Figure 4.30 Save Debug Logs (2/2)
4.6. Summary
In this chapter, we focused on the Kali Linux installation process. We discussed Kali Linux’s mini-
mum installation requirements, the installation process for standard and fully encrypted file sys-
tems, preseeding, which allows unattended installations, how to install Kali Linux on various ARM
devices, and what to do in the rare case of an installation failure.
Summary Tips:
• The installation requirements for Kali Linux vary from a basic SSH server with no desktop,
as little as 128 MB RAM (512 MB recommended) and 2 GB disk space, to the higher-end kali-
linux-default metapackage, with at least 2048 MB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space. In addition,
your machine must have a CPU supported by at least one of the amd64, i386, or arm64 ar-
chitectures.
• Kali can easily be installed as the primary operating system, alongside other operating sys-
tems through partitioning and boot loader modification, or as a virtual machine.
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Kali Linux Revealed
• To guarantee the confidentiality of your data, you can set up encrypted partitions. This will
protect your data if your laptop or hard drive is lost or stolen.
• The installer can also be automated through debconf preseeding, a function that allows you
to provide unattended answers to installation questions.
• A preseed file is a plain text file in which each line contains the answer to one Debconf
question. A line is split across four fields separated by white space (spaces or tabs). You can
preseed answers to the installer with boot parameters, with a preseed file in initrd, with a
preseed file on the boot media, or with a preseed file from the network.
• Kali Linux runs on a wide variety of ARM-based devices such as laptops, embedded comput-
ers, and developer boards. ARM installation is fairly straightforward. Download the proper
image, copy it to an SD card, USB drive, or embedded multi-media controller (eMMC) mod-
ule, plug it in, boot the ARM device, find your device on the network, log in, and change the
SSH password and SSH host keys.
• You can debug failed installations with virtual consoles (accessible with the CTRL+ALT and
function keys),
debconf-get
and
debconf-set
commands, reading the
/var/log/syslog
log file, or by submitting a bug report with log files retrieved with the installer’s “Save debug
logs” function.
Now that we have discussed Linux fundamentals and Kali Linux installation, let’s discuss configu-
ration so you can begin to tailor Kali to suit your needs.
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Chapter 4 — Installing Kali Linux
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