How to Install Kali Linux 2024 on VMware Workstation 17 Pro

Cyber threats keep evolving. So we need effective network security measures. Also, we check for vulnerabilities in our system and network. Plus, we often use the Kali Linux distro for penetration testing.

In this article, we will use VMware Workstation 17 Pro on a Windows 11 & 10 64-bit computer. Also, we will install Kali Linux 2024. VMware Workstation is a popular virtualization tool. Plus, it gives higher performance than its alternatives. It is also quite simple to use. Therefore, you will not struggle even if you are a beginner, because you can use virtual machines with ease through this powerful tool.

How Do I Install Kali Linux on a Virtual Machine on Windows 10 with VMware Workstation 17 Pro?

Kali Linux is a Debian-based distro. The company Offensive Security develops this distro. The distro includes thousands of free and effective tools. Above all, we audit computer networks for security vulnerabilities. Also, we use it to find flaws in systems.

Kali includes many free tools for system and network security. Therefore, we often use it in penetration testing. Plus, you can run this distro without installing it on your physical computer. Also, you can boot it from your USB disk. Besides, you can also use it as a portable system.

You can download the Kali ISO file from the official site. You can also use other sources if you want. Then you can install it on your PC with CD/DVD or USB media. However, we will use a virtual machine in this guide. So we will use the ISO file directly.

In short, you should gain experience before you install the Kali distro on a physical PC. For this, I recommend you try it in a virtual machine. Therefore, we will use the popular virtualization software VMware Workstation Pro. You can also choose the Player program if you want.

Creating a New Virtual Machine for Kali Linux

Suppose you install VMware on your Windows 11 & 10 computer. After that, you create a new virtual machine. At this stage, you should set the operating system you want to install.

For example, you plan to run Kali Linux in a virtual machine. Thus, you do not restart the host system to use it. Also, you do not need to install this system on your PC with a dual-boot method.

Configuring Your Kali Virtual Machine

Now let’s create a new virtual machine for Kali from start to finish. Let’s get started!

Step 1

I assume you completed the VMware Workstation setup process. Now start this software. On the first screen, click the Create a New Virtual Machine option.

When you start the wizard, you move to the setup stage. What we do on this screen is specific to Kali. However, the general virtual machine creation steps are the same for most operating systems.

Let’s prepare an advanced system for Kali in the VM wizard. If you go with Typical, you do not need to make extra choices. But I will set it in detail with Custom (Advanced).

Step 2

Virtual machine hardware compatibility matters. So choosing the right setting boosts performance. Here, select the latest version of the VMware program.

Step 3

First, we should set the virtual hardware settings. So I recommend you add the ISO file to the guest machine later.

Here, go directly with the I will install the operating system later option.

Step 4

Select the platform of the operating system you will install with Workstation. Then select the Debian 12.x 64-bit release for Kali Linux.

NOTE: You may not see Kali here, so do not worry! You usually see Debian on these platforms. They built Kali on top of this system.

Actually, if you know the basic virtual machine setup steps for Debian, these settings look familiar. Plus, this basic knowledge helps you with other Linux distros too.

Processor, Memory, and Network Setup for the Kali VM

Step 1

Since you prepared the Kali virtual OS, set the system name. Then set the install location on your physical disk.

Step 2

Now let’s tune the Kali VM performance. Here you should select the virtual processor and core count. However, these values depend on your host PC CPU power.

So one processor and eight cores are enough for the Kali guest machine. In short, set the processor options as in the image below.

Step 3

Likewise, set the RAM size based on your host computer. If your PC is a 2024 model, select the maximum value. Thus, VMware sets virtual memory for top efficiency.

Click the blue icon for the maximum value as in the image below.

Step 4

Select the IP block you will use in the virtual computer from the Network Type settings.

If you choose a Bridged network, you assign an IP address to your VM from the DHCP server. However, if you choose the NAT type, you get an address from a different IP block. Thus, you do not get an IP address from your physical network.

After you set the network options, focus on hardware. For example, you follow a similar path when you set up virtual hardware in Ubuntu on VMware. From my experience, the right choices directly affect performance. Above all, you should optimize core and memory assignment to your host limits.

Step 5

For reliable disk access, choose the default LSI Logic option. In short, default settings are usually best if you have no special need.

Step 6

We all want the guest machine to run with more performance. So choose NVMe, the newest tech among virtual disk types.

Creating a Virtual Disk for the Kali VM

Step 1

Since you will install Kali Linux from scratch, you should create a new virtual disk. If you installed Linux on a virtual disk before, you can use the existing disk. For this, you can select ‘Use an existing virtual disk’.

However, a new disk is always good. So select ‘Create a new virtual disk’ for your Kali system.

Step 2

Your Kali VM will have processes and software. So set the virtual disk size different from the recommended value.

Also, you can store the virtual disk file as a single file on your host PC. So proceed by choosing storage as shown below.

Step 3

In the Specify Disk File window, set the disk file name and location. You can choose the default VMware sets if you want.

Customizing Kali VM Hardware and Adding the ISO

Step 1

Let’s edit the hardware of the Kali virtual computer we prepared at an advanced level. Now click the Customize Hardware option.

Step 2

Go to the Processors section in the guest machine hardware settings. Then view the Virtualization Engine features. Here, turn on all the settings below.

• Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI
• Virtualize CPU Performance Counters
• Virtualize IOMMU (IO Memory Management Unit)

Step 3

We should add the Kali Linux ISO file to the virtual PC. For this, turn on the Use ISO Image File option in the CD/DVD device settings.

Finally, use Browse to select the ISO file you downloaded from this link.

Step 4

We should use USB 3.0/3.1 devices in the Kali guest machine. So open the USB Controller device settings. Here, set USB 3.1 from the Compatibility options.

Step 5

For a better graphics experience in the virtual computer, go to Display settings. From here, turn on the Accelerate 3D Graphics feature. Also, set the graphics memory based on your host graphics card.

Step 6

You prepared your Kali system. Now check the settings one last time. Then close the wizard.

Step 7

Start your Kali Linux 2024 guest machine.

Installing Kali Linux on the New Virtual Machine

You made all settings for Kali with VMware. Now you should boot the ISO image you added to your VM. When you start the virtual PC, you see the boot screen.

Step 1

You started the system with the Kali ISO image. Meanwhile, you see the Kali Installer Menu screen.

On this screen, choose the graphical install. That is, press Enter on the Graphical Install option.

Step 2

Select the language you want for your Kali system from the language options.

Step 3

Set your location correctly so the system shows the right time. Thus, the computer sets itself to the right time zone on its own. Also, daylight saving time is selected on its own.

Step 4

Choosing the virtual PC keyboard layout matters. So you should select your host keyboard type. On this screen, set the keymap location for Kali.

Step 5

Set the name Kali shows on the network in the hostname field. The setup wizard assigns the name ‘kali’ by default. However, you can change this name based on your network setting.

Step 6

Let’s say your setup has an Active Directory server. In this case, you can join the virtual system to the domain. Otherwise, proceed with the domain name blank.

Step 7

Type the user account name you will use for non-admin tasks.

Disk Partitioning and Desktop Choice in Kali Setup

Step 1

Type the user account name you created in lowercase.

Step 2

Create a strong and hard-to-guess password for your user account.

Step 3

Select your time zone to set the system clock right for where you live.

Step 4

Since you will install a clean Kali system, you should use the whole virtual disk. In this case, use the Guided – Use Entire Disk option.

Step 5

Select the virtual disk you will partition.

Step 6

You can partition your system disk with different disk schemes. However, if you are not sure about the process, select the first option. This option is All Files In One Partition.

Step 7

On the disk partitioning screen, check the changes on your NVMe virtual disk. Then select Finish Partitioning and Write Changes to Disk.

Step 8

You reviewed the partitions to format. Now select Yes to confirm writing changes to disk.

Step 9

Select the desktop environment you will use in the Kali guest system. On this screen, the default environment is XFCE. However, you can also choose GNOME or KDE based on your personal taste.

Finishing Kali Setup and the First Login

Step 1

Select Yes to install GRUB Boot Loader to the primary partition. Then click Continue.

Step 2

Select your NVMe virtual disk to load the GRUB menu to the bootable device.

Step 3

You completed the Kali Linux setup on the VM. Now remove the ISO media. Then restart the virtual PC.

Step 4

When you restart the Kali guest machine, you see the screen below. You can select Kali GNU/Linux directly in this boot menu. Also, you can wait for the countdown in the GUI.

Step 5

Type the user name and password you created. Then click the Log In button.

Installing VMware Tools on Kali Linux

You installed Kali OS with VMware Workstation. However, there is one issue!

You need to install the guest system drivers. That is, you should use full-screen resolution, Shared Folder, or USB devices. So you should install VMware Tools on your virtual system.

Let’s say your host has internet while you install Kali. In this case, the wizard installs the VMware Tools ISO package on its own. But if you have no internet, you can do this task through Workstation Pro.

If you get an error or cannot do it, connect your VM to the internet. After this step, you can install the related add-ons with one command.

Steps:

Step 1

Open a terminal to install VMware Tools on Kali. Then run the ‘sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop’ command. Then answer the question with Y to confirm the dependent packages. Finally, press Enter.

sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop

Step 2

After you install VMware Tools, restart the Kali VM. Try a file transfer as a test. For this, drag a text file from the host desktop to the guest system.

Step 3

When the file transfer ends, check that everything works. For this, try using the virtual computer in full-screen mode.

If the screen resolution does not fit well, refresh the terminal commands. For similar issues, you can use the steps in Debian guest tools setup.

Setting Up a Shared Folder on the Kali VM

You use the Kali machine on your host PC operating system. However, you need to move big files fast. Here is where the Shared Folder feature comes in.

Step 1

While the Kali VM runs, click the VM / Settings option from the tool menu.

Step 2

Open the virtual machine settings. Then click the Options tab. Then select the Shared Folders setting in the left panel.

Set the Folder Sharing option to Always Enabled. Finally, click the Add button to set a folder location from your host system.

Step 3

In the Name the Shared Folder window, click Browse in the Host Path section. Then create a new folder on the host desktop.

Step 4

You should share the folder you created. So check the Enable This Share option.

Shared Folder Access and Auto-Mount Settings

Step 1

We should check the Shared Folder between the host and the VM. Access the folder contents from both systems. Also, you can access the shared folder from the /mnt/hgfs/FolderName location.

Step 2

Open a terminal to create a Shared Folder shortcut on the VM desktop. Then run the command below.

sudo ls -s /mnt/hgfs/KaliSharedFolder ~/Desktop

Step 3

The shortcut on the desktop may go away when you restart the Linux VM. If you see that it does not work, turn it on again. So you should auto-mount it on every restart.

Use the terminal to turn the shared folder back on in the Linux system. For auto-mount, edit the /etc/fstab file with the command below.

sudo mount -f fuse.vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs -o allow_other
sudo nano /etc/fstab

Step 4

Let’s turn on the Shared Folder on its own when the system restarts. For this, add the command below to /etc/fstab. Then press CTRL + X / Y / Enter to save the file.

.host:/KaliSharedFolder /mnt/hgfs/KaliSharedFolder fuse.vmhgfs-fuse allow_other

Using a USB Flash Drive on the Kali VM

You set USB controller compatibility to 3.1 when you prepared the virtual machine. Thus, you can use USB 3.0/3.1 storage devices in the virtual system. Also, you can use your flash drives.

Step 1

Plug a USB flash drive into the USB 3.0/3.1 port on the host computer. Create a folder named Backup on it.

Step 2

Click VM to connect the USB drive to the virtual machine. Then select Removable Devices. Here, select your USB drive name. Click the Connect option from the tool menu.

If the Connect option is gray or inactive, shut down the virtual computer. Then go to the next step.

Step 3

Open the Kali 2022.VMX file. Change the (usb.restrictions.defaultAllow = ‘FALSE’) setting to ‘TRUE’. Then save the file.

Step 4

When you restart the virtual computer, you can connect your USB disk to the VM.

Step 5

Check the USB drive contents in the Kali VM. You see that the Backup folder you created exists.

Finally, run the ‘sudo lsb_release -a’ command in the terminal. Thus, you can check your system Release version.

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Installing Older Versions

FAQ About Using Kali Linux with VMware

Conclusion

In summary, you can run Kali Linux on your Windows 11 or 10 PC with VMware Workstation. With this system, you can start finding vulnerabilities in your network and system. You install this OS in a virtual machine, so you can use it without harm to your real system. You can also practice using it with no risk.

With all the steps in this article, you can use the Kali VM efficiently. For example, you can get files from your USB disk. You can also use a shared folder if you want. Also, you can try various projects against online threats.