Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks

Started by Kevin Struthers

Kevin Struthers

Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   07 July 2015, 06:27

I need to simulate cellular networks in a lab environment. I would like to connect the cellphones via WiFi to a laptop running CE and then over the Internet to a remote server. I saw a note in the forum explaining that you cannot bridge over a WiFi connection. Can I use a USB to Ethernet adapter as a second NIC connected to a wireless access point?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Kevin
SoftPerfect Support forum - Andrew avatar image

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   07 July 2015, 11:21

Yes, you can. It could be connected like this and then you bridge the USB Ethernet card and the built-in one (using the CE's bridging feature):

SoftPerfect support forum
Kevin Struthers

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   07 July 2015, 22:52

Andrew,

Thanks for the quick reply and good news.

Best regards,
Kevin Struthers
Kevin Struthers

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   08 July 2015, 01:27

Andrew,

In the configuration you shared, how would you recommend that I install a proxy server to inspect traffic from the cellphones?

Thanks again
SoftPerfect Support forum - Andrew avatar image

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   08 July 2015, 10:53

It may be easier to install Wireshark and sniff traffic on either interface. Or you can simply use the Capture tab in CE to log data to a file and then analyse it with Wireshark:

SoftPerfect support forum
Kevin Struthers

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   08 July 2015, 12:21

Andrew,

Thank you for your reply. I need to use the proxy server because the traffic is encrypted with SSL. I should have mentioned that in my earlier question. I am planning on using the Charles proxy server. Could the proxy server and CE coexist on the laptop or would you recommend a separate computer for proxy server?

I am sorry that I did not give you all of the details in one post.

Thank you for the Wireshark tip. That will be helpful with some other tests I will be doing.

Best regards,
Kevin Struthers
SoftPerfect Support forum - Andrew avatar image

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   08 July 2015, 14:54

As far as I understand, you will specify the proxy server's IP address in the actual cellphone, right? If so and you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8, the setup could be simpler:
  1. Turn the laptop's WiFi card into an Access Point.
  2. Install the Charles proxy and CE on this laptop.
  3. Now a cellphone should be able to access the Internet through the laptop directly, or through the proxy if specified in the cellphone's settings.
Kevin Struthers

Re: Using CE on Laptop to simulate cellular networks   09 July 2015, 06:29

Andrew,

Thank you for all of the advice and quick replies.

Best regards,
Kevin Struthers

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