VirtualBox is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor for x86 virtualization, developed by Oracle Corporation. If you’re looking to try out some pentesting or want to familiarize yourself with Linux distributions, Kali Linux is a great place to start, and VirtualBox makes it easy to use without risking your current system setup. In this article, we will guide you on how to install Kali Linux on VirtualBox.
Prerequisites
Before we start, make sure you have the following:
- VirtualBox installed on your machine. If not, download it from here.
- Kali Linux ISO image. Download it from here.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Create a New Virtual Machine
Open VirtualBox and click on the New button. A new window will open where you can name your VM and choose the type and version of the OS. In this case, the Type is Linux and the Version is Debian (64-bit).
Step 2: Allocate RAM
Next, you need to decide the amount of RAM to allocate to the VM. The minimum required RAM for Kali Linux is 2GB, but the more you can spare, the better.
Step 3: Create a Virtual Hard Disk
Now we will create a virtual hard disk for our Kali Linux VM. Choose the VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) option and then select Dynamically allocated.
Step 4: Allocate Storage
Next, allocate the amount of storage to the VM. The recommended storage for Kali Linux is a minimum of 20GB.
Step 5: Insert Kali Linux ISO Image
Once the VM is created, select it and click on the Settings button. Navigate to the Storage section and under the Controller: IDE, click on the Empty disk icon. Now, click on the disk icon on the right side and choose the Choose a disk file… option. Navigate to your Kali Linux ISO file and select it.
Step 6: Install Kali Linux
Now we are all set to install Kali Linux. Select your VM and click on the Start button. A new window will appear where you can install Kali Linux. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Conclusion
And that’s it! You have successfully installed Kali Linux on VirtualBox. Now, you can start exploring the robust features of this popular pentesting and security auditing Linux distribution.
