Setting up Kali Linux Environment

A step by step graphical tutorial on setting up Kali Linux on your windows box

Ned Poplaski (CISSP)
4 min readApr 25, 2021

The Environment we will be using would be a VMWare setup on Windows. Kali Linux will be installed in the VM .

Step 1 :

Download VMWare Workstation Player ( for windows ) and the Kali Linux ISO. ( Alternatively, you can directly download the VMWare image for Kali Linux directly — But we will be doing the first option )

These can be downloaded from here

VMWare Player : https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-player/workstation-player-evaluation.html

Kali Linux ISO : https://www.kali.org/downloads/

Step 2 :

Install the VMWare Environment ( straight forward )

Step 3 :

From your VMWare setup, start your installation process ( select the Graphical Install option )

Chose your Language

Let the installer scan your disc for sufficient space.

Installer checking for space requirements
Checking network settings for your environment

Step 4 : Enter the relevant details . Start with a local host name .

Configuring the hostname

Step 5 : Setting up a domain name — You can skip this step.

Step 5 : Now you will be asked for a username ( create any name — This is just a name for the profile of the user you are going to create)

This is the name for the user ( not the login )

Step 6 : Enter the login name you would like to login with & choose your password

creating the login
choose your password

Step 7: Creating the partition. For of this installation we will allocate the entire VMWare environment for the Linux Environment .

Create partition

Step 7: Commit the changes suggested

Step 8: Installer will continue with the installation of the base system.

Step 9 : Select the additional tools required. Select the default tools.

Step 10: Select to install the GRUB bootloader.

This will complete your installation process and you are ready to use your Linux Environment.

Your new Kali Linux Environment

Boot up again and use the login that you created to enter the environment on your system.

Setup Complete :

You are all set for using your new Kali Linux environment and it will look like this when you first login .

Enjoy exploring your environment and happy learning.

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Ned Poplaski (CISSP)

I share news and Lessons to make possible a safer cyber experience. cyber security educator. ex-McAfee, Consultant snyk.io,sonatype.