How can I view HTTP headers on my workstation? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SinisterMotives · 06-04-2005, 05:51 PM

When I open a remote file with the HTTP protocol in any Windows application (text editor, paint program, command line "edit" command, etc.) it only shows the file content. I want to see what headers are being sent with the file.

SinisterMotives · 06-04-2005, 06:15 PM

Never mind. Someone just told me how to Telnet from the command line. That didn't tell me what I needed to know, but I found it out another way.

oblar · 06-04-2005, 08:52 PM

Even though you have already found this out, I am still going to answer you so it can be referenced by others in case they are curious as well:

To look at the actual header information that occurs this can be done one of two ways fairly easily. Through sniffing the traffic off the network or sending the information through a mode that will not parse the data for you.

sniffing the traffic is done fairly easily with any sort of sniffing program like Ethereal (search for it on sourceforge.net or freshmeat.net). Just set it up to capture data off the network card and then goto the webpage in quesiton. It will pick up all packets sent and they can be viewed in plain text.

the second way (which might seem a bit cleaner, but requires a little more knowledge) would be the basic method like using telnet.

Easy way is to use a telnet program. From inside open up a connection to the website you wish to see the data from. Remember, when connecting to specify port 80 (generally, but sometimes it might be another port) so that you connect to the we server.

Once connected to the web server simply send the request for the http file. This can be done by a simple command like:

GET /index.html

Followed by two new lines. So just type that sort of command in (where the /index.html is the file you wish to request from the server). This is the most basic you can get for a simple HTTP GET request. There are other things you can put on there, so if you are going to sniff traffic, be expected to see a few more (like HTTP version, Client type, Last modified date, etc)

hope this helps others...

SinisterMotives · 06-04-2005, 09:50 PM

Thanks, Oblar. I learned how to manually send a GET request from the command line tonight. What I GOT was a 400 Bad Request error message.

I'll be sure to use a program next time.

Rawb · 06-05-2005, 11:53 AM

An easier way to do it, and way better because you can see actual response headers, without having to type out long and complicated GET/POST requests.

Download Firefox,
get theweb developer extensions

install it and restart firefox, then there will be a new bar at the top of your window, click on "Information -> View Response Headers" and bang, you are there.

SinisterMotives · 06-06-2005, 12:36 AM

Rawb,

Sweet! That's the way things ought to be.

06-04-2005, 05:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
SinisterMotives Junkie	How can I view HTTP headers on my workstation? When I open a remote file with the HTTP protocol in any Windows application (text editor, paint program, command line "edit" command, etc.) it only shows the file content. I want to see what headers are being sent with the file.

06-05-2005, 11:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rawb Crazy Location: Salt Town, UT	The web developer extensions An easier way to do it, and way better because you can see actual response headers, without having to type out long and complicated GET/POST requests. Download Firefox, get theweb developer extensions install it and restart firefox, then there will be a new bar at the top of your window, click on "Information -> View Response Headers" and bang, you are there.

06-04-2005, 06:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
SinisterMotives Junkie	Never mind. Someone just told me how to Telnet from the command line. That didn't tell me what I needed to know, but I found it out another way.

06-04-2005, 08:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
oblar Über-Rookie Location: No longer, D.C	Even though you have already found this out, I am still going to answer you so it can be referenced by others in case they are curious as well: To look at the actual header information that occurs this can be done one of two ways fairly easily. Through sniffing the traffic off the network or sending the information through a mode that will not parse the data for you. sniffing the traffic is done fairly easily with any sort of sniffing program like Ethereal (search for it on sourceforge.net or freshmeat.net). Just set it up to capture data off the network card and then goto the webpage in quesiton. It will pick up all packets sent and they can be viewed in plain text. the second way (which might seem a bit cleaner, but requires a little more knowledge) would be the basic method like using telnet. Easy way is to use a telnet program. From inside open up a connection to the website you wish to see the data from. Remember, when connecting to specify port 80 (generally, but sometimes it might be another port) so that you connect to the we server. Once connected to the web server simply send the request for the http file. This can be done by a simple command like: GET /index.html Followed by two new lines. So just type that sort of command in (where the /index.html is the file you wish to request from the server). This is the most basic you can get for a simple HTTP GET request. There are other things you can put on there, so if you are going to sniff traffic, be expected to see a few more (like HTTP version, Client type, Last modified date, etc) hope this helps others...

06-04-2005, 09:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
SinisterMotives Junkie	Thanks, Oblar. I learned how to manually send a GET request from the command line tonight. What I GOT was a 400 Bad Request error message. I'll be sure to use a program next time.

06-06-2005, 12:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
SinisterMotives Junkie	Rawb, Sweet! That's the way things ought to be.