Kali Linux Installation

Kali Linux 2020.3(Latest version) Installation Tutorial

What is Kali Linux?

Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution aimed at advanced Penetration Testing and Security Auditing. Kali contains several hundred tools which are geared towards various information security tasks, such as Penetration Testing, Security research, Computer Forensics and Reverse Engineering. Kali Linux is developed, funded and maintained by Offensive Security, a leading information security training company.

• More than 600 penetration testing tools included
• Free
• Open source Git tree
• Filesystem Hierarchy Standard compliant
• Wide-ranging wireless device support
• Custom kernel, patched for injection
• Developed in a secure environment
• GPG signed packages and repositories
• Multi-language support
• Completely customizable
• ARMEL and ARMHF support

Kali Linux installation requirements

The installation requirements for Kali Linux vary depending on what you would like to install. On the low end, you can set up Kali as a basic Secure Shell (SSH) server with no desktop, using as little as 128 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended) and 2 GB of disk space. On the higher end, if you opt to install the default XFCE4 desktop and the kali-linux-default meta-package, you should really aim for at least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space.

Installing Kali Linux

Kali Linux installation is a fairly simple process and you have multiple installation options. The most-preferred methods include:

1. Using virtualization software, such as VMware or VirtualBox
2. Kali Linux hard disk install
3. Kali Linux in a bootable USB drive

Method 1: Kali Linux in VirtualBox

In this method, we install Kali Linux as a virtual machine.

Step 1: Download Kali Linx(Installer) iso file

Step 2: Install Virtual Box and Create a new Virtual Machine following the steps in the previous Tutorial.

Once done, click on start to get the new virtual machine up and running

Now it will ask for the file to start the virtual machine. Click on the folder icon.

Now click on “Add disk image”

Locate the Kali Linux iso file downloaded from the official website

Select the downloaded Kali Linux iso file

Click on “Start” to start the installation process for Kali Linux

Step 4: Kali Linux Installation

Once the machine is powered up, you will be prompted to select your preferred installation mode in the GRUB menu. Select Graphic install.

Next few screens will ask you to select locale information such as your preferred language, your country location and, keyboard layout.

Type in the IP address of the server if not leave it empty and continue.

Enter the hostname for the system

Enter your domain name, Username and Password

The installer will now provide you with four choices about the partitions of the disk. If Kali will be the only operating on the machine, the easiest option is to use ‘Guided — Use Entire Disk’ and then select the storage device you wish to install Kali. Experienced users can use the “Manual” partitioning method for more granular configuration options.

The next question will prompt the user to determine the partitioning on the storage device. Most installs can simply put all data on one partition though.

Confirm all changes to be made to the disk on the host machine. Be aware that if you continue it will erase data on the disk.

This differs for Hard install. If using a virtual box click on continue and noting will be lost. But in case of hard install, the entire data in your Hard disk, any other OS in the system will be deleted.

Select the software needed to be installed. This step takes some time to get finished.

After the software installation is complete, the system will ask to install grub. Selecting ‘Yes’ on this screen will allow the user to pick the device to write the necessary boot loader information to the hard drive to boot Kali. After that select the drive to install the boot loader.

Once the installation is done, the login page is displayed. Now Kali Linux is successfully installed and ready to be used.

Method 2: Kali Linux Hard disk install

For this method, we will be needing a USB drive and software to create a bootable device.

Step 1: Download Kali Linx(Installer) iso file

Step 2: Download and install balenaEthcer

balenaEtcher is a free and open-source utility used for writing image files such as .iso and .img files, as well as zipped folders onto storage media to create live SD cards and USB flash drives.

Step 3: Create a bootable USB drive

Select “Flash from file” and locate the Kali Linux .iso file

Next, select the USB drive to be used as a bootable device. The contents in the drive will be deleted.

Finally, click on “Flash” to create the bootable device.

Step 4: Connect the USB drive to the PC or laptop

Step 5: Turn on the PC and press the key that opens the boot-device selection menu for the computer. It differs for each pc manufacturers, like Esc/F10/F12 keys. Select the option that boots the PC from the USB flash drive.

After booting with the USB drive follow Step 4 from the previous method to Install Kali Linux.

Method 3: Installing Kali Linux as a bootable USB Drive

The fastest method, for getting up and running with Kali Linux is to run it “live” from a USB drive. This method has several advantages:

• It’s non-destructive — it makes no changes to the host system’s hard drive or installed OS, and to go back to normal operations, you simply remove the “Kali Live” USB drive and restart the system.
• It’s portable — you can carry Kali Linux in your pocket and have it running in minutes on an available system
• It’s customizable — you can roll your own custom Kali Linux ISO image and put it onto a USB drive using the same procedures
• It’s potentially persistent — with a bit of extra effort, you can configure your Kali Linux “live” USB drive to have persistent storage, so the data you collect is saved across reboots

Installation

Step 1: Download the Kali Linux (Live) iso file

Step 2: Plug your USB drive into an available USB port on your Windows PC, note which drives designator it uses once it mounts, and launch balenaEtcher.

Step 3: Select “Flash from file” and locate the Kali Linux(Live) .iso file and verify that the USB drive to be overwritten is the correct one. Click the “Flash” button once ready.

Now you can use Kali wherever you need by just plugging in the USB stick.