The HTTP Content Monitor requests a URL and checks the HTTP response against the expected content. If the response does not return the expected content, the monitor fails. You can use this monitor to ensure that your web pages are available for viewing, or that they are rendering on certain browsers. For example, you can check to see that a web page contains specific content that is to be listed after a certain date, such as "Ipswitch introduces its newest release, Network Performance Monitor v17." If the monitor does not find the content that you request it to find, the monitor fails and you know to update your web page. For more information, see Example: Monitoring and alerting on web page contents.

You can access some HTTPS sites through the HTTP content monitor, such as Gmail's login screen.

Credentials are not required for the HTTP Content Monitor.

The HTTP Monitor is available in Network Performance Monitor Premium Edition. To update your license, visit the WhatsUp Customer Portal.

Configure the following:

  • Name. Enter a unique name for the active monitor. This name displays in the Monitor Library.
  • Description. Enter additional information about the monitor. This description displays next to the monitor name in the Monitor Library.

    Enter or select the appropriate information in the HTTP server settings section:

  • URL. Enter the URL address that you want to check using the monitor. The URL must begin with a proper URI, such as http:// or https://. The URL can include the full path to the document, including the document's file name and any query string parameters. For example, http://www.domain.com/nmconsole/reports.htm?ReportID=100.
  • Authentication username. If required, enter the username the web site uses for authentication.
  • Authentication password. Enter the password that coincides with the username that the web site uses for authentication. The HTTP Content Monitor supports basic authentication.
  • Proxy server. If the content that you want Network Performance Monitor to check is behind a proxy server, enter the IP address of the proxy server.
  • Proxy port. Enter the port on which the proxy server listens.
  • Timeout (seconds). Enter the length of time Network Performance Monitor attempts to connect to the selected device. When the time you enter is exceeded without connecting, a timeout occurs and Network Performance Monitor stops trying to connect to the SMTP server. This is considered a failed connection.

    Configure the Web page content section:

  • Web page content to find. Enter the content you want Network Performance Monitor to look for on the web page it checks. Enter either plain text or a regular expression.
  • Use regular expression. Select this option to use regular expression in Web page content search. The HTTP Content Monitor uses standard regular expression processing as supported by the .NET framework.

    Complete one or more of the following actions:

  • Select Request URL contents to populate the dialog box with the Web page contents of the URL you entered above.
  • Select Advanced to configure the user agent and custom headers.
  • Select Use in Rescan to have the monitor appear in the Active Monitor list on the Device Properties page. Network Performance Monitor adds the monitor type to the device during a rescan, which is started using the Rescan button on the Device Properties page, if the protocol or service is active on the device.