Before we get started, you may be thinking, “What exactly is Kali Linux, and why would I want to install it?” Kali Linux is a distribution of Linux, but its main focus is cybersecurity. It’s free, open source, and built on the foundations of Debian.

Think of Kali as a metaphorical toolbox comprising many different tools for investigation and security purposes. Like a physical tool out of a toolbox, these tools can either fix things or increase the damage, so you have always got to be careful when using these tools. Each tool has a different job: some help you understand network traffic, others help you find security weaknesses and test whether they could be used to cause harm. The purpose is to understand the problem so that it can be fixed, helping to prevent attacks.

If you are tuned into the cybersecurity world, you may have also heard of the term “penetration testing.” Penetration testing is basically when you carry out an authorised security assessment, where you would look for weaknesses and test whether any weakness could be used to gain unauthorised access or cause harm.

The purpose is to identify and assess these weaknesses so they can be addressed in a timely manner based on importance and severity, reducing the risk of someone recognising these weaknesses and exploiting them out of malice.

Having the toolkit is only the beginning. You still need to learn what each tool does, when and how to safely use it, and how to understand the results it presents to you. Kali Linux is designed mainly for experienced cybersecurity professionals, but I am going to take you through this step by step. Each part of this series will focus on a different tool or task, which I will explain in great detail so that you understand thoroughly.

In this first guide, I will show you how to install Kali Linux in a virtual machine and get everything set up before we start using the tools. Once we have completed setting up your Kali Linux environment, we will move on to Part 2, where you will use a tool called Wireshark to analyse your virtual machine’s network traffic.

Whenever your virtual machine communicates over a network, it sends and receives small pieces of data, otherwise known as packets. You will examine those packets to understand what it is doing and whether its connections are working as expected.

What is a virtual machine?

I know you may be thinking, “What is a virtual machine, and how exactly is it different to installing an operating system directly?”

A virtual machine is basically a virtual computer that is running on top of your main computer, but has its own operating system. It still runs as a normal computer, but you can access two different operating systems at the same time, whilst sharing some of your computer’s processing power, memory and storage.

Your main operating system is known as the “host”, whilst the virtual machine’s operating system is known as the guest. In this guide, your host can be Windows or Linux, whilst Kali Linux will be the guest. Choose the path that matches the operating system already installed on your computer.

After installing the operating system on your virtual machine, I will show you how to use snapshots to save the state of your virtual machine at key points. If a change causes a problem, you can return to an earlier snapshot to restore its earlier state.

Choose your path

Follow Path A if you are using Windows, or Path B if you are using Linux. Each path takes you through the complete setup, from downloading VMware Workstation Pro to saving and returning to a snapshot. You only need to follow one path. Once you have finished, move on to the conclusion.

Path A: Set up Kali Linux on Windows

This path is for Windows users. We will prepare the software in Windows, then install and configure Kali Linux inside the virtual machine.

For this guide, you will need a compatible 64-bit Intel or AMD computer running a supported version of Windows. The Kali Linux ISO we are using is the AMD64 version, which works with both Intel and AMD processors.

Before you begin: Enable virtualisation

Before we install VMware Workstation Pro, make sure hardware virtualisation is enabled in your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings. On AMD systems, this is usually called “SVM Mode” or “AMD-V”. On Intel systems, look for “Intel Virtualisation Technology” or “VT-x”. If it is already enabled, you can move on to Phase 1.

  1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. The key varies depending on your computer or motherboard, so check the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Find the virtualisation setting and set it to “Enabled”. Its location varies, so check your computer or motherboard’s documentation if you cannot find it.
  3. Save your changes and exit, then allow your computer to start normally before continuing.

Phase 1: Downloading and installing VMware Workstation Pro

For this guide, our virtual machine will be set up using Vmware Workstation Pro. Before downloading it, you will need to create a free Broadcom account. If you already have one, just simply log in.

  1. Open your browser and go to the VMware Workstation Pro download page.
  2. Sign in or follow the registration process to create your account.
  3. After registering, if prompted to build your profile, click “I’ll do it later”.
  4. Choose the Windows download path. I recommend choosing the most up to date version. I will be using 26H1 for this guide.
  5. If this is your first time downloading Vmware, you may be prompted with “Prior to downloading this file, additional verification is required. Proceed?” Simply click “Yes” and fill out all of the required fields and click “Submit” once completed.
  6. Once verification is completed (usually instantly), click the download symbol and save the installer to your Downloads folder or another chosen location. Wait until the download is complete before continuing.
  7. Once the download is complete, simply double-click the executable and go through the setup steps and then launch the application.

Phase 2: Installing qBittorrent

Next, we need to download a torrent tool. This is so we can download the official ISO for our virtual machine. For this guide, we will be using qBittorrent.

  1. Go to the official qBittorrent website and download the .exe installer, then open it and follow the installation prompts.

Phase 3: Downloading Kali Linux (Everything)

To be able to run Kali Linux in a virtual machine, we first of all need to download the torrent file from the official Kali Linux website. We will be downloading Kali Linux “Everything”, as it includes nearly all the tools for future projects.

  1. First, go to the official Kali Linux website and click the “Download” button to see download options for Kali Linux. Then click on “Installer Images” and choose “Everything”. Click on “torrent” and it will download the torrent file to your selected download location.
  2. Once the installation is complete, open qBittorrent from the Windows Start menu. If a notice appears on the first launch, read it before continuing. If you are privacy focused, please bear in mind that other peers sharing the same torrent can see your public IP. You can use a VPN that supports torrenting if you would prefer to keep your IP address private. Personally, I recommend NordVPN. Connect to the VPN before starting the download. Then select “File”, followed by “Add Torrent File”, and open the .iso.torrent file you downloaded earlier. Select where to save the ISO file and click “OK” to start downloading it. Once the ISO has finished downloading, you will receive a “Download Completed” notification showing its filename. Mine was “kali-linux-2026.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso”, but yours may differ depending on the version you downloaded. Once you have received this message, fully exit qBittorrent using “File” → “Exit”, then disconnect from your VPN.

Phase 4: Setting up the virtual machine

Now that all previous steps are done, all that we need to do now is set up our virtual machine using the freshly downloaded Kali Linux “Everything” ISO.

  1. If you haven’t already got it open, open VMWare Workstation Pro.
  2. On the home screen, click “Create a New Virtual Machine” to begin setting up your Kali Linux virtual machine.
  3. You will then be asked what type of configuration setup you would like to use. Select “Typical (recommended)” and click “Next”.
  4. Select “Use ISO image” and either click browse or alternatively paste the path where your file is located. Make sure when selecting a file it is the ISO file and not the torrent file. Then click “Next”.
  5. Select “Linux” as the guest operating system. If available, choose the latest Debian 64-bit option from the “Version” dropdown. On my setup, Debian was not listed, so I chose “Other Linux 6.x kernel 64-bit”. Then click “Next”.
  6. Give your virtual machine a name, such as “Kali Linux”. Choose where you want to store its files, or leave the default location selected, then click “Next”.
  7. Choose the maximum size of your virtual disk. I recommend 100 GB, but personally I will be choosing 500 GB to leave more room for future projects. As we will be using encryption, the installer will overwrite the partition with random data during setup. This can make the virtual disk grow to nearly its maximum size, so make sure your host computer has enough available storage for the size you choose.
  8. Leave “Split virtual disk into multiple files” selected, then click “Next”.
  9. Before clicking “Finish”, click “Customize Hardware…” so we can adjust the memory, processor and other settings for our virtual machine.

Before choosing these settings, make sure you know how much RAM and how many processor cores your computer has. Your virtual machine shares your computer’s resources, so you need to leave enough available for your main operating system and other applications. Allocating too much could slow down your computer. The settings I use are based on my own specifications, so choose amounts that suit your computer.

  1. Select “Memory” and choose how much RAM to allocate to your virtual machine. As my computer has 32 GB, I will be allocating 16 GB (16384 MB).
  2. Select “Processors” and set the number of processors to 1 and the number of cores per processor to 4. My computer has a six-core processor, and this gives our virtual machine 4 virtual CPU cores.
  3. Select “Display” and enable “Accelerate 3D graphics”. I will also specify my monitor’s resolution as 2560 × 1440. Choose the resolution that matches your own monitor.

I have enabled 3D acceleration on my setup. If you experience display problems, shut down your virtual machine, open its Display settings and untick “Accelerate 3D graphics”, then start it again.

  1. Select “Network Adapter” and make sure “NAT” is selected. This allows your virtual machine to use your main computer’s internet connection, whether you are connected through Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable.
  2. Once you have finished adjusting these settings, click “Close” to return to the setup summary. Review your settings, then click “Finish” to create your virtual machine.
  3. You will now see a message confirming that your virtual machine has been created successfully. We still need to install Kali Linux inside it. Click “Close” to continue.
  4. Once you click “Close”, your virtual machine will start automatically if you left that option selected during setup.
  5. You may receive a “Removable Devices” pop-up explaining that devices connected to your computer can also be connected to your virtual machine. We do not need to connect any of these for the installation, so simply click “OK” to continue.

Phase 5: Installing Kali Linux in your virtual machine

Now that our virtual machine has been created, we can install Kali Linux using the ISO we downloaded earlier. I will take you through the installation step by step.

  1. When you boot into the virtual machine for the first time, you will be presented with a menu asking which method you would like to install Kali Linux with. Select “Graphical install” and press “Enter”.
  2. Select Your Language: Choose your preferred setup language.
  3. Select Your Region: Select your location parameters.
  4. Select Your Keyboard Layout: Match this exactly to your physical laptop or desktop hardware keyboard.
  5. Configure Your Network: First, enter your hostname. Make it something you can identify on your network, then click “Continue”.
  6. Domain Name: When asked for a domain name, leave this blank unless you have a specific domain configured for your network, then click “Continue”.
  7. Full Name: Enter your full name and click “Continue”. You can use your real name or a name of your choice. This is the name associated with your user account; you will choose your username in the next step.
  8. Username: Create a username for the account. This is what you will use to log in to Kali Linux. Use lowercase letters with no spaces, then click “Continue”.
  9. Password: Choose a strong password for your user account and enter it again to confirm (I recommend a password manager like NordPass). Click “Continue”.
  10. Disk Partitioning: When asked how you would like to partition the disk, select “Guided – use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM”, then click “Continue”. This will display a warning that everything on the disk will be erased, don’t worry this is only the virtual disk that will be erased. Read the warning and click “Continue”. You will now be asked how you want your files to be partitioned, choose “All files in one partition”, then click “Continue”. You will then be asked, “Write the changes to disks and configure LVM?” Check that the disk shown is your virtual disk, then select “Yes” and click “Continue”. The installer will now overwrite the partition with random data before setting up encryption. This may take some time depending on the size of your virtual disk and the speed of your storage. Wait until the process has completed before continuing.
  11. Encryption Passphrase: Choose a strong passphrase. I recommend using a different passphrase from your user account password. Make sure to store the password somewhere safe like NordPass. Enter your passphrase again to confirm it, then click “Continue”.
  12. You will now be asked how much of the volume group to use for guided partitioning. Type “max” to use all the available space within the virtual disk’s volume group, then click “Continue”.
  13. You will now see an overview of your partitions. Review the layout, then scroll down and select “Finish partitioning and write changes to disk”, followed by “Continue”.
  14. You will now be asked, “Write the changes to disks?” Review the partitions listed for formatting, then select “Yes” and click “Continue”. The installer will apply these changes to your virtual disk and begin installing the system.
  15. Software Selection: You can now choose your desktop environment and the tools you want to install. For this guide, I will be using KDE Plasma. Untick “Xfce” and tick “KDE Plasma”, then tick “everything -- almost all tools”. Leave the other default selections as they are, then click “Continue”. Wait whilst the installer installs your selected software.
  16. Configuring Kerberos Authentication: You may be asked to enter a default Kerberos realm. We are not using Kerberos authentication for this guide, so leave this blank and click “Continue”. The installation of software will continue after this.
  17. Install the GRUB Boot Loader: You will now be asked whether to install the GRUB boot loader to your primary drive. This allows Kali Linux to start when you turn on your virtual machine. Select “Yes” and click “Continue”. This applies to the virtual machine’s drive, not your host computer’s drive.
  18. You will then be asked where to install the GRUB boot loader. Select “/dev/sda”, which is our virtual disk, then click “Continue”. The installer will now finish setting up Kali Linux. Wait until this process has completed and the next screen appears.
  19. Once you see “Installation complete”, click “Continue” to restart your virtual machine and boot into Kali Linux.
  20. When the boot menu appears, leave “Kali GNU/Linux” selected and press “Enter” to start Kali Linux. If a countdown appears, you can also wait for it to start automatically.
  21. You will now be asked to unlock your encrypted disk. Enter the encryption passphrase you created during installation and press “Enter”. Kali Linux will then continue starting up.
  22. Once the login screen appears, enter the user account password you created during installation and press “Enter”. This will log you in and load your Kali Linux desktop.

Phase 6: Updating the system & enabling the firewall

Now that we have installed Kali Linux, we need to update the system and enable the firewall. I will show you how to check for updates and install them, then we will use an application called GUFW to manage our firewall settings.

The following commands run inside your Kali Linux virtual machine. Open Konsole in Kali Linux for these steps, not a terminal on your host computer.

  1. Open your application menu, search for “Konsole” and launch it.
  2. Type the following command and press “Enter”: 
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

This command refreshes the package lists and upgrades your installed packages. The second part will only run if the first part completes successfully.

  1. If prompted, enter your password and press “Enter”. You will not see any characters appear whilst typing; this is completely normal.
  2. Review the proposed changes, including any packages that will be removed. Type “Y” and press “Enter” to proceed.
  3. During the update, you may be asked, “Restart services during package upgrades without asking?” Use the arrow keys to select “Yes” and press “Enter”. This allows services to restart automatically when needed during the update.
  4. You may see a “Pending kernel upgrade” message explaining that a restart is needed to load the new kernel. Press “Enter” to select “OK”. We will restart the virtual machine once the update has finished.
  5. If asked which services should be restarted, leave the default selections as they are. Press “Tab” to highlight “OK”, then press “Enter”.
  6. Wait until the update is complete and you return to the command prompt. Restart your Kali Linux virtual machine through the application menu, then unlock your encrypted disk and log back in.
  7. Once you have logged back in, open “Konsole”. Type the following command and press “Enter”: 
sudo apt install gufw
  1. If prompted, enter your password and press “Enter”. Review the proposed changes, then type “Y” and press “Enter” to proceed. Wait until the installation is complete before continuing.
  2. Open your application menu, search for “Firewall Configuration” and launch it. Enter your password if prompted.
  3. Set “Incoming” to “Deny” and “Outgoing” to “Allow”, then switch “Status” on to enable the firewall.

These settings block unsolicited incoming connections whilst allowing your virtual machine to make outgoing connections and receive replies.

Phase 7: Creating your first snapshot

Now that we have installed Kali Linux, updated the system and enabled the firewall, we can save a snapshot of our virtual machine. This gives us a point to return to if a change causes a problem whilst following the next parts of this series.

A snapshot is not a separate backup. If the drive containing your virtual machine fails, you could lose both the virtual machine and its snapshots, so keep a separate backup of anything important.

  1. Shut down Kali Linux through its application menu and wait until the virtual machine has fully powered off.
  2. In VMware Workstation Pro, select your Kali Linux virtual machine. Open the “VM” menu, select “Snapshot”, then click “Take Snapshot”.
  3. Give your snapshot a name, such as “Kali Linux – Initial Setup”. In the description, note that Kali Linux is installed, updated and has its firewall enabled.
  4. Click “Take Snapshot” and wait until the process has completed.

Phase 8: Returning to an earlier snapshot

If a change causes a problem, we can return to the snapshot we saved earlier. Bear in mind that any files or changes made inside the virtual machine since that snapshot will be lost, so copy anything you want to keep outside the virtual machine before continuing.

  1. Shut down Kali Linux and wait until the virtual machine has fully powered off.
  2. In VMware Workstation Pro, select your Kali Linux virtual machine. Open the “VM” menu, select “Snapshot”, then click “Snapshot Manager”.
  3. Select the snapshot you want to return to. For this guide, we named ours “Kali Linux – Initial Setup”.
  4. Click “Go To” and confirm when prompted. Wait until VMware has restored the snapshot.
  5. Start your virtual machine, enter your encryption passphrase and log in. You will now be back at the state saved in that snapshot.

You have now completed Path A. Skip Path B and move straight to the conclusion.

Path B: Set up Kali Linux on Linux

This path is for Linux users. I will be using CachyOS as my host. We will prepare the software on the host, then install and configure Kali Linux inside the virtual machine.

For this guide, you will need a compatible 64-bit Intel or AMD computer running a supported version of Linux. The Kali Linux ISO we are using is the AMD64 version, which works with both Intel and AMD processors.

Before you begin: Enable virtualisation

Before we install VMware Workstation Pro, make sure hardware virtualisation is enabled in your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings. On AMD systems, this is usually called “SVM Mode” or “AMD-V”. On Intel systems, look for “Intel Virtualisation Technology” or “VT-x”. If it is already enabled, you can move on to Phase 1.

  1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. The key varies depending on your computer or motherboard, so check the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Find the virtualisation setting and set it to “Enabled”. Its location varies, so check your computer or motherboard’s documentation if you cannot find it.
  3. Save your changes and exit, then allow your computer to start normally before continuing.

Phase 1: Downloading and installing VMware Workstation Pro

For this guide, our virtual machine will be set up using Vmware Workstation Pro. Before downloading it, you will need to create a free Broadcom account. If you already have one, just simply log in.

  1. Open your browser and go to the VMware Workstation Pro download page.
  2. Sign in or follow the registration process to create your account.
  3. After registering, if prompted to build your profile, click “I’ll do it later”.
  4. Choose the Linux download path. I recommend choosing the most up to date version. I will be using 26H1 for this guide.
  5. If this is your first time downloading Vmware, you may be prompted with “Prior to downloading this file, additional verification is required. Proceed?” Simply click “Yes” and fill out all of the required fields and click “Submit” once completed.
  6. Once verification is completed (usually instantly), click the download symbol and save the installer to your Downloads folder or another chosen location. Wait until the download is complete before continuing.
  7. If you downloaded the Linux version, you will need to open a terminal. For this, I will be using “Konsole”.
    1. Locate where you stored your downloaded Vmware Workstation Pro .bundle file and copy its full path, including the filename.
    2. In Konsole, type sudo sh followed by a space, then paste the full path inside quotation marks and press “Enter”. For example: 
      1. sudo sh "/home/kyrncartier/Downloads/Apps/Vmware-Workstation-Full-26H1u1-25688693.x86_64.bundle"
    3. Replace my example path with the full path to your own downloaded installer.
    4. Once prompted, enter your password. When typing in your password, you will not see any characters appear whilst typing; this is completely normal. Once you have entered your password, press “Enter”.
    5. When prompted with “System service scripts directory (commonly /etc/init.d).:”, simply type /etc/init.d and press “Enter”.
    6. Once the installation is complete and you return to the command prompt, open your application menu and search for “VMWare Workstation Pro” and launch it.
      1. If you receive an error saying “A compatible version of GCC was not found”, this does not necessarily mean GCC is missing. I encountered this on CachyOS because my kernel was built using Clang and VMware failed to recognise it correctly. Switching to my installed CachyOS LTS kernel resolved the issue. If you encounter the same problem, check that GCC and the headers matching your kernel are installed before trying the LTS kernel.
    7. You will be greeted with a setup menu after launching the application. Read the license agreement and, if you agree, select “I accept the terms in the license agreement”. It will also ask you, “Would you like to check for product updates on startup?” I would recommend clicking “Yes” so you can see when updates are available. The final question will ask whether you want to join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). Personally, I am going to click “No”, but it is up to you. Once you have completed everything, click “Finish”. If prompted, enter your password and press “Enter”. VMware Workstation Pro will now open.

Phase 2: Installing qBittorrent

Next, we need to download a torrent tool. This is so we can download the official ISO for our virtual machine. For this guide, we will be using qBittorrent.

  1. If you’re using Linux, open your terminal and use the command below that matches your distribution.
    • CachyOS, Arch Linux, EndeavourOS or Manjaro: 
      • sudo pacman -Syu qbittorrent
    • Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint or Kali Linux: 
      • sudo apt update && sudo apt install qbittorrent
    • Fedora: 
      • sudo dnf install qbittorrent
    • openSUSE: 
      • sudo zypper install qbittorrent

    For this guide, I will use the CachyOS command. You only need to run the command that matches your own distribution.

  2. Once prompted, enter your password. When typing in your password, you will not see any characters appear whilst typing; this is completely normal. Once you have entered your password, press “Enter”. Review the packages and download size shown, then type “Y” and press “Enter” when asked whether to proceed. Wait until the installation is complete and you return to the command prompt before continuing.

Phase 3: Downloading Kali Linux (Everything)

To be able to run Kali Linux in a virtual machine, we first of all need to download the torrent file from the official Kali Linux website. We will be downloading Kali Linux “Everything”, as it includes nearly all the tools for future projects.

  1. First, go to the official Kali Linux website and click the “Download” button to see download options for Kali Linux. Then click on “Installer Images” and choose “Everything”. Click on “torrent” and it will download the torrent file to your selected download location.
  2. Once the installation is complete, open qBittorrent from your application menu. If a notice appears on the first launch, read it before continuing. If you are privacy focused, please bear in mind that other peers sharing the same torrent can see your public IP. You can use a VPN that supports torrenting if you would prefer to keep your IP address private. Personally, I recommend NordVPN. Connect to the VPN before starting the download. Then select “File”, followed by “Add Torrent File”, and open the .iso.torrent file you downloaded earlier. Select where to save the ISO file and click “OK” to start downloading it. Once the ISO has finished downloading, you will receive a “Download Completed” notification showing its filename. Mine was “kali-linux-2026.2-installer-everything-amd64.iso”, but yours may differ depending on the version you downloaded. Once you have received this message, fully exit qBittorrent using “File” → “Exit”, then disconnect from your VPN.

Phase 4: Setting up the virtual machine

Now that all previous steps are done, all that we need to do now is set up our virtual machine using the freshly downloaded Kali Linux “Everything” ISO.

  1. If you haven’t already got it open, open VMWare Workstation Pro.
  2. On the home screen, click “Create a New Virtual Machine” to begin setting up your Kali Linux virtual machine.
  3. You will then be asked what type of configuration setup you would like to use. Select “Typical (recommended)” and click “Next”.
  4. Select “Use ISO image” and either click browse or alternatively paste the path where your file is located. Make sure when selecting a file it is the ISO file and not the torrent file. Then click “Next”.
  5. Select “Linux” as the guest operating system. If available, choose the latest Debian 64-bit option from the “Version” dropdown. On my setup, Debian was not listed, so I chose “Other Linux 6.x kernel 64-bit”. Then click “Next”.
  6. Give your virtual machine a name, such as “Kali Linux”. Choose where you want to store its files, or leave the default location selected, then click “Next”.
  7. Choose the maximum size of your virtual disk. I recommend 100 GB, but personally I will be choosing 500 GB to leave more room for future projects. As we will be using encryption, the installer will overwrite the partition with random data during setup. This can make the virtual disk grow to nearly its maximum size, so make sure your host computer has enough available storage for the size you choose.
  8. Leave “Split virtual disk into multiple files” selected, then click “Next”.
  9. Before clicking “Finish”, click “Customize Hardware…” so we can adjust the memory, processor and other settings for our virtual machine.

Before choosing these settings, make sure you know how much RAM and how many processor cores your computer has. Your virtual machine shares your computer’s resources, so you need to leave enough available for your main operating system and other applications. Allocating too much could slow down your computer. The settings I use are based on my own specifications, so choose amounts that suit your computer.

  1. Select “Memory” and choose how much RAM to allocate to your virtual machine. As my computer has 32 GB, I will be allocating 16 GB (16384 MB).
  2. Select “Processors” and set the number of processors to 1 and the number of cores per processor to 4. My computer has a six-core processor, and this gives our virtual machine 4 virtual CPU cores.
  3. Select “Display” and enable “Accelerate 3D graphics”. I will also specify my monitor’s resolution as 2560 × 1440. Choose the resolution that matches your own monitor.

I have enabled 3D acceleration on my setup. If you experience display problems, shut down your virtual machine, open its Display settings and untick “Accelerate 3D graphics”, then start it again.

  1. Select “Network Adapter” and make sure “NAT” is selected. This allows your virtual machine to use your main computer’s internet connection, whether you are connected through Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable.
  2. Once you have finished adjusting these settings, click “Close” to return to the setup summary. Review your settings, then click “Finish” to create your virtual machine.
  3. You will now see a message confirming that your virtual machine has been created successfully. We still need to install Kali Linux inside it. Click “Close” to continue.
  4. Once you click “Close”, your virtual machine will start automatically if you left that option selected during setup.
  5. You may receive a “Removable Devices” pop-up explaining that devices connected to your computer can also be connected to your virtual machine. We do not need to connect any of these for the installation, so simply click “OK” to continue.

Phase 5: Installing Kali Linux in your virtual machine

Now that our virtual machine has been created, we can install Kali Linux using the ISO we downloaded earlier. I will take you through the installation step by step.

  1. When you boot into the virtual machine for the first time, you will be presented with a menu asking which method you would like to install Kali Linux with. Select “Graphical install” and press “Enter”.
  2. Select Your Language: Choose your preferred setup language.
  3. Select Your Region: Select your location parameters.
  4. Select Your Keyboard Layout: Match this exactly to your physical laptop or desktop hardware keyboard.
  5. Configure Your Network: First, enter your hostname. Make it something you can identify on your network, then click “Continue”.
  6. Domain Name: When asked for a domain name, leave this blank unless you have a specific domain configured for your network, then click “Continue”.
  7. Full Name: Enter your full name and click “Continue”. You can use your real name or a name of your choice. This is the name associated with your user account; you will choose your username in the next step.
  8. Username: Create a username for the account. This is what you will use to log in to Kali Linux. Use lowercase letters with no spaces, then click “Continue”.
  9. Password: Choose a strong password for your user account and enter it again to confirm (I recommend a password manager like NordPass). Click “Continue”.
  10. Disk Partitioning: When asked how you would like to partition the disk, select “Guided – use entire disk and set up encrypted LVM”, then click “Continue”. This will display a warning that everything on the disk will be erased, don’t worry this is only the virtual disk that will be erased. Read the warning and click “Continue”. You will now be asked how you want your files to be partitioned, choose “All files in one partition”, then click “Continue”. You will then be asked, “Write the changes to disks and configure LVM?” Check that the disk shown is your virtual disk, then select “Yes” and click “Continue”. The installer will now overwrite the partition with random data before setting up encryption. This may take some time depending on the size of your virtual disk and the speed of your storage. Wait until the process has completed before continuing.
  11. Encryption Passphrase: Choose a strong passphrase. I recommend using a different passphrase from your user account password. Make sure to store the password somewhere safe like NordPass. Enter your passphrase again to confirm it, then click “Continue”.
  12. You will now be asked how much of the volume group to use for guided partitioning. Type “max” to use all the available space within the virtual disk’s volume group, then click “Continue”.
  13. You will now see an overview of your partitions. Review the layout, then scroll down and select “Finish partitioning and write changes to disk”, followed by “Continue”.
  14. You will now be asked, “Write the changes to disks?” Review the partitions listed for formatting, then select “Yes” and click “Continue”. The installer will apply these changes to your virtual disk and begin installing the system.
  15. Software Selection: You can now choose your desktop environment and the tools you want to install. For this guide, I will be using KDE Plasma, as this is what I use with CachyOS. Untick “Xfce” and tick “KDE Plasma”, then tick “everything -- almost all tools”. Leave the other default selections as they are, then click “Continue”. Wait whilst the installer installs your selected software.
  16. Configuring Kerberos Authentication: You may be asked to enter a default Kerberos realm. We are not using Kerberos authentication for this guide, so leave this blank and click “Continue”. The installation of software will continue after this.
  17. Install the GRUB Boot Loader: You will now be asked whether to install the GRUB boot loader to your primary drive. This allows Kali Linux to start when you turn on your virtual machine. Select “Yes” and click “Continue”. This applies to the virtual machine’s drive, not your host computer’s drive.
  18. You will then be asked where to install the GRUB boot loader. Select “/dev/sda”, which is our virtual disk, then click “Continue”. The installer will now finish setting up Kali Linux. Wait until this process has completed and the next screen appears.
  19. Once you see “Installation complete”, click “Continue” to restart your virtual machine and boot into Kali Linux.
  20. When the boot menu appears, leave “Kali GNU/Linux” selected and press “Enter” to start Kali Linux. If a countdown appears, you can also wait for it to start automatically.
  21. You will now be asked to unlock your encrypted disk. Enter the encryption passphrase you created during installation and press “Enter”. Kali Linux will then continue starting up.
  22. Once the login screen appears, enter the user account password you created during installation and press “Enter”. This will log you in and load your Kali Linux desktop.

Phase 6: Updating the system & enabling the firewall

Now that we have installed Kali Linux, we need to update the system and enable the firewall. I will show you how to check for updates and install them, then we will use an application called GUFW to manage our firewall settings.

The following commands run inside your Kali Linux virtual machine. Open Konsole in Kali Linux for these steps, not a terminal on your host computer.

  1. Open your application menu, search for “Konsole” and launch it.
  2. Type the following command and press “Enter”: 
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

This command refreshes the package lists and upgrades your installed packages. The second part will only run if the first part completes successfully.

  1. If prompted, enter your password and press “Enter”. You will not see any characters appear whilst typing; this is completely normal.
  2. Review the proposed changes, including any packages that will be removed. Type “Y” and press “Enter” to proceed.
  3. During the update, you may be asked, “Restart services during package upgrades without asking?” Use the arrow keys to select “Yes” and press “Enter”. This allows services to restart automatically when needed during the update.
  4. You may see a “Pending kernel upgrade” message explaining that a restart is needed to load the new kernel. Press “Enter” to select “OK”. We will restart the virtual machine once the update has finished.
  5. If asked which services should be restarted, leave the default selections as they are. Press “Tab” to highlight “OK”, then press “Enter”.
  6. Wait until the update is complete and you return to the command prompt. Restart your Kali Linux virtual machine through the application menu, then unlock your encrypted disk and log back in.
  7. Once you have logged back in, open “Konsole”. Type the following command and press “Enter”: 
sudo apt install gufw
  1. If prompted, enter your password and press “Enter”. Review the proposed changes, then type “Y” and press “Enter” to proceed. Wait until the installation is complete before continuing.
  2. Open your application menu, search for “Firewall Configuration” and launch it. Enter your password if prompted.
  3. Set “Incoming” to “Deny” and “Outgoing” to “Allow”, then switch “Status” on to enable the firewall.

These settings block unsolicited incoming connections whilst allowing your virtual machine to make outgoing connections and receive replies.

Phase 7: Creating your first snapshot

Now that we have installed Kali Linux, updated the system and enabled the firewall, we can save a snapshot of our virtual machine. This gives us a point to return to if a change causes a problem whilst following the next parts of this series.

A snapshot is not a separate backup. If the drive containing your virtual machine fails, you could lose both the virtual machine and its snapshots, so keep a separate backup of anything important.

  1. Shut down Kali Linux through its application menu and wait until the virtual machine has fully powered off.
  2. In VMware Workstation Pro, select your Kali Linux virtual machine. Open the “VM” menu, select “Snapshot”, then click “Take Snapshot”.
  3. Give your snapshot a name, such as “Kali Linux – Initial Setup”. In the description, note that Kali Linux is installed, updated and has its firewall enabled.
  4. Click “Take Snapshot” and wait until the process has completed.

Phase 8: Returning to an earlier snapshot

If a change causes a problem, we can return to the snapshot we saved earlier. Bear in mind that any files or changes made inside the virtual machine since that snapshot will be lost, so copy anything you want to keep outside the virtual machine before continuing.

  1. Shut down Kali Linux and wait until the virtual machine has fully powered off.
  2. In VMware Workstation Pro, select your Kali Linux virtual machine. Open the “VM” menu, select “Snapshot”, then click “Snapshot Manager”.
  3. Select the snapshot you want to return to. For this guide, we named ours “Kali Linux – Initial Setup”.
  4. Click “Go To” and confirm when prompted. Wait until VMware has restored the snapshot.
  5. Start your virtual machine, enter your encryption passphrase and log in. You will now be back at the state saved in that snapshot.

You have now completed this path. Move on to the conclusion below.

Conclusion

Our Kali Linux virtual machine is now set up, updated and protected by an enabled firewall, with a snapshot saved so we can return to this point if needed. In Part 2, we will use Wireshark to take a closer look at our virtual machine’s network traffic and understand what those packets can tell us.