Kali Linux Installation Guide
Kali Linux (previously Back Track Linux) is a Debian-based open-source Linux distribution designed for advanced penetration testing and security auditing. Kali Linux has a large number of tools for various data security activities, including penetration testing, security research, computer forensics, and reverse engineering.
Kali Linux is a multi-platform solution that information security experts and hobbyists can use for free.
On March 13th, 2013, Kali Linux was published as a complete, top-to-bottom rebuild of Back Track Linux, according to Debian development guidelines.
Kali Linux
Hackers use Kali Linux because it is a free operating system with over 600 tools for penetration testing and security analytics. Kali is based on an open-source structure, with all code available on Git. Kali offers multi-language support, allowing users to work in their preferred language. Kali Linux is completely customizable, all the way down to the kernel, to fill client needs.
Now talking about installation of Kali Linux your machine must meet some basic requirements as followed
2 GB of RAM
20 GB of disk space
32 or 64 bit CPU (single core) with 2 GHz speed or better
High definition graphics card and monitor
Broadband internet connection
If your system satisfies the required criteria, we are ready to begin the installation procedure.
Types of installation
1. Kali Linux installation inside Virtual Box
2. Kali Linux installation inside VMware
3. ZSecurity Kali Linux installation inside VMware
In this blog, we will be looking at the first installation method only. We’ll go over the second and third methods in separate blogs.
VMware is virtualization software that helps you to run multiple operating systems in a single host and VirtualBox is an Oracle tool to provide host-based virtualization.
1. Kali Linux installation inside Virtual Box
First we will go through the procedure of installing Virtual Box
Installing Virtual Box
Step 1
First download the setup file for Virtual box from the official website of Virtual box . The link is mentioned below
Download the following file
Step 2
After the exe file is downloaded open the same.
The following screen will be displayed. Click on next
Step 3
After that it will show the location where Virtual Box will be installed
So if you don’t have a good reason to change the path let it be Default and click on Next
Step 4
Check all the check box and then click on Next
Step 5
As we will be installing a virtual machine it will also require network.
So for the Network configurations it will show us some warnings. Click on Yes
Step 6
So now we are good to go for the installation. Click on Install
Step 7
It will show us a warning but just click on Install and proceed
Step 8
And we are done with the installation. Just click on Finish and Virtual Box will be launched.
For the time being, we’ve completed the Virtual Box installation. It was a fairly simple method, and now we will go to the Kali Linux installation procedure within the same. It will be a little lengthy procedure, but we will see all of the processes clearly.
Installing Kali Linux
Step 1
Firstly download Kali Linux iso file from the downloads section of Kali Linux website as follows. Download the Virtual Box file present at the right
Step 2
Open the Virtual Box and click on the New option on the Upper Right corner
Step 3
Select the following options and Click on Next.
Under the Name section you can give any Name to the machine you want.
Step 4
Select the amount of RAM you want to allocate to your Kali machine. Make sure that you allocate a minimum 2 GB of RAM for smooth functioning of you machine
Step 5
Continue by selecting the mentioned options
These steps were only for allocating storage to our machine.
Step 6
Now we are done creating a virtual machine. The following window must appear in front of you when you open Virtual Box now
Now we will install Kali Linux Inside this virtual machine that we had created just now.
Click on the settings section inside the Virtual Machine which we had created just now.
Step 7
Now under the General section change the Share Clipboard and Drag’n’Drop options to Bidirectional. This will allow us to exchange files easily between our Host machine and virtual Kali Linux Machine
Step 8
Now in the Storage section under Controller IDE select empty and then click on the blue DVD at the left most corner as shown
Step 9
This will redirect you to your Host machine. Here you will have to select the iso file which you had downloaded from the Kali Linux website earlier
Selecting the downloaded iso file
Step 10
And done we have successfully installed Kali Linux inside Virtual Box. Now click on start and our Kali Machine will boot
Powering on our Kali Machine
Now that we’ve finished installing Kali Linux, we’ll set it up like any other operating system.
Setting Up Kali Linux
Step 1
Select the graphical installation option after you power on the machine
Step 2
As indicated, choose your installation language, location, and keyboard type.
Step 3
Enter the name of the machine’s host.
Step 5
Create User Name and password of your own.
Make a note of this password, since it will enable you in logging into the system each time.
Step 6
There are a few additional steps to disc partitioning and storage management after that. Continue with the option you’ve been given.
Step 7
Installing basic required software for Kali Linux. Click on continue
Step 8
Configuring some more settings. Select the options as in image and click on continue.
Step 10
So now we are done with the installation. Click on continue and just restart your Virtual Box and start the Kali Machine.
Step 11
Login with your Username and password that you had created during the installation process.
We had successfully completed installing Kali Linux in Virtual Box
This completed the installation of Kali Linux in Virtual Box. It was a long process, but I hope you understand everything and are now able to use Kali Linux.