appium/docs/grid.md

Selenium Grid

You are able to register your appium server with a local grid by using the "--nodeconfig" server parameter.

> node . -V --nodeconfig /path/to/nodeconfig.json

In the node config file you have to define the "browserName", "version" and "platform" and based on these parameters the grid will re-direct your test to the right device. You will also need to configure you host details and the selenium grid details. For a full list of all parameters and descriptions look here.

Once you start the appium server and it registers with the grid, you will see your device on the grid console page:

"http://<grid-ip-adress>:<grid-port>/grid/console"

Grid Node Configuration Example json file

{
  "capabilities":
      [
        {
          "browserName": "<e.g._iPhone5_or_iPad4>",
          "version":"<version_of_iOS_e.g._6.1>",
          "maxInstances": 1,
          "platform":"<platform_e.g._MAC_or_ANDROID>"
        }
      ],
  "configuration":
  {
    "cleanUpCycle":2000,
    "timeout":30000,
    "proxy": "org.openqa.grid.selenium.proxy.DefaultRemoteProxy",
    "url":"http://<host_name_appium_server_or_ip-address_appium_server>:<appium_port>/wd/hub",
    "maxSession": 1,
    "register": true,
    "registerCycle": 5000,
    "hubPort": <grid_port>,
    "hubHost": "<Grid_host_name_or_grid_ip-address>"
  }
}

Valid platforms are listed here