Kali Linux VM

Install and Configure Kali Linux VM in VirtualBox on Windows OS
– OR – on Mac OS w/ M1, M2, M3 Chips *COMPLETELY FREE*

In this introductory lab, you will learn the foundational skills required for setting up a virtualized environment.

Virtualization is a key technology used in cybersecurity for setting up isolated environments to analyze malware, test systems, mimic production environments, and learn without damaging your host system. Virtual machines (VMs) act as a distinct self-contained computing environment that run on top of a physical host machine.

There are two main types of hypervisors that manage VMs: 

Type 1: runs directly on the hardware (bare metal). Ex: VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V 

Type 2: runs on software on an existing OS. Ex: VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop  

Key Learning Objectives: 

Using VirtualBox on Windows OS

1. Install and set up a Kali Linux virtual machine (VM) within VirtualBox

   • https://www.kali.org/get-kali/#kali-virtual-machines

   • Other versions can be downloaded, please use this for the lab

   • Later, try Kali Purple for a fun desktop experience with many tools available

2. Unzip the download using the 7Zip open-source utility for unzipping the .7z file type

   • https://www.7-zip.org/

3. In VirtualBox, click ADD to create a new virtual machine

4. Set the name and operating system for the VM

5. Allocate RAM and storage space.

6. RAM should be at least 4096 MB – 8192 MB (Dependent upon the resources on your PC)

   • This is equivalent to 4 to 8 GB of RAM*

7. CPU Cores should be set at minimum 2 – 4 (Dependent upon the resources on your PC)

   • Do not use more cores than your PC can spare*

8. For storage, use the “Use an existing virtual hard disk file” option

9. Set the virtual hard disk size to at least 40 GB (Dependent upon the resources on your PC)

10. Start the VM

11. Enter username kali and password kali (You can enter what you prefer, just don't forget.)

12. Welcome to Kali Linux and your new virtual machine

    • Familiarize yourself with the new environment

13. Open the Root Terminal Emulator

14. Type your [First and Last Name] and press Enter

15. Take a SCREENSHOT and submit your work

Using UTM on Mac OS with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 Chips): 

1. Download and install UTM on your Mac. 

   • https://mac.getutm.app/  

2. Go to the Kali Linux download page in your browser.

   • https://www.kali.org/get-kali/#kali-installer-images 

   • Other versions can be downloaded, please use this for the lab

   • Later, try Kali Purple for a fun desktop experience with many tools available.

3. Download the ISO for the 64-bit version of Kali Linux for Apple Silicon, ARM64 Edition

4. Open UTM and click Create New Virtual Machine. Name it Kali Lab or similar

5. Choose the Virtualize Option for the Machine and Linux Machine then continue

6. Select Linux

7. Select the Apple Virtualization option in the top left corner of UTM during this setup

8. Boot from the ISO you have downloaded by selecting “Browse” button and on this screen and selecting the ISO file

9. Allocate RAM and Storage space

   • RAM should be at least 4096 MB – 8192 MB (Dependent upon the resources on your PC)

   • This is equivalent to 4 to 8 GB of RAM*

   • Do not use more RAM than your machine can spare*

10. CPU Cores should be set at minimum 2 – 4 (Dependent upon the resources on your PC)

    • Do not use more cores than your computer can spare*

11. Allocate 40 GB of storage space to the project

12. When the Installer opens in the new window for the VM, start the GUI installation

13. Enter username kali and password kali (You can enter what you prefer, just don't forget.)

14. Once installed, enable Shared Networking under VM Settings to allow the VM to access the host network

15. Welcome to Kali Linux and your new virtual machine

    • Familiarize yourself with the new environment

16. Open the Root Terminal Emulator

17. Type your [First and Last Name] and press Enter

18. Take a SCREENSHOT and submit your work