Install and setup Kali using VirtualBox
I’m not going to explain why or what is Kali, or why onto VirtualBox. If you don’t know then this post isn’t for you!
Things you need to download
As I am going to show this in Windows, below is the link to the Windows installer. You can download MAC or Linux installer and follow EXACTLY the same steps to install and run VirtualBox in your machine.
First download the Kali iso and VirtualBox.
Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution specifically designed for digital forensics and penetration testing and is maintained/funded by Offensive Security Ltd.
In this guide I will go through step-by-step instructions on installing Kali Linux on VirtualBox on a Windows 10 HOST OS.
- Create a new Virtual Machine and VHD drive
- Booting Kali ISO
- Finalizing installation and running Kali on VirtualBox.
- Install VirtualBox Guest Additions packages
- Doing system updates and getting the system ready.
Installing Kali Linux on VirtualBox
Once VirtualBox has download, install. The installation is very easy and simple, Double-click on the setup then hit continue until it gets finished.
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, Pick a name for your Kali Linux VM. Next, you have to select the type of operating system. Choose, Linux and Other Linux (32bit). Click “Next” button.
The min spec for a Kali install according is 20GB HDD and 2GB RAM. Set that on the resources pages, i wouldn’t give it more than 20GB HDD unless your going to be storing mas amounts of PEN data. The only resource i would change is giving it 4GB RAM if you can afford to re-allocate from the host.
Click Next.
On the next page “Hard Disk” make sure middle “Create a virtual hard disk now” is selected, then click create.
On the Hard disk file type i personally select VHD. I work with Hyper-V and just seem to be my preferred platform. Then continue by clicking next.
For the type of drive you select what works for you. Again I personally would select Fixed, simply so the resource are pre-allocated thus easier to manage a hosts disk space if running several VM’s.
Now, you’ve successfully created the virtual machine, one last things is to click on the VirtualBox “Settings“, Navigate to the “Display tab” then increase the “Video Memory“ to max.
Now we need to map the ISO as a bootable CD so we can install.
In the menu click “Storage” then click the + floppy disk icon and select “Add Optical Drive”.
Choose the middle “Choose Disk”, this is where you now need to navigate to where you saved the Kali ISO, double click it to add.
That’s it, simply turn your VM on and follow the on screen instructions to install the OS onto your 20GB+- virtual hard drive.
I’ll post soon with some basic setups and updates to run once you have your Kali VM running.
