Running Kali Linux on a virtual machine (VM) instead of a bare metal machine offers several benefits, including:
1. Isolation and Security: By running Kali Linux on a VM, you create a virtualized environment that is isolated from the host operating system and the underlying hardware. This isolation enhances security because any malicious activities or exploits performed within the Kali Linux environment are contained within the virtual machine and do not affect the host system or other physical resources.
2. Ease of Setup and Configuration: Setting up Kali Linux as a virtual machine is generally easier and faster compared to installing it on a physical machine. Virtualization software, such as VMware or VirtualBox, simplifies the installation process, providing pre-configured virtual hardware and networking options specific to the Kali Linux image.
3. Portability and Flexibility: VMs offer high portability, enabling you to run Kali Linux on any host machine that supports virtualization, regardless of the underlying operating system. This flexibility allows you to carry your entire Kali Linux environment along with your projects, configurations, and tools, making it easier to work on different systems or share your setup with others.
4. Snapshot and Rollback: Virtualization software allows you to take snapshots of your Kali Linux VM at specific points in time. Snapshots capture the exact state of the VM, including the operating system, installed tools, and configurations. This feature is particularly useful for experimentation or when performing potentially risky tasks. If something goes wrong, you can easily revert the VM to a previous snapshot, effectively rolling back any changes.
5. Resource Optimization: Running Kali Linux on a virtual machine allows you to allocate specific resources to the VM, such as CPU cores, memory, and disk space. You can adjust these allocations as needed, optimizing resource usage and ensuring Kali Linux has the necessary resources to perform tasks without impacting the host system's performance.
6. Simultaneous Environment Access: Using a virtual machine, you can run multiple instances of Kali Linux or other operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. This capability is particularly useful for multi-environment testing, scenario replication, or running multiple security-related tasks simultaneously.
7. Learning and Testing Environment: Virtual machines provide a safe and controlled environment for learning, practicing, and testing security-related concepts and tools. You can experiment with various attack vectors, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or network reconnaissance without the risk of compromising real systems.
In summary, running Kali Linux on a virtual machine enhances security, simplifies setup, offers portability, provides snapshot and rollback capabilities, optimizes resource usage, allows simultaneous environment access, and creates a controlled learning and testing environment. These advantages make VMs a popular choice for running Kali Linux and other security-focused operating systems.
Walk-through Tutorial
Step 1: We will start with download the Kali Linux ISO which will be used to install Kali Linux on the virtual machine. By going to www.Kali.org
Step 2: Click on "download" -> "Installer Images". Select the appropriate bit for your machine then click on "Installer".
Step 3: You will need to download a Virtual Machine hypervisor to run our Kali Linux on, For this tutorial I will be using Oracle VM.
www.virtualbox.org
Step 4: Click on "Downloads" -> "Windows Hosts". This will start an automatic download.
Step 5: Once you have installed Oracle Virtual Box, click on "New".
Step 6: Enter a name for your Virtual machine, note this is just for your reference.
Select the folder where you would like to store the vm and select the Kali linus image as your "ISO image", Then click next.
Step 7: In the next screen we will specify the hardware, I would suggest a minimum of 8GB ram but due to my devices capabilities I have selected 4GB. I would also recommend a minimum of 4CPUs. Yes, it would work with less resources. But your expierence may varey. DO NOT use all the resources of your machine. Then click next.
Step 8: Here we will allocate a disk size, this will be the kali linux's harddrive size, therefore allocate it generosly. I would recommend 100GB but it will work with less. Again DO NOT use the entire hard disk size of your physical machine. Then click next.
Step 9: Summary, double check that all the virtual machine's properties and then click "Finish".
