VERSION>-linux64.tar.gz
sudo mv geckodriver /usr/local/bin/geckodriver
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/geckodriver
geckodriver --version

Replace <VERSION> with the selected GeckoDriver version.

Configure the Scenario

In the GermainUX synthetic scenario:

  1. Select Firefox as the browser.

  2. Enable headless execution.

  3. Set the driver path when required:

    /usr/local/bin/geckodriver

  4. Select the Monitoring Node and Engine.

  5. Test the scenario manually before enabling its schedule.

Google Chrome in Headless Mode

Install Google Chrome

Install the current stable Chrome release using Google’s supported Linux package.

For Debian- or Ubuntu-based systems, download the current .deb package and install it using the organization’s approved package-management process.

Verify the installation:

google-chrome --version

Install ChromeDriver

For Chrome 115 and later, Chrome and ChromeDriver releases are distributed through Chrome for Testing. Select a ChromeDriver version compatible with the installed Chrome version. See ChromeDriver version selection and Chrome for Testing availability.

After downloading the correct Linux archive:

unzip chromedriver-linux64.zip
sudo mv chromedriver-linux64/chromedriver /usr/local/bin/chromedriver
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/chromedriver
chromedriver --version

Configure the Scenario

In the GermainUX synthetic scenario:

  1. Select Chrome as the browser.

  2. Enable headless execution.

  3. Set the driver path when required:

    /usr/local/bin/chromedriver

  4. Select the Monitoring Node and Engine.

  5. Test the scenario manually before enabling its schedule.

Microsoft Edge in Headless Mode

Install Microsoft Edge

Install the current stable Microsoft Edge release using Microsoft’s supported Linux repository or installation package.

Verify the installation:

microsoft-edge --version

Install Edge WebDriver

Download Microsoft Edge WebDriver from the official Edge WebDriver page.

The first three components of the Edge WebDriver version must match the installed Microsoft Edge version. See Microsoft Edge WebDriver documentation.

After downloading the appropriate Linux archive:

unzip edgedriver_linux64.zip
sudo mv msedgedriver /usr/local/bin/msedgedriver
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/msedgedriver
msedgedriver --version

Configure the Scenario

In the GermainUX synthetic scenario:

  1. Select Microsoft Edge as the browser.

  2. Enable headless execution.

  3. Set the driver path when required:

    /usr/local/bin/msedgedriver

  4. Select the Monitoring Node and Engine.

  5. Test the scenario manually before enabling its schedule.

Legacy Internet Explorer Configuration

Internet Explorer does not support headless execution. It requires a visible Windows desktop session and should be used only for supported legacy applications.

Prerequisites

Requirement

Description

GermainUX version

8.6.13 or later

Desktop session

The GermainUX Engine must run within an active Windows desktop session.

Administrator account

The account running the Engine must have the required administrator privileges.

PowerShell

The host must allow the required PowerShell scripts to execute.

Dedicated Engine

Use a dedicated Engine Manager and Engine instance for Internet Explorer monitoring.

Configure the Dedicated Engine

Configure the Engine using the standard Engine setup procedure, but dedicate the instance to Internet Explorer synthetic monitoring.

Set a unique node name in germain-bootstrap.properties:

germain.bootstrap.node=IE Synthetic Monitoring

If multiple Engine Managers run on the same host, assign each one a different unused port.

Configure a Different Engine Manager Port

  1. Open GermainUX Workspace > Germain > State.

  2. Select the applicable Engine Manager or Monitoring Node.

  3. Update State Store URL to reference the new port.

  4. Update State Store Server Port with the same unused port.

  5. Save the configuration and restart the applicable component.

Validate the Browser Configuration

Before scheduling the scenario:

  1. Run the browser-version command.

  2. Run the WebDriver-version command.

  3. Confirm that the Engine account can execute both.

  4. Run the scenario manually.

  5. Confirm that it completes successfully.

  6. Review its screenshots, video, events, duration, and errors.

  7. Enable the recurring schedule only after validation.

For assistance, contact GermainUX.



Service: Automation

Feature Availability: 2025.1 or later