Kali Linux Beginner's Tutorial

Kali Linux is a Debian based Linux distribution, primarily used for penetration testing and network security. In this tutorial will go through how to set up Kali Linux on VirtualBox as well as, learning the basic terminal commands.

System requirements:

• 8 GB RAM
• 64 bit or 32 bit processor
• 20-35 GB of available space

In order to run Kali Linux we have to download a program called VirtualBox. Instead of going through the trouble of changing operating systems on you're PC, with VirtualBox you to create a virtual machine with a separate operating system. Like a computer inside of a computer.

Install kali Linux installer from kali linux download. Depending on your machine, you will either download the 64 bit version or the 32 bit version.

After downloading VirtualBox and Kali Linux installer, open VirtualBox and click on the blue star icon that says new underneath it. In first box it will ask you to name you're virtual machine, the second box is simply a destination folder. Since kali is a Linux distribution and is Debian based you will chose Linux for the third box and either Debian 64 bit or Debian 32 depending on you're computer.

The disclaimer reads that the recommended amount of RAM is 1024 MB or 1 GB but in order for Kali to run smoothly we will allocate 4 GB of RAM to the virtual machine. which will leave the rest of the RAM for the main machine.

Create a virtual hard disk by allocating a minimum of 20 GB to you're virtual machine.

The minimum storage required for Kali Linux is 20 GB but 35 is proffered.

Click on you're virtual machine, then click on the yellow gear icon that reads settings. Next, click on the storage option located on the left hand side. once there under controller IDE click on the blue disk icon and choose the kali Linux ISO file. Now you're virtual machine is ready to go!

Now that kali Linux installer is loaded on the virtual machine, click on the green arrow icon to run the virtual machine. The set up is exactly the same as if you to load it directly on you're computer. it will ask you which installation type, chose either graphical install if you prefer a better looking operating system or choose the install. The bios will then ask to choose you're time zone, language and country.

Select guided, the other options such as encrypting the disk isn't necessary for what were doing.

The domain name doesn't matter it can be skipped over. Name you're system and create you're username and password. Make sure you remember this username and password to access Kali.

After kali is done setting up you will be prompted with a login which you will enter your username and password. congratulations you set a virtual machine with Kali Linux!

A large part of using Kali Linux is the terminal. The terminal allows commands to typed which can be used to create files, change directories and run any program from a simple network scanner to a website penetration tester. to open the terminal, navigate to the toolbar at the top and click on the terminal icon or use CTR-ALT-T.

additional material: Nmap network scanner, Macchanger guide, Linux commands A-Z

I've created a simple list of basic commands to try out: