UploadSpeedCheckTargetURL Property (.NET)

Type: String

Default value: "" (defaults to current page running BrowserHawk)

To measure the visitor's connection speed BrowserHawk generates completely random data in the browser and transmits it back to your web server via a POST operation. By default, the target URL where this data is posted to is the web page that issued the UploadConnectionSpeed or UploadConnectionLatency test.

Generally, the page that issues the upload test makes for a fine target where the data should be posted back to. BrowserHawk watches for this data to be posted back to itself, and then consumes and discards the random test data. However, to provide you with maximum flexibility, the UploadSpeedCheckTargetURL can be used to specify an alternative URL where the data should be posted to.

Important notes for this property:

For proper operation of this test please ensure that the web server that the UploadSpeedCheckTargetURL property points to (the same web server that runs the BrowserHawk test, by default) is configured to allow POST operations of data up to 2MB in size, or at least as large as the value specified in the UploadSpeedCheckMaxDatasize property, if you changed it from its default value. In some cases this may not be necessary- the important thing is that the web server does not abort the post operation.
If setting this property, you must set it to point to a URL that will accept POSTed data. The web page or web service this points to must also set a header in its response called "Access-Control-Allow-Origin" to a value of "*" (without the quotes). Without this step the upload speed tests will not work with IE and potentially other browsers in the future. For example, the following Classic ASP page is sufficient as a page (even though tiny) to point the UploadSpeedCheckTargetURL property at: <% Response.AddHeader "Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*" %> . In this case ASP sets the header and ignores the posted data, as the target page does not need to do anything with the posted data or return any result.
By default you do not have to set the UploadSpeedCheckTargetURL property. BrowserHawk will post the data back to the same page where the upload speed test is running from, and will handle everything for you including the setting the header mentioned above. This property is an advanced setting provided for maximum flexibility. In most cases it will not be necessary to set it.
The upload speed will be measured between the visitor's browser and the web server that the UploadSpeedCheckTargetURL points to. Therefore if you change this property to point at a server other than your main web server, it is important to realize you will be measuring the speed to the other server, not your main server.
If setting this property, you must do so prior to calling the GetExtendedBrowser method.