Kali Linux is a popular distribution for penetration testing. Anyone who has even a passing interest in the subject should have heard of it. Kali Linux, a venerable distribution that is maintained by Offensive Security, is preinstalled and comes with over 600 tools. Everything you need, from port scanners to password crackers and exploit frameworks, is included in this one-click download.
These tools are not enough. You will also need to have some basic networking knowledge. This can be obtained from Network+ training or the more advanced CCNA 200-301 training. You can also try some pentesting training, which covers the most popular Kali Linux tools.
Are you ready to jump in? You are ready to go! But first, you need to decide how Kali will be run. You can’t install Kali as an app in Windows. It is an entirely different operating system. Perhaps you can wipe it and then load it on an older laptop. Create a virtual machine? You could also put it in the Cloud.
Each option has its pros, cons, and special considerations that you should consider before you get started. Let’s also look at some pro tips on how to work best with Kali.
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Get started in training for the installation of bare metal
There is nothing wrong with going bare. “Bare metal” refers to the installation of an operating system directly onto a computer’s hardware. This is different from running an OS as guest virtual machine. To boot the computer, you will need media that contains the Kali image. OffSec offers ISO downloads. ISOs are simply one file that is an image from a whole CD or DVD. Are you overwhelmed by all the options on that page? Kali Linux 32-bit is the best choice.
The ISO file can then be burned to a DVD or converted to a USB flash drive. This is the most practical option, as more and more computers don’t have DVD drives. If you prefer the old-skool shiny media, then get to burning’. If you choose to go this route, this article will show you how to create a bootable flash disk.
What are the pros and cons of running Kali on bare-metal? An older machine can be repurposed. You might not have a computer that is powerful enough to virtualize. That’s it. This is not the best choice. Kali is a great OS. However, if you are not used to Debian as your daily driver, this might be a difficult way to switch. It is better to run as a VM, so …. is the best option.
Installing Kali as Virtual Machine
Here’s the deal: a VM is the best way to go. It’s extremely convenient to run Kali as a guest. You have access to Kali on one computer, and the host operating system is still available. To prevent any potential damage after major updates, you can take snapshots. There are no flash drives or DVDs to worry about. Much better, right?
There are still many decisions to be made. A hypervisor is the software that runs VMs. There are many options depending on the operating system of your host. VirtualBox is an option that runs on Windows and MacOS as well as Linux, Linux, Solaris, and Solaris (for those who are really hardcore). VirtualBox, which is maintained by Oracle, is open-source (aka free). VirtualBox is low-maintenance, has low overhead, and can run VMs of almost every OS you could need (and many more you won’t). ).
Kali is also available in VirtualBox format. It comes preinstalled, ready to go. You can import the image and click on boot to get to your desktop in 30 seconds.
VirtualBox isn’t perfect, but it’s a good start. VirtualBox can sometimes be frustrating due to network and UI issues. Copying and pasting between guest and host works… most of the time… sometimes. These little things can get annoying after a while. You can’t beat free, so give it a try. There are other options.
Kali VM in
