What is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution. It is a meticulously crafted OS that specifically caters to the likes of network analysts & penetration testers. The presence of a plethora of tools that come pre-installed with Kali transforms it into an ethical hacker’s swiss-knife. Previously known as Backtrack, Kali Linux advertises itself as a more polished successor with more testing-centric tools, unlike Backtrack which had multiple tools that would serve the same purpose, in turn, making it jampacked with unnecessary utilities. This makes ethical hacking using Kali Linux a simplified task.
Why Do Use Kali Linux?
There are a wide array of reasons as to why one should use Kali Linux. Let me list
down a few of them:
1. As free as it can get — Kali Linux has been and will always be free to use.
2. More tools than you could think of — Kali Linux comes with over 600 different
penetration testing and security analytics related tool.
3. Open-source — Kali, being a member of the Linux family, follows the widely
appreciated open-source model. Their development tree is publicly viewable on
Git and all of the code is available for your tweaking purposes.
4. Multi-language Support — Although penetration tools tend to be written in
English, it has been ensured that Kali includes true multilingual support, allowing
20
more users to operate in their native language and locate the tools they need for
the job.
5. Completely customizable — The developers at offensive security understand that
not everyone will agree with their design model, so they have made it as easy as
possible for the more adventurous user to customize Kali Linux to their liking, all
the way down to the kernel.
System Requirements for Kali Linux
Installing Kali is a piece of cake. All you have to make sure is that you have the
compatible hardware. Kali is supported on i386, amd64, and ARM (both ARMEL
and ARMHF) platforms. The hardware requirements are minimal as listed below,
although better hardware will naturally provide better performance.
A minimum of 20 GB disk space for the Kali Linux install.
RAM for i386 and amd64 architectures, minimum: 1GB, recommended: 2GB or
more.
CD-DVD Drive / USB boot support/ VirtualBox
Let’S Install Kali linux
Step 1 – Download Kali Linux ISO image
To install the Kali Linux, we will have to first get the installer ISO image file.
You can get it by visiting the official download page. Please download the 64
bit or 32 bit image depending on the system you have.
Don’t get confused by the many options available such as Kali Linux 64 bit
Mate or Kali Linux 64 bit Xfce.
They are all the same except for the desktop environment.
LXDE, Mate, Xfce are various open source desktop environments.
I use Kali Linux 64 bit, but the choice is yours.
It does not really matter.
*Just remember that Kali Linux 64 bit Light is the minimal
distribution which will not contain all the features. You will have
to install the tools you want later on.
There is also an option to download the VMware image directly.
But I prefer to create my own Virtual Machine which has all the tools installed.
Step 2 – Locate the downloaded file
You can find the downloaded image file in the download folder, if you have
not changed the default settings.
The filename would be something like kali-linux-2018.3- amd64.iso.
If you have downloaded through torrent, the ISO file will be downloaded in a
folder, folder name would be something like kali-linux-2018.3-amd64.iso.
Step 3- Open VMWare Workstation
Open VMware Workstation from Windows Start menu or from your desktop
if you have VMware Workstation icon there.
Step 4 – Launch VMware Workstation New Virtual
-Machine installation wizard
To launch the wizard to create a new virtual machine,
Click on Create a New Virtual Machine or File -> New Virtual Machine
Welcome to the new Virtual Machine Wizard dialog box will open.
Select typical and click on next.
Step 5- Welcome to the new Virtual Machine Wizard
Dialog box appears
This is where you get a chance to select the way virtual machine will be created.
Typical is predefined or mostly the defaults.
Custom is where you get to set advanced options such as compatibility with
older Virtual Machines, SCSI controller type, etc.
We will go with the default options. Select Typical and click Next.
Step 6- Select installation media or source
In this dialog box you will have to browse to the downloaded ISO file and click
next
Generally, VMware Workstation detects the OS automatically and initiates what
they call as the Easy Install.
But in the case of Kali Linux this is not the case and you will see a warning
(yellow triangle).
Please ignore that and click next to continue.
Step 7- Select Guest Operating System
In this dialog box, you will be asked to select the Guest Operating System.
Select Guest operating system as Linux and Version as Debian
9.x 64-bit or 32 bit depending on your system.
Step 8- Provide Virtual machine name
In this dialog box, you will be asked to provide the name of the virtual machine.
You can provide any name you like.
You can also change the location of the virtual machine. By default it is place in
the Documents/Virtual Machine folder. Leaving it as the default is also fine.
Step 9- Specify disk capacity
This dialog box asks you to specify the disk capacity. This is the maximum amount of
disk space it will utilize once the Virtual Machine is created. You can leave it to the
default but if you are running low on disk space, you can reduce it to 20 GB. This is
generally sufficient if you are not planning to install heavy disk using software’s such
as Photoshop. Such software’s reduce the performance of your Virtual Machine if
your Computer is not powerful enough.
Check Split Virtual Disk into multiple files. This is the default option. Say if you
specify 60 GB, all of 60 GB will not be utilized or say 60 GB will not be blocked at
once. These Virtual Disks expand according to the usage with a Maximum size you
specifed as the disk capacity. On a fresh install normally it takes 10 GB of space
which will grow according to the software’s you install in the VM.
Step 10- Ready to create Virtual Machine Dialog Box
This is the final dialog box and what you see is all the options you have selected
in previous dialog boxes.
Normally I increase the RAM and memory before clicking finish. This helps to finish the installation process faster.
If you have sufficient RAM and CPU on your host Windows machine, I
suggest even you should increase RAM and CPU.
To increase the RAM, before clicking Finish, click on customize hardware.
Increase the memory using the slider.
To increase the CPU, Enter the values number of processors and number of cores. Click on Finish to start the installation process
Click on Close and Finish to start the installation process
Step 11 – Power on Virtual Machine
Now you will have to power on the virtual machine to start the process.
You can see the option to power on the VM on top left hand side.
Step 12 – Select Graphical Install from Boot Menu
Here you will see many options.
Select Graphical Install using the down arrow key and click continue.
Step 13 – Select a Language
In this dialog box you will be asked to select a language.
Please select a language and continue.
Default is English.
Step 14 – Select Location
In this dialog box you will be asked to select a Location.
Please select a location and continue.
Later on, you will be able to set the time zone based on the location you choose
here.
Step 15 – Configure the Keyboard
In this dialog box you will be asked to select the keyboard layout.
Please select a Keyboard layout using the arrow keys and click continue.
By default it is set to American English.
After you click continue , you will see the installation progresses for some them you see the Network Configuration dialog box, which is the next step.
Step 16 – Configure the Network – Enter Hostname
In this dialog box you will be asked to enter the hostname for your system.
This being a home network, we can set anything. Enter anything and click
continue.
Step 17 – Configure the Network – Enter domain name
In this dialog box you will be asked to enter the domain name for your system.
This being a home network, we can set anything like example.com
Step 18 – Set password for User root
In this dialog box you will be asked to enter the password for the root user
account.
Please enter a password of your choice and click continue.
This is the password for user root with which you will login when the
installation completes.
Step 19 – Configure Clock
In this dialog box you will be asked to time zone based on the location you
selected earlier.
Please enter a time zone of your choice and click continue.
Step 20 – Partition Disk
In this dialog box you are asked how you would like to partition your disk.
Select Guided – Use entire disk and click continue. This is the default option.
In this dialog box you are asked to select a disk to partition. Select sda, VMware Virtual disk.
There should be only one option. Click Continue.
Step 21 – Select partition scheme
In this dialog box you are asked to select a scheme for disk partition.
Select the default, All files in one partition and click Continue.
Step 22 - Disk partition Overview
In this dialog box you are see the summary of your disk partition.
Select the Finish Partitioning and Write changes to disk which should be
selected by default.
All you have to do is to click continue.
Step 23 – Disk partition Confirmation
In this dialog you are asked to confirm Write changes to disk.
Select yes and click continue.
Step 24 – Installation starts
Now the actual installation starts.
Wait for Configure the Package Manager Dialog box to appear.
Step 25 – Configure the package manager
In this dialog box you will ask if you wish to configure network mirror for
Package manager.
Choose yes and continue. You can skip this by selecting NO.
But the default option Yes is better. I will go with Yes.
Step 26 – Configure the package manager – HTTP
In this dialog box you will ask if you wish to HTTP proxy.
Leave it blank and click continue.
Installation process will continue.
Wait for sometime and let the process continue.
Step 27 – Install GRUB boot loader
In this dialog box you will be asked if you would like to install the GRUB boot
loader.
Select Yes and click Continue.
Step 28 – Select device for GRUB boot loader -Installation
In this dialog box you will be asked to select
boot loader device for GRUB installation.
Select /dev/sda and click Continue.
Installation will continue. Wait for the process to complete.
Process will begin again.
Its just finishing up the installation process and then the VM will reboot.
Once the VM reboots, you will see the Kali Linux login screen
Step 29 – Installation Complete
Installation will continue and now you will see Installation complete dialog box.
Click continue to finalize the installation and wait for the VM to reboot.
After reboot you will see the login screen.
Login with your username or root user and provide your password. You will
then see the Kali Linux desktop.
Login with username: root , Password: what you entered during the installation
process earlier.
Step 30 – Switching to Full screen mode
After login, if you want to switch to full screen mode, you wont be able to.
What you will see is the resolution of 800×600 which is the default resolution.
This is because, VMware tools are not installed. Please follow the below steps to
install VMware tools.
After the installation and reboot, you will be able to see the desktop with
resolution same as your computer
Step 31 – Install VMware Tools
To install the VMware tools, follow the below steps.
If you don’t have internet connection, you can install VMware tools directly from the
VM.
If you have internet connection, follow the next instruction which is easier.
Go to VM-> Install VMware Tools
You will see VMware tools Icon on the desktop. If you don’t, then click on
Places in the menu, Places->VMwre Tools. Double click to open.
Copy the file with the file name something like this VMware- tools….tar.gz to
the desktop.
Right click on this file on the desktop and click Extract here. You will see that
the file is extracted to the folder vmware-tools- distrib.
Open terminal by going to System Tools -> terminal
Goto the folder vmware-tools-distrib on desktop by entering the command cd
/Desktop/vmware-tools-distrib
Now run this command:
sudo ./vmware-install.pl -d
1. Enter your password and press Enter. You will be asked if you want to proceed
with the legacy installer. Enter Y and press Enter.
2. Now you will be asked series of questions, just accept the default by pressing
Enter for all and wait for the installation to complete.
3. Wait for the installation to complete. You will see more prompts, except the
defaults by clicking enter. Once completed, restart your VM by going to VM-
>Power->Restart Guest
4. Once the system restarts, you will be prompted to login. Once you login, you
can see the desktop in full screen mode which stretches up to the complete
screen.
If you have internet connection, try this
Open Terminal
Execute the command
sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools-desktop fuse
1. Enter your password
2. Enter your password, if asked
3. Enter Y to accept whenever asked
4. Wait for the process to complete and restart. You are done. Login and now you
will see the desktop in full screen mode
You can check the version of installed VMware Tools
In terminal, execute the command
vmware-toolbox-cmd -v
This will show you the version number.
Process Complete
You are done; you can start working on Kali Linux.
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