Figure 4.5 Network Autoconfiguration
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Chapter 4 — Installing Kali Linux
If the automatic configuration fails, the installer offers more choices: try again with a normal
DHCP configuration, attempt DHCP configuration by declaring the name of the machine, or set up
a static network configuration.
This last option requires an IP address, a subnet mask, an IP address for a potential gateway, a
machine name, and a domain name.
Configuration without
DHCP
If the local network is equipped with a DHCP server that you do not wish to use
because you prefer to define a static IP address for the machine during installation,
you can add the
netcfg/use_dhcp=false
option when booting. You just need to
edit the desired menu entry by pressing the Tab key and adding the desired option
before pressing the Enter key.
User Creation
The installer prompts to create a new user (Figure
4.6
, “
Create User
” [page 73]) since it automati-
cally creates a user account in the ”sudo” group. This means that the user has full administrative
privileges through the
sudo
command. This is helpful due to the fact that multiple items are only
available through administrative privileges.
The installer also asks for a username for the account as well as a password. The installer will
request confirmation of the password to prevent any input error.
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Kali Linux Revealed
Figure 4.6 Create User
The Default User
Password
The default user’s password should be long (eight characters or more) and impossi-
ble to guess, since attackers target Internet-connected computers and servers with
automated tools, attempting to log in with obvious passwords. Sometimes attackers
leverage dictionary attacks, using many combinations of words and numbers as pass-
words. Avoid using the names of children or parents and dates of birth, because these
are easily guessed.
These remarks are equally applicable to other user passwords but the consequences
of a compromised account are less drastic for users without sudo privileges.
If you are lacking inspiration, don’t hesitate to use a password generator, such as
pwgen
(found in the package of the same name, which is already included in the base
Kali installation).
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Chapter 4 — Installing Kali Linux
Configuring the Clock
If the network is available, the system’s internal clock will be updated from a network time proto-
col (NTP) server. This is beneficial because it ensures timestamps on logs will be correct from the
first boot.
If your country spans multiple timezones, you will be asked to select the timezone that you want
to use, as shown in Figure
4.7
, “
Timezone Selection
” [page 74].
Figure 4.7 Timezone Selection
Detecting Disks and Other Devices
This step automatically detects the hard drives on which Kali may be installed, each of which will
be presented in the next step: partitioning.
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Kali Linux Revealed
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