Capturing Network Requests with Postman: Finding Your IP Address and Configuring Your Mobile Device

To effectively capture network requests using Postman with your system connected via Ethernet and your mobile device connected to Wi-Fi, it's essential to identify your computer's IP address. This IP address will be crucial for configuring the proxy settings on your mobile device. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to find your IP address on Windows and set up your mobile device accordingly.

Finding Your IP Address on Windows

1. Open Network Settings:
   • Navigate to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet.
2. Locate Your IP Address:
   • Under the Properties section, look for the following fields:
     • IPv4 Address: This is the address you will use for the proxy configuration.
     • Other fields like Subnet Mask and Default Gateway may also be listed but are not necessary for setting up the proxy.

Example Data

Assuming your Ethernet settings display the following:

• IPv4 Address: 192.168.1.10
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

In this scenario, you would use 192.168.1.10 as your IP address when configuring the proxy on your mobile device.

Configuring Your Mobile Device

1. Connect to Wi-Fi: Ensure your mobile device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
2. Set Up Proxy Settings:
   • Go to your mobile device's Settings.
   • Navigate to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi, then tap on the connected Wi-Fi network.
   • Find Proxy settings (usually located under Advanced settings).
   • Set it to Manual, then enter:
     • Proxy hostname: 192.168.1.10 (your computer's IPv4 address)
     • Proxy port: 5555 (the default port used by Postman)

Tips & Tricks to Remember

• For HTTPS Traffic: To capture HTTPS requests, consider installing the postman-proxy-ca.crt certificate on your mobile device. This step is essential for handling secure traffic.
• Stay on the Same Network: Ensure both your computer and mobile device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to avoid issues with traffic capturing.
• Reset Proxy Settings: Don’t forget to reset your mobile's proxy settings to None after capturing requests to prevent connectivity issues later.

Summary

This guide provides a clear and concise approach to capturing network requests using Postman by identifying your computer's IP address and configuring your mobile device's proxy settings. By following these steps, you can effectively route HTTP requests through Postman, enabling you to analyze network traffic efficiently.

Conclusion

By using your computer's IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.10) in the proxy settings of your mobile device, you can successfully route HTTP requests through Postman. This setup allows you to capture and analyze network traffic effectively. Make sure both devices are on the same local network for this configuration to work properly. With these steps and tips, you'll be well-equipped to streamline your network debugging and enhance your development workflow. 

 

 #Postman, #NetworkRequests, #ProxySettings, #MobileDevice, #HTTPAnalysis, #NetworkDebugging, #APITesting