Kali Linux: install on the USB flash drive. Brief instruction

Kali Linux is used to detect all kinds of errors in the security of devices, networks and other operating systems. That's why basically the tool is positioned as a hacking OS. But in practice it is most often used for security tests. Nothing prevents you from downloading all the necessary software and doing it in other distributions, but Kali is already supplied with a set of all programs and utilities and is more adapted to a quick launch without leaving traces.

Kali Linux is a further development of the Backtrack 5 system. In general, there are not many differences in installing other distributions based on Linux and Kali. But nevertheless they are, and therefore it is necessary to dwell in detail on every aspect.

Like all Unix-like systems, Kali is based on the Linux kernel. Thanks to this, the structure of the system itself is very similar to other Linux distributions. If you have had the experience of communicating with them, then installation problems should not arise.

Many users believe that Kali is just for "hacking games". Yes, it is aimed at finding vulnerabilities in other systems, but it is quite comfortable to use for everyday tasks, for example, Ubuntu or Mint. Is that the setting will take a little longer.

Preparing the USB storage

To create a Live USB with Kali, you need to select a USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 4 GB. In principle, USB-drive in special training does not need. It is enough to format it in FAT32 format. The rest will be done by the installer himself: both the markup and the format in the ext4 system. Also worth noting is that for faster and more comfortable installation it is recommended to use the USB 3.0 drive.

Create a Live USB Flash Drive

First you need to download the image from the operating system Kali Linux. Installation on the USB flash drive is relatively fast, provided that you have USB 3.0 support. Otherwise, the process can be delayed, especially if the information carrier is old. Next, you need to download the utility Unetbootin, which is used to create a Live USB with any Linux distribution. In general, there are a lot of programs for creating bootable flash drives , but this is distributed free of charge and most comfortable to use. With the help of Unetbootin we fill in the flash drive with the Kali Linux installer. The instructions for using the utility are very simple. You need to select the distribution, then specify the storage device and start recording.

After the successful completion of the installation procedure, we get a Live USB with the Kali system. Now you can run it without installation. But to uncover the full potential of the system, it can also be fully installed on a hard disk or the flash drive itself.

Installing from a USB storage device

To install the system, we need a flash drive with a capacity of at least 16 GB. It is possible and less, but the specified volume is optimal. We insert the USB flash drive into the USB socket, reboot the computer and select "Download FDD-HDD" at boot time. After that, Live Kali Linux USB will start. In the menu that appears, select Graphical Install. This is the process of installing the system using a graphical shell.

Then it is suggested to choose the installation language, time zone and keyboard layout. Select all that is needed, and click "Next". After that, the installer will try to connect to the Internet and download the missing files. Click "OK" and download. But it depends on the version of the system, often the programs are completely autonomous and do not require access to the network.

Correct partitioning of USB storage

If everything is done correctly, the installer will prompt you to choose how to install the system on the disk. You can, of course, choose the automatic option, but since you need to install the system on a USB flash drive, not on a hard drive, then we select manual markup. The window for selecting partitions opens. Select the partition with USB-drive and click "Add partition". You also need a place for the system itself. A minimum of 5 GB is recommended. Format it is necessary in the file system ext4 - this is the most acceptable option. The mount point is set to "/". This is the symbol of the system partition. In general, the installation of Kali Linux on a USB flash drive is in many respects similar to the installation of Backtrack 5, which is not surprising. In fact, this is the same distro.

After that, you need to allocate a partition for the paging file. In the case of installing on a flash drive it is desirable to choose the RAM size of the device to which the installation is performed. For example, on a computer with 4 GB of RAM, the swap partition should be at least 8 GB. This is exactly what Kali Linux requires. The installation on the USB flash drive is the same for all Linux operating systems. You do not need to select a formatting system, just click on the "Swap partition" in the menu sub-menu.

Since we use flash memory, it is not necessary to make the mount point "/ home", this item can be skipped.

But as for the GRUB boot loader, you can not do without it. But for him it is enough to select a piece of 2-3 MB size.

Continued installation

After markup, we are asked to enter the username and computer. Note, unlike other Linux systems, where the default password is root, in Kali Linux password is toor. After that, the copying of the files begins. It can take 10 to 20 minutes, it all depends on the power of the computer.

After the successful copying of the files, the system will offer a reboot for full use of all functions. With pleasure we agree. After that, enjoy the fully working Kali Linux. Installation on the USB flash drive, as we see, is very similar to other OSes of the Ubuntu family and Mint. From now on, if necessary, you can not limit yourself to Live-launch and do not bother with a long installation on the hard drive.

Instead of concluding

Now you can enjoy Kali Linux. Installation on the flash drive took literally half an hour. However, do not forget, although the system is designed for all sorts of security tests, they need to be carried exclusively on their equipment, otherwise you can stumble upon problems with the law, even if your actions did not mean malicious intent.