Step-By-Step Procedure To Install kali Linux On VMWare Workstation
If you are into cybersecurity and you don’t even hear about Kali Linux, then you never be considered a cybersecurity professional. Don’t worry we are here to introduce you to the wonderful Linux distribution. Kali Linux is not a general-purpose desktop or server operating system. It is designed and developed to help cybersecurity professionals. Since it is not a general-purpose Linux distribution, it is not preferred to use as a host operating system. This doesn’t mean that you can’t install Kali Linux on your hardware. It’s recommended to install this on a virtual platform like VMWare Workstation, Virtual Box, WSL, or live boot. This post we have created to show you how to install Kali Linux on the VMWare Workstation.
What Is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is an open-source Linux distribution built on the Debian platform like Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Kali Linux is not a general-purpose Linux distribution. It’s developed with a specific purpose especially for cybersecurity professionals, It has hundreds of utilities, applications, tools, software, and services that would be used by pentesters, security auditors, security testers, security researchers, cybersecurity forensics, threat hunters, reverse engineers, mostly the professionals found themselves in the cybersecurity landscape. Learn more about Kali Linux from here.
What Is VMWare Workstation?
VMWare Workstation is an application developed by VMWare to create virtual machines, containers, and Kubernetes clusters on any desktop or server system. VMWare released VMWare Workstation in two products: VMWare Workstation Pro and VMWare Workstation Player. VMWare Workstation Player is released on a free license with limited features, whereas VMWare Workstation Pro is an enterprise paid version that has loaded with a lot of features. Full documentation is published on the VMWare portal for free. Refer to the documentation from here.
Prerequisites To Install Kali Linux On VMWare Workstation:
To install Kali Linux on VMWare Workstation you just need a physical machine, VMWare Workstation Pro or Player installed on your machine and Kali Linux ISO image.
- A host system with minimum:
- 8 GB of memory
- A quad core CPU
- 500 GB of Hard Drive
- VMWare Workstation Pro or Player application:0
- Download VMWare Workstation
- Linux Mint Operating System to install on VMWare Workstation.
- Download Kali Linux
How To Install kali Linux On VMWare Workstation?
Time needed: 30 minutes.
How to Install Kali Linux on VMWare Workstation?
- Fier up VMWare Workstation
Download the VMWare Workstation application for your host operating system and install it on your machine. The installation procedure is pretty simple and straight. Read the documentation for more details. Open the app after installation. Create a new Virtual Machine.
- Select Custom Configuration Wizard
You can choose either Typical or Custom Wizard. We recommend selecting Custom if you want to install with all the configurations. If you are okay with default configurations then go ahead with Typical configurations.
- Select Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibilityrkstation 16x – Next
Go with the default option if you don’t have the choice.
- Select the Operating System Media
Select ‘I will install the operating system later’ for an interactive installation.
- Select Guest Operating System
- Name the Virtual Machine Name and location
Type a name and give the location details.
- Allocate the Processors
Assign the processors, Calculate the processor required to run the host machine. Assign the leftover resources to the virtual machine.
- Allocate the Memory for Virtual Machine
Memory allocation calculation is the same as the processor allocation. Leave sufficient memory for the host system and allocate the remaining memory for the virtual machine.
- Choose the Network Configuration
Select any one of the network configurations as per your requirement.
- Select the I/O Controller Type
- Select Disk Type
- Select Virtual Disk
Select the Virtual Disk if you have or create one.
- Select Disk Capacity
Select the disk size. Selecting a single disk will increase the performance. However, selecting a split disk will help in the disk transfer scenario.
- Specify Virtual Disk File
- Create Virtual Machine
- Supply Kali Linux ISO Image to Virtual Machine
Download Kali Linux image. Edit the CD/DVD settings and import the downloaded Linux Mint image.
- Power On the Virtual Machine
Press the Play button to power on the Virtual Machine.
- Welcome, Kali Linux Virtual Machine
you will be treated with a welcome screen on which you will see the option to select the language. Select your language and click Continue.
- Select your Location
- Select Keyboard Layout
- Configure the Network for updates
- Enter the hostname for your Kali Linux machine
- Set up a user account and password
- Partition the Disk
Select Erase the Disk for auto partition. Or Select the Advance option to create the custom partition.
- All Files In One Partition (recommended for new users)- Continue
- Finish Partitioning And Write Changes To Disk
- Select the software packages according to your needs
- Installation of Kali Linux in Progress
- Install the GRUB boot loader
- Select the Drive to install GRUB
- The installation procedure of Kali Linux has finished.
- Reboot Virtual Machine
Reboot the machine after installation.
- Login to the Kali Linux with the user account
- Kali Linux Desktop after login
- Shut Down Kali Linux
See Also
How To Turn Your Raspberry Pi Into A Network Scanning Device?
This is how you should install Kali Linux on VMWare Workstation. We hope this tutorial post will help you in installing Kali Linux on VMWare Workstation. Thanks for reading this post. Please share this post and help to secure the digital world. Visit our social media page on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, Tumblr, Medium & Instagram and subscribe to receive updates like this.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It comes pre-installed with numerous security and hacking tools, making it an ideal choice for cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts.
2. What is VMware Workstation?
VMware Workstation is a popular virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single computer. It provides an isolated environment for each operating system, allowing you to run and test various applications without affecting your main system.
3. Why should I install Kali Linux on VMware Workstation?
Installing Kali Linux on VMware Workstation provides several benefits, such as easy setup and management, system isolation, and the ability to run multiple instances of Kali Linux simultaneously. It also enables you to easily revert to a previous snapshot in case of any issues, making it a convenient choice for cybersecurity professionals and learners.
4. How do I download Kali Linux and VMware Workstation?
You can download Kali Linux from the official website (https://www.kali.org/downloads/) and VMware Workstation from the VMware website (https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html). Ensure that you download the appropriate version for your operating system.
5. Can I install Kali Linux on VMware Workstation Player instead of VMware Workstation Pro?
Yes, you can install Kali Linux on VMware Workstation Player, a free version of VMware Workstation. The installation process is similar, but there may be some differences in the features and functionality offered by the two products.
6. How much RAM and storage should I allocate to the Kali Linux virtual machine?
The recommended minimum RAM for Kali Linux is 2 GB, but allocating more (e.g., 4 GB or 8 GB) can provide better performance. For storage, allocate at least 20 GB of disk space for the virtual machine. You can increase the storage capacity if you plan to install additional tools or store large files.
7. Can I install Kali Linux on other virtualization platforms besides VMware Workstation?
See Also
How to Fix the 3 New Vulnerabilities in Lenovo UEFI?
Yes, you can install Kali Linux on other virtualization platforms such as VirtualBox, Hyper-V, or Parallels Desktop. The installation process may vary slightly depending on the platform, but the overall concepts remain the same.
8. Can I use Kali Linux as my primary operating system?
While it is possible to use Kali Linux as your primary operating system, it is not recommended for everyday use. Kali Linux is designed specifically for penetration testing and security tasks, and using it as a daily driver could lead to potential security risks.
9. Can I install Kali Linux on a physical machine instead of a virtual machine?
Yes, you can install Kali Linux on a physical machine by creating a bootable USB drive or burning it to a DVD. However, using a virtual machine provides better flexibility, easier management, and the ability to run multiple operating systems simultaneously.
10. How do I update Kali Linux and its tools after installation?
To update Kali Linux and its tools, open a terminal window and run the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
This will update the system packages and tools to their latest versions. It is essential to keep your Kali Linux installation up to date for the latest security patches and features.
