Protocol audit
HTTP/2 Tester
Test whether a website negotiates HTTP/2 and inspect protocol, ALPN and TLS signals.
What does the HTTP/2 tester check?
- It connects to the public host and reports whether HTTP/2 was negotiated, along with protocol and TLS details returned by the backend probe.
- Run the exact hostname users visit, including www or CDN aliases. Protocol support can differ between apex, www, staging and edge hostnames.
- Compare the result with SSL Certificate Checker and HTTP Header Checker when a site falls back to HTTP/1.1 or redirects before the final response.
HTTP/2 signals to review
The tester focuses on protocol negotiation signals that operators need during CDN, TLS and origin migrations. It is a single-host check, not a worldwide edge map or full performance benchmark.
| Signal | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP/2 | Whether h2 was negotiated for the host | supported / not supported |
| ALPN | TLS protocol negotiation advertised by the server | h2, http/1.1 |
| TLS | Transport version used for the probe | TLS 1.3 |
| Status | HTTP response status from the checked URL | 200 OK, 301 Moved Permanently |
When to test HTTP/2
Use the tester after enabling HTTP/2 on a CDN, load balancer or origin server. A successful TLS certificate does not guarantee that ALPN advertises h2 for every hostname.
Run it before and after redirect or HSTS changes. The protocol seen on the final public URL is the one browsers and synthetic monitors care about.
Check apex and www separately, especially when DNS points them at different providers or CDN zones.
Troubleshooting HTTP/2 fallback
If a host falls back to HTTP/1.1, inspect TLS settings and ALPN configuration first. Older load balancer profiles may support TLS but not advertise h2.
If only one hostname fails, compare DNS and certificate SAN coverage. The request may reach a different edge or origin than expected.
If redirects are involved, test the final hostname directly and inspect headers to understand whether the first hop is changing scheme or host.
HTTP/2, ALPN and TLS
HTTP/2 support is negotiated before application headers are interpreted. ALPN tells the client whether h2 is available on the TLS connection.
CDNs can enable h2 at the edge while origins still speak HTTP/1.1 behind the proxy. This tester reports the public path, which is usually what users experience.
Protocol support is only one layer. Keep checking certificate validity, redirect policy and response headers when hardening production sites.
Protocol check workflow
- Confirm DNS points the hostname at the intended edge or origin.
- Verify SSL certificate chain and SAN coverage for the same host.
- Run HTTP/2 Tester and record the negotiated protocol.
- Inspect HTTP headers for redirects, HSTS and cache policy.
HTTP/2 tester vs curl and browser DevTools
curl with verbose TLS output is powerful, but not every teammate has it available or knows the flags. DN01 gives a browser-based protocol snapshot with copyable output.
Browser DevTools show protocol per request after loading a page. The tester is faster for a single hostname when you need evidence for a ticket or deployment checklist.
Dedicated performance suites measure waterfalls, prioritization and Core Web Vitals. This tool answers the narrower question: does the public host negotiate HTTP/2 now?
Why use DN01 HTTP/2 Tester
- Single-host HTTP/2 and ALPN check that fits the existing DNS, SSL and header workflow.
- Localized UI, copy-friendly results and stable result permalinks for handoffs.
- Clear limits: no fake global edge grid, no full performance score and no authenticated crawling.
FAQ
HTTP/2 tester FAQ
Protocol support, ALPN negotiation, TLS requirements and when to compare headers or SSL.
What does the HTTP/2 tester check?
It connects to the public host and reports whether HTTP/2 was negotiated, along with protocol and TLS details returned by the backend probe.
Why does HTTP/2 require TLS on most websites?
Modern browsers normally negotiate HTTP/2 over TLS using ALPN. If TLS or ALPN is misconfigured, the site may fall back to HTTP/1.1 even when the server supports h2.
Can I test a CDN hostname?
Yes. Test the exact hostname users visit, including www or CDN hostnames, because edge configuration can differ per host.
Should I compare HTTP/2 with headers and SSL?
Yes. Use SSL Certificate Checker for chain and expiry, then HTTP Header Checker to inspect redirects, HSTS, cache and security headers after the protocol check.
Tool switcher
Continue with another check
Pick the next step in your domain or security workflow.
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- SSL Certificate CheckerCertificate chain, SAN and TLS versionOpen
- HTTP Header CheckerResponse headers, redirects and cachingOpen
- DNS CheckerAll major record types in one passOpen
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- WHOISRegistrar, expiry and domain statusOpen
- Blacklist CheckerDNSBL reputation for IP and domainOpen
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- IP CalculatorSubnet math for IPv4 and IPv6 CIDROpen
- Base64 CodecEncode and decode Base64 textOpen
- Password GeneratorStrong random passwords for ops workOpen
- BIN CheckerCard brand, bank and country from BIN/IINOpen
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