Kali Linux - Installation and Configuration

Kali Linux - Installation and Configuration

Kali Linux is one of the best security packages of an ethical hacker, containing a set of tools divided by the categories. It is an open source and its official webpage is https://www.kali.org.

Generally, Kali Linux can be installed in a machine as an Operating System, as a virtual machine which we will discuss in the following section. Installing Kali Linux is a practical option as it provides more options to work and combine the tools. You can also create a live boot CD or USB. All this can be found in the following link: https://www.kali.org/downloads/

Back Track was the old version of Kali Linux distribution. The latest release is Kali 2016.1 and it is updated very often.

To install Kali Linux −                                                      

●      First, we will download the Virtual box and install it.

●      Later, we will download and install Kali Linux distribution.

Download and Install the Virtual Box

A Virtual Box is particularly useful when you want to test something on Kali Linux that you are unsure of. Running Kali Linux on a Virtual Box is safe when you want to experiment with unknown packages or when you want to test a code.

With the help of a Virtual Box, you can install Kali Linux on your system (not directly in your hard disk) alongside your primary OS which can MAC or Windows or another flavor of Linux.

Let’s understand how you can download and install the Virtual Box on your system.

Step 1 − To download, go to https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads. Depending on your operating system, select the right package. In this case, it will be the first one for Windows as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Click Next.

Step 3 − The next page will give you options to choose the location where you want to install the application. In this case, let us leave it as default and click Next.

Step 4 − Click Next and the following Custom Setup screenshot pops up. Select the features you want to be installed and click Next.

Step 5 − Click Yes to proceed with the installation.

Step 6 − The Ready to Install screen pops up. Click Install.

Step 7 − Click the Finish button.

The Virtual Box application will now open as shown in the following screenshot. Now we are ready to install the rest of the hosts for this manual and this is also recommended for professional usage.

Install Kali Linux

Step #1. Now, open up the VirtualBox then click on the “New” at the upper left-hand side of the window.
A new window will pop up, choose a proper name for Kali Linux. Next, you have to select the type of operating system. When you type the Kali Linux, it’ll automatically set up all the necessary options. If it does not set up so you have to do it manually. Click “Next” button.

Create New Virtual Machine

Step #2. Choose at least 2 GB of memory size then hit the “Next” button.

Choose Memory Size

Step #3. Create a new virtual hard disk. Select the second option “Create a new virtual hard disk now“. Hit the “Create” button.

Create a New Virtual Hard Disk Now

Step #4. A new window will be shown to you and choose the first option “VirtualBox Disk Image” then tap on the “Next” button.

Har Disk File Type

Step #5. Here, you have two options “Dynamic and Fixed Size“. A dynamic allocated hard disk file will only use space on your physical hard disk as it fills up it’ll take space from the main hard disk. If you choose the “Fixed Size“, it’ll cut some space from the physical hard disk when the size is filled. You can’t get space from the physical hard disk. I recommend you to choose the dynamic hard disk.

Storage on Physical Har Disk

Step #6. In this step, choose the amount of space for the hard disk. If you’ve selected fixed size hard disk so at least 15 GB you should select the size of hard disk.

File Location and Size

Step #7.  Now, you’ve successfully created new virtual machine but it’s not finished yet. Click on the VirtualBox “Settings“. Navigate to the “Display tab” then increase the “Video Memory“.

Setting Video Memory

Step #8. Click on the “Storage tab” then tap on DVD icon. A small window will pop, choose “Choose Disk“. Now, Choose the Kali Linux ISO file that you’ve downloaded from its site.

Choose an Operating System

It’s done now. Click the “OK” button to end up the creating a new virtual machine process.

Install Kali Linux on VirtualBox

Now that you’ve successfully created a new virtual machine, let’s get started that how to install Kali Linux on VirtualBox in PC. Open the VirtualBox then select the Kali Linux virtual machine. Tap on the “Start” button at the top.

Start Virtual Machine

Step #1. When you start the virtual machine, the Kali Linux will pop up. They’re three options to choose.

1. Use Kali Linux live
2. Install
3. Graphical install

Here, I’m going to show you clean graphical installation of Kali Linux. So I’m going to choose the third option “Graphical Install“. If you choose the only “Install” so you’ll not see a pretty nice graphical user interface instead there will be black with a terminal user interface.

Graphical Linux Installation

Step #2. In this step, you’re going to choose language, keyboard, and Location. Hit the “Continue” button.

Choose Language

Step #3. Choose a hostname. The hostname is a single word that identifies your system to the network. The hostname is the person who will use the operating system and have full control over it.

Choose Hostname

Step #4. Choose a domain name. The domain name is an internet Web address that mostly ends up with “.com, .org, .net, and .Edu”. If you have a domain just type the name. If you don’t have Website, skip this process.

Choose Domain Name

Step #5. Try to type a strong password for the root user. A strong password contains upper case letter, lower case letter, and symbols.

Enter Password

Step #6. Select a proper time zone for your operating system.

Select the Time Zone

Step #7. Now, you need to create a new partition. Click on “Manual“.

Select Manual Partition

Step #8. Once you’ve chosen the manual partitioning. Now, select the third option “SCSI1 (0,0,0) (sda) -56.8 GB ATA VBOX HARDDISK“.

Create New Partition

Step #9. In this step, press “Yes” button to continue the partitioning process.

Create New Partition for Kali Linux

Step #10. Choose the free space then hit the continue button.

Select the Partition

Step #11. Select “Create a new partition” then hit the “Continue” button.

Select Create a new partition

Step #12. You can create a partition or create multiple partitions. Choose the size of the partition. Here I’ll create three partitions. So my first drive will be 40 GB.

New Partition Size

Step #13. Choose primary or logical then hit the “Continue” button.

Primary Partition

Step #14. Please select whether you want the new partition to be created at the beginning or at the end of the available space. Choose the first option “Beginning” then hit “Continue“.

Location for the New Partition

Step #15. Now, choose “Done setting up the partition“.

Done Setting up the Partitioning

Create the other partition the same. Please remember one thing that creates one partition for “Swap area“. This partition should be at least 1 GB.
Once you created all the partitions. Choose “Finish partitioning and write changes to the disk“. Hit the “Continue” button.

Finish Partitioning

Step #16. Do you want to write changes to the disk? click “Yes“.

Write Changes to the Disk

The operating system will start installing. Wait for some minutes. It’ll take around 10 to 20 minutes. This depends on the speed of your computer.
Step #17. Do you want to use the disk mirror? Click “No“.

Use a Network Mirror

Step #18. Install the GRUP boot loader on the hard disk. Click “Yes“.

Install the GRUB Boot Loader

Step #19. When you clicked “Yes“, a new window will be shown to you. Choose the second option and hit the “Continue” button.

Device for Boot Loader Installation

After this, your computer will restart and you’ll be asked to enter the username and password. The username is “root” and the password is whatever you’ve entered in step 5.

Kali Linux Installation

Conclusion

This was a complete guide on how to create a new virtual machine and install Kali Linux on VirtualBox in PC. If you have any question regarding this article, feel free to ask below this post. Thanks for being with us.