Session Recording

Access the web player

The URL of the web player website is http(s)://<FQDN of Session Recording server>/WebPlayer. To ensure the use of HTTPS, add an SSL binding to the website in IIS and update the SsRecWebSocketServer.config configuration file.

Note:

  • When logging on to the web player website, domain users do not need to enter credentials while non-domain users must.

  • Supported browsers include Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.

  • To have the web player function properly, make sure you enable WebGL in Firefox.

This article guides you through the process of installing and enabling the web player and the process of configuring HTTPS.

Install the web player

Install the web player on the Session Recording server only. Double-click SessionRecordingWebPlayer.msi and follow the instructions to complete your installation. For more information about installing Session Recording, see Install, upgrade, and uninstall.

Starting from Version 2103, Session Recording migrates the WebSocket server to IIS. With the web player installed, the SessionRecordingRestApiService, SessionRecordingWebStreaming, and WebPlayer applications appear in IIS.

Applications hosted in IIS

A fresh installation of Session Recording 2103 and later connects your web browser to the WebSocket server hosted in IIS when you access the web player website. The WebSocket server hosted in IIS is versioned 2.0, as indicated by the registry value WebSocketServerVersion under the registry key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\SmartAuditor\Server.

WebSocket Server Version

An upgrade installation from an earlier version to Session Recording 2103 and later connects your web browser to the Python-based WebSocket server. To connect to the WebSocket server hosted in IIS, run the <Session Recording server installation path>\Bin\SsRecUtils.exe -enablestreamingservice command. To connect back to the Python-based WebSocket server, run the <Session Recording server installation path>\Bin\SsRecUtils.exe - disablestreamingservice command. The Python-based WebSocket server is versioned 1.0.

Enable the web player

The web player is enabled by default.

  • To disable the web player, start a Windows command prompt and run the <Session Recording Server installation path>\Bin\SsRecUtils.exe –disablewebplayer command.

  • To enable the web player, start a Windows command prompt and run the <Session Recording Server installation path>\Bin\SsRecUtils.exe -enablewebplayer command.

Configure HTTPS

The URL of the web player website is http(s)://<FQDN of Session Recording server>/WebPlayer. To ensure the use of HTTPS, add an SSL binding to the website in IIS and update the SsRecWebSocketServer.config configuration file.

Note:

When logging on to the web player website, domain users do not need to enter credentials while non-domain users must.

To use HTTPS to access the web player website, complete the following steps:

  1. Add an SSL binding in IIS.

    1. Obtain an SSL certificate in PEM format from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).

      Note:

      Most popular browsers such as Google Chrome and Firefox no longer support the common name in a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). They enforce Subject Alternative Name (SAN) in all publicly trusted certificates. To use the web player over HTTPS, take the following actions accordingly:

      • When a single Session Recording Server is in use, update the certificate of the Session Recording Server to a SAN certificate.

        A single Session Recording Server in use

      • When load balancing is in use, ensure that a SAN certificate is available both on Citrix ADC and on each Session Recording Server.

        Load balancing in use

    2. On IIS, right-click the website and select Add Bindings. The Site Bindings dialog box appears.

    3. Click Add in the upper right corner. The Add Site Binding dialog box appears.

    4. Select https from the Type list and select your SSL certificate.

      Select HTTPS

      Select your SSL certificate

    5. Click OK.

  2. Update the SsRecWebSocketServer.config configuration file.

    1. Locate and open the SsRecWebSocketServer.config configuration file.

      The SsRecWebSocketServer.config configuration file is typically located in the <Session Recording Server installation path>\Bin\ folder.

    2. Enable TLS by editing TLSEnable=1 and ignore the ServerPort, SSLCert, and SSLKey fields.

    3. Save your changes.

Access the web player