How to install Kali Linux in 5 mins
This should feel illegal
Kali Linux is a popular operating system used by cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts for penetration testing, digital forensics, and other security-related tasks. If you want to try out Kali Linux on your computer without installing it on your physical hard drive, you can use VMware to create a virtual machine and install Kali Linux using the .ova file.
What is an .ova file?
An .ova file is a virtual appliance file format used by VMware to distribute pre-built virtual machines. It contains a compressed version of a virtual machine, including its operating system, software, and configuration settings. By using an .ova file, you can quickly import a virtual machine into VMware without having to install the operating system or configure the virtual machine yourself.
In this article, we will show you how to install Kali Linux using a .ova file in VMware Workstation.
Prerequisites
- VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion
- A .ova file of Kali Linux
Instructions
- Download the .ova file of Kali Linux from the official website.
- Open VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion.
- Click on the File menu and select Import Appliance…
- Browse to the location of the .ova file and select it.
- Click on the Open button.
- VMware will import the .ova file and create a new virtual machine.
- Click on the Finish button.
- The virtual machine will start up.
- The Kali Linux installation wizard will start.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to install Kali Linux.
Step 1: Download the Kali Linux .ova file
The first step is to download the Kali Linux .ova file from the official website. You can find the download link here: https://www.kali.org/downloads/
Step 2: Open VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion
Once you have downloaded the .ova file, open VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion.
Step 3: Import the Kali Linux .ova file
In VMware Workstation, click on the File menu and select Import Appliance…
In VMware Fusion, click on the File menu and select Import…
In the Import Appliance dialog box, browse to the location of the Kali Linux .ova file and select it.
Click on the Open button.
Step 4: Create a new virtual machine
VMware will import the .ova file and create a new virtual machine.
The virtual machine will be named “Kali Linux”.
Click on the Finish button.
Step 5: Start the Kali Linux virtual machine
Click on the Play button to start the Kali Linux virtual machine.
The Kali Linux installation wizard will start.
Step 6: Install Kali Linux
Follow the instructions on the screen to install Kali Linux.
The installation process is straightforward and should only take a few minutes.
Step 7: Start the virtual machine
Once the import process is complete, you should see the Kali Linux virtual machine listed in the VMware library. Select the virtual machine and click on “Play Virtual Machine” to start it.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Kali Linux setup process. You may need to configure the network settings, create a user account, and install any necessary updates or software.
Conclusion:
Using an .ova file to install Kali Linux in VMware is a quick and easy way to get started with the popular security-focused operating system. By following these steps, you can create a virtual machine with Kali Linux installed and start using it for a variety of cybersecurity tasks. However, remember to follow best practices for using Kali Linux, such as not using it for illegal or unethical purposes. With that in mind, happy hacking!
