Kali x86‐64 VM - jhu-information-security-institute/infrastructure GitHub Wiki

This was tested with Kali 2024.4!

Prerequisites

  • Install Vmware Workstation or Fusion (download and licensing details here)
  • Download the latest, 64-bit Kali *.iso here

Installation

  • Create a new VM guest in Vmware by following the instructions here

  • Boot the new VM

  • Go through the steps to install Kali in the virtual machine

    • Select graphical install
    • Select your language (use English if you expect me to assist troubleshooting)
    • Select your location
    • Configure your keyboard
    • Configure your network (select internet connected interface as your default)
    • Specify a hostname
    • Specify a domain name
    • Configure your user/password
    • Configure your clock
    • Configure your storage
      • Use an entire disk
      • /dev/sda
    • Partition the new disk (use all files in one partition option)
    • Write the changes to disk (must select Yes)
    • Choose default software collection
    • Install the GRUB bootloader to your partitioned device (/dev/sda)

  • When installation finishes, detach the *.iso from the virtual DVD drive and shut down the VM

  • Snapshot your VM, and name it "Clean install, no setup"

  • Boot the Kali VM

  • As su, edit /etc/apt/sources.list to set it to use last snapshot (i.e., not rolling)

    # See https://www.kali.org/docs/general-use/kali-linux-sources-list-repositories/
deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-last-snapshot main contrib non-free

  • As su, run an update

    • # apt-get update

  • Install VMware tools as detailed here in the Kali tweaks section

    • Some Kali specific steps are here

  • Create a shared folder between the host and the VM for file transfers, as detailed here

  • As su, safely update /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow and /etc/group (mostly to create all the default groups) # update-passwd

  • Use nm-connection-editor to ensure configurations exist for your network interfaces and then enable those interfaces

  • Disable screen locker and power saver settings (it's a VM, let host OS do this)

    • Turn off screen locker in Settings, Session and Startup, Application Autostart tab
    • Settings->Power Manager
      • On Display tab, set never blank, never put to sleep, and never switch off
      • On Security tab, set automatically lock the session to never and disable lock screen when going to sleep

  • Install terminator and gparted packages

    • sudo apt-get install terminator gparted

  • Set terminator as a Favorite

  • If you prefer bash, run: $ chsh -s /bin/bash <USERNAME>

  • Shut the VM down, snapshot your VM, and name it "Clean install"

Notes

  • Useful tool to customize applications menu and make shortcuts from terminal commands - $ sudo apt-get install alacarte
  • Add a user with: # useradd -m <USERNAME>
  • Make sure to set its password with # passwd <USERNAME>
  • Set groups with: # usermod -aG sudo,docker,wireshark <USERNAME>
  • Change default shell to bash (run as your user): $ chsh -s /bin/bash

Useful websites

⚠️ **GitHub.com Fallback** ⚠️