Understanding the Settings

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 73 views

Introduction

Running a browser on an existing instance can be a challenging task, especially when dealing with complex browser settings and configurations. In this article, we will explore the steps to run a browser on an existing instance, using the settings provided.

Understanding the Settings

Before we dive into the solution, let's take a closer look at the settings provided:

...
CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION=true 
CHROME_DEBUGGING_PORT=9222
CHROME_DEBUGGING_HOST=localhost
CHROME_PATH=(valid msedge path)
BROWSER_HEADLESS=false
BROWSER_DISABLE_SECURITY=false
BROWSER_WINDOW_WIDTH=1280
BROWSER_WINDOW_HEIGHT=720
BROWSER_TRACE_PATH=trace.json
BROWSER_RECORDING_PATH=recording.mp4
...

These settings indicate that we are using a persistent session, with remote debugging enabled on port 9222, and the browser path is set to a valid Microsoft Edge path. Additionally, we are not running the browser in headless mode, and security features are disabled.

Launching the Browser with Remote Debugging Port

The first step is to launch the browser with the remote debugging port enabled. This can be done by setting the CHROME_DEBUGGING_PORT environment variable to the desired port number. In this case, we are using port 9222.

CHROME_DEBUGGING_PORT=9222

Once the browser is launched, we can verify that the endpoint is working by checking the browser's debugging interface. This can be done by navigating to http://localhost:9222/json in a web browser.

Running the Browser Agent

Now that the browser is launched and the endpoint is working, we can try to run the browser agent. However, as mentioned earlier, the browser agent still opens a new Chromium instance.

Troubleshooting the Issue

To troubleshoot this issue, let's take a closer look at the browser agent's configuration. The browser agent is likely configured to launch a new browser instance if it cannot connect to an existing instance.

Checking the Browser Agent's Configuration

The browser agent's configuration can be found in the browser_agent module. This module is responsible for launching the browser and connecting to the existing instance.

# browser_agent.py
import os

# Set the browser path and debugging port
browser_path = os.environ.get('CHROME_PATH')
debugging_port = os.environ.get('CHROME_DEBUGGING_PORT')

# Launch the browser and connect to the existing instance
if not os.environ.get('CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION'):
    # Launch a new browser instance
    os.system(f'{browser_path} --remote-debugging-port={debugging_port}')
else:
    # Connect to the existing instance
    os.system(f'{browser_path} --remote-debugging-port={debugging_port} --no-first-run')

As we can see, the browser agent is configured to launch a new browser instance if the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable is not set.

Modifying the Browser Agent's Configuration

To fix the issue, we need to modify the browser agent's configuration to connect to the existing instance instead of launching a new one. This can be done by setting the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable to true.

CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION=true

Additionally, we need to modify the browser agent's configuration to use the existing instance's debugging port.

# browser_agent.py
import os

# Set the browser path and debugging port
browser_path = os.environ.get('CHROME_PATH')
debugging_port = os.environ.get('CHROME_DEBUGGING_PORT')

# Launch the browser and connect to the existing instance
if os.environ.get('CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION'):
    # Connect to the existing instance
    os.system(f'{browser_path} --remote-debugging-port={debugging_port} --no-first-run')
else:
    # Launch a new browser instance
    os.system(f'{browser_path} --remote-debugging-port={debugging_port}')

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the steps to run a browser on an existing instance using the settings provided. We took a closer look at the browser agent's configuration and modified it to connect to the existing instance instead of launching a new one. By following these steps, we can successfully run the browser on an existing instance.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Make sure to set the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable to true to connect to the existing instance.
Use the existing instance's debugging port to connect to the browser.
Modify the browser agent's configuration to use the existing instance's debugging port.
Use the --no-first-run flag to prevent the browser from launching a new instance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is the browser agent launching a new instance instead of connecting to the existing one? A: This is likely due to the browser agent's configuration not being set to connect to the existing instance.
Q: How do I modify the browser agent's configuration to connect to the existing instance? A: Set the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable to true and modify the browser agent's configuration to use the existing instance's debugging port.
Q: What is the --no-first-run flag used for? A: The --no-first-run flag is used to prevent the browser from launching a new instance.

Introduction

Running a browser on an existing instance can be a complex task, and it's not uncommon to encounter issues or have questions about the process. In this article, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions about running a browser on an existing instance.

Q&A

Q: Why is the browser agent launching a new instance instead of connecting to the existing one?

A: This is likely due to the browser agent's configuration not being set to connect to the existing instance. Make sure to set the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable to true and modify the browser agent's configuration to use the existing instance's debugging port.

Q: How do I modify the browser agent's configuration to connect to the existing instance?

A: To modify the browser agent's configuration, you'll need to set the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable to true and update the browser agent's code to use the existing instance's debugging port. You can do this by modifying the browser_agent.py file and setting the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable to true.

Q: What is the `--no-first-run` flag used for?

A: The --no-first-run flag is used to prevent the browser from launching a new instance. When you set this flag, the browser will instead connect to the existing instance.

Q: Why is my browser not connecting to the existing instance?

A: There could be several reasons why your browser is not connecting to the existing instance. Make sure that the CHROME_PERSISTENT_SESSION environment variable is set to true and that the browser agent's configuration is updated to use the existing instance's debugging port.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with the browser agent?

A: To troubleshoot issues with the browser agent, you can start by checking the browser agent's logs for any error messages. You can also try running the browser agent in debug mode to get more detailed information about what's going on.

Q: Can I run multiple browsers on the same instance?

A: Yes, you can run multiple browsers on the same instance. However, you'll need to make sure that each browser is configured to use a different debugging port.

Q: How do I configure the browser agent to use a different debugging port?

A: To configure the browser agent to use a different debugging port, you can update the browser_agent.py file to use a different port number.

Q: What are some common issues that can occur when running a browser on an existing instance?

A: Some common issues that can occur when running a browser on an existing instance include:

The browser agent not connecting to the existing instance
The browser launching a new instance instead of connecting to the existing one
The browser not responding to commands from the browser agent

Conclusion

Running a browser on an existing instance can be a complex task, and it's not uncommon to encounter issues or have questions about the process. By following the steps outlined in this article and addressing some of the most frequently asked questions, you should be able to successfully run a browser on an existing instance.