Setting up the Kali Linux VM

Virtual Machines (VMs)

A VM is a computer inside your computer — lets you safely run other operating systems for hacking labs.

Key Benefits

• Run multiple VMs simultaneously (e.g., Kali + vulnerable machines from VulnHub)

• Isolated environment — safe for practicing exploits

• Easily reset with snapshots

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Free VM Software Options

Oracle VirtualBox

• Free & open source

• Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux

VMware Workstation Player

• Free for personal use

• Only on Windows & Linux

VMware Fusion / Pro

• Paid versions with advanced features

• Fusion for macOS

• Workstation Pro for Windows/Linux

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Download Kali Linux

Kali is the de facto OS for penetration testing.

• Download official image: 🔗 https://www.kali.org/downloads/

• Choose the correct version (64-bit)

• Pick the VirtualBox or VMware custom image

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Kali Linux VM Requirements

• May need to enable virtualization in BIOS/UEFI (Intel VT-x / AMD-V)

• Minimum:

  • 2GB RAM

  • 80GB Disk Space

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Kali Linux VM Best Practices

Snapshots

• Take frequent snapshots before big changes

• Revert if you break the system or a tool

Keep Kali Updated

Run these in the terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Root vs Non-root

• Kali now uses non-root user by default (for safety)

• You can still switch to root if needed (sudo -i)

Install Guest Additions (for better performance)

• Enables features like shared clipboard, drag & drop, screen resizing

Set Terminal Scroll to Infinite

• In Terminal preferences, set scrollback to unlimited

• Helps you read long tool outputs (like nmap, hydra, etc.)