Testing web applications in secure or local environments can be tricky. The main challenge is connecting internal systems to a cloud-based testing platform without risks. LambdaTest Tunnel solves this problem. It provides a secure way to test private or local setups without exposing them to the public internet.
For example, if you’re using an Android emulator Mac for testing, the tunnel allows you to integrate your local setup with the LambdaTest cloud for seamless cross-browser testing.
This guide will show you how to set up an enterprise-ready LambdaTest Tunnel. Your team can run cross-browser tests on applications behind firewalls, in development, or on private servers. Whether your setup is complex or simple, this method ensures safe testing before launch.
What is LambdaTest Tunnel?
LambdaTest Tunnel lets you test your local websites or apps on real cloud browsers. It creates a safe, encrypted connection between your computer and LambdaTest’s cloud machines.
Once you download the Tunnel binary, you can connect to LambdaTest—even if you are behind a firewall. This makes it easy to test anything hosted on your local system.
It works with websites built using HTML, CSS, PHP, Python, and more. You can test across different browsers, devices, and operating systems using the cloud.
The diagram shows how the tunnel links your machine to LambdaTest’s private network, proxy server, and browser VMs.
Why use LambdaTest Tunnel?
LambdaTest Tunnel offers several useful features for developers and testers. Here are a few key ones:
- It keeps your connection secure and private.
- You can test local files and websites across different browsers and operating systems.
- There is no need to build a complicated test setup.
- You can run tests on real machines in the cloud.
- It supports testing local folders, pages, and even accessibility checks on desktop browsers.
This makes it a handy tool if you want to test your work before going live—without exposing anything to the public web.
Advanced Features of LambdaTest Tunnel
LambdaTest Tunnel lets you test local websites and private URLs on 5000+ real browsers.
- You can use it to run tests on different devices, browsers, and screen sizes—including scenarios where you’re using an android emulator for iPhone testing.
- In the past, firewalls and proxy settings may have blocked the tunnel. That is no longer a problem.
- A new version of the LambdaTest Tunnel binary is now available. It works better with strict corporate networks.
- The tunnel supports different protocols like WebSocket, HTTPS, and SSH. These help create a secure link between your system and the LambdaTest cloud.
- You can download the binary to start testing right away. It works through firewalls and helps connect your computer to the cloud servers.
- You can test HTML, CSS, PHP, Python, or similar files saved on your system. All this can be done across different operating systems, browsers, and screen sizes.
What You Need Before Setting Up LambdaTest Tunnel
Before testing your local apps with LambdaTest Tunnel, make sure a few things are ready. These help create a stable and secure connection to the cloud.
Here is what you should have:
- LambdaTest Account Details – Keep your login email and access key ready. You will need them to start the tunnel.
- Tunnel Binary File – Go to the ‘Configure Tunnel’ section in your LambdaTest dashboard. Download the zip file. It includes the tunnel binary for secure testing.
- Admin Access (Windows only) – You need admin rights on your computer. This allows the tunnel file to run properly.
- Command Line Access – You will run the tunnel through Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux).
- Local Test Setup (Optional) – If you want to test backend features, tools like XAMPP can help. They let you run Apache and MySQL on your machine.
- Stable Internet – A steady connection is important. It keeps your link to LambdaTest cloud servers smooth.
Once all of this is ready, you can move on to setting up the tunnel and start testing in real time.
Installing and Setting Up LambdaTest Tunnel
Now that you have everything ready, now you can set up LambdaTest Tunnel. It will connect your local system to LambdaTest’s cloud. This will let you test locally hosted websites or apps behind firewalls.
Here’s how to get it done:
Step 1: Download the Tunnel Binary
Head to the ‘Configure Tunnel’ section in the LambdaTest dashboard. Download the tunnel binary zip file from the provided link. Save it to your system.
This zip file contains the required workable to connect to LambdaTest.
Step 2: Extract the Zip File
Once you have downloaded the file, extract it to a folder on your system. This will unpack the binary that you need.
Step 3: Launch Command Prompt or Terminal
Open Command Prompt (for Windows) or Terminal (for macOS/Linux). Go to the folder where you extracted the binary. Use the cd command to reach the folder.
Step 4: Run the Tunnel Command
In your LambdaTest dashboard, find the command string for the tunnel. It will look like this:
LT –user {your-email} –key {your-access-key} –tunnelName {tunnel-name}
Replace the placeholders with your actual info, like this:
LT –user [email protected] –key 123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv –tunnelName LambdaTest
Copy this command and paste it into your terminal. Press enter to run it. If your system asks for permission (especially on Windows), approve it.
Step 5: Verify the Tunnel Connection
Once the command runs, the tunnel will connect to LambdaTest. In the terminal, you should see “You can start testing now.”
This confirms the tunnel is active. Your local system is now securely linked to LambdaTest, and you’re ready to start testing.
Why Run LambdaTest Tunnel as a Docker Extension?
Docker Extensions help integrate software apps into your workflow. By using LambdaTest Tunnel as a Docker extension, you make testing easier. It allows a seamless and secure connection for testing locally hosted websites and web applications on LambdaTest. You won’t need to manually launch the tunnel using the command line interface (CLI).
The LambdaTest Tunnel Docker Extension offers many options for testing workflows. Docker Desktop also provides an easy one-click installation to use the LambdaTest Tunnel extension directly from the Docker Desktop interface.
Getting Started
Prerequisites: You need Docker Desktop 4.8 or later, and a LambdaTest account. Also, make sure that the Docker extension is enabled (Figure 2).
Enable Docker Extensions
Figure 2: Enable Docker Extensions.
Step 1: Install the LambdaTest Docker Extension
Go to the Extensions Marketplace. Search for the LambdaTest Tunnel extension. Click Install to install it (Figure 3).
Install LambdaTest Tunnel
Figure 3: Install LambdaTest Tunnel.
Step 2: Set Up the Docker LambdaTest Tunnel
Once installed, open the LambdaTest Tunnel. Click Setup Tunnel to configure the tunnel (Figure 4).
Configure the Tunnel
Figure 4: Configure the tunnel.
Step 3: Enter Your LambdaTest Credentials
Now, provide your LambdaTest username, access token, and preferred tunnel name. You can find your username and access token in your LambdaTest profile under Password & Security.
Once you’ve entered the credentials, click Launch Tunnel (Figure 5).
Launch LambdaTest Tunnel
Figure 5: Launch LambdaTest Tunnel.
The LambdaTest Tunnel will now launch. You can view the running tunnel logs (Figure 6).
Running Tunnel Logs
Figure 6: Running logs.
Once configured, the LambdaTest Tunnel should show up on your LambdaTest Dashboard (Figure 7).
Active Tunnel in LambdaTest Dashboard
Figure 7: Active tunnel in the dashboard.
Local Testing Using LambdaTest Tunnel Docker Extension
Let’s look at an example. A web developer creates a web app. The app lets users upload and view images. The developer needs to ensure the app works with different image formats and sizes. They also want to test how it displays images on different browsers and devices.
The developer sets up a local development environment and installs the LambdaTest Tunnel Docker Extension. They use the app to open and manipulate local image files.
Next, they use LambdaTest Tunnel to securely expose their local environment to the Internet. This allows testing on different browsers and devices in real time through LambdaTest’s cloud-based platform.
Steps to Perform Local Testing Using LambdaTest Tunnel Docker Extension
- Go to the LambdaTest Dashboard. Navigate to Real Time Testing > Browser Testing (Figure 8).
Navigate to Browser Testing
Figure 8: Navigate to Browser Testing.
In the console, enter the localhost URL. Select the browser, version, and operating system. Then, click START (Figure 9).
- Configure Testing
Figure 9: Configure Testing.
A real cloud-based operating system will launch. You can now test local files or folders (Figure 10).
- Perform Local Testing
Figure 10: Perform Local Testing.
Best Practices for Enterprise-Grade Tunnel Setup
When setting up LambdaTest Tunnel for enterprise testing, focus on smooth operation. Follow these steps to optimize your tunnel setup.
Use Dedicated Tunnel Names
Assign a unique name to each tunnel. This makes managing them easier, especially in large teams. You can use naming patterns like “teamname-environment-tunnel”
Ensure Tunnel Protection
LambdaTest Tunnel needs credentials for access. Handle them with care:
- Don’t hardcode credentials into scripts.
- Use environment variables to store sensitive data like your email and access keys
- Implement role-based access controls to limit who can access specific tunnels.
Monitor Tunnel Activity
Check the tunnel’s status regularly. LambdaTest provides a dashboard to monitor active tunnels. Set up alerts for disruptions, such as disconnections or slowdowns.
Set Up Multiple Tunnels for Load Balancing
For larger teams or higher testing volume, create multiple tunnels. This helps spread the load and avoids issue. You can also create different tunnels for different environments, like staging or production.
Automate Tunnel Setup
To avoid errors, automate the tunnel setup. Use scripts or configuration tools. This allows teams to quickly set up and tear down tunnels in a consistent way.
Firewall and Network Configuration
Ensure the LambdaTest Tunnel can connect through your firewall.
- Open necessary ports to allow the tunnel to connect.
- Configure your network for handling multiple users if many teams need access.
- If needed, use a VPN for more secure internal connections.
Optimize Tunnel for Large-Scale Testing
For large test suites, minimizing latency is important. Choose LambdaTest data centers close to your location. Optimize code to reduce network use, and ensure your setup works well across time zones for continuous testing.
Conclusion
Setting up a LambdaTest Tunnel is important for testing locally hosted apps across different browsers and devices. Follow the steps: download the tunnel binary, configure your environment, and use best practices. This helps teams test behind firewalls and access LambdaTest’s cloud.
The setup makes testing smoother, especially in large or complex environments. It allows teams to speed up testing, improve browser compatibility, and deliver quality products faster. LambdaTest Tunnel offers a solid solution for modern enterprise testing needs.
