SoFunction
Updated on 2025-05-20

Kali Linux default toolkit installation process

Kali Linux default toolkit installation

Kali Linux is a Linux distribution designed for security researchers and penetration testers. Its default toolkit passeskali-linux-defaultThe metapackage provides a series of tools for tasks such as information collection, vulnerability scanning, and password cracking.

This article will guide you through the installation of the default toolkit, suitable for users who are new to Kali or those who need to extend the installation to minimize.

Why choose the default toolkit?

kali-linux-defaultMetapack is a standard tool set for Kali Linux desktop mirroring, with the following features:

  • A comprehensive tool set: Covering common penetration testing categories such as network scanning, web application testing, wireless attacks, etc.
  • Lightweight design: Compared to all toolskali-linux-everything, taking up less space.
  • Continuous update: Keep the tool up to date with Kali's rolling update mechanism.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure:

  • Kali Linux installed (desktop version or minimized installation).
  • The disk has at least 20 GB of free space (the tools and dependencies may require 9-15 GB).
  • Stable network connection for downloading software packages.
  • Have root or sudo permissions.

Installation steps

1. Update the package index

To avoid dependency issues, update the system's package list first:

sudo apt update

This command gets the latest package metadata from Kali's software source, ensuring that the latest version of the tool is installed.

2. Install the kali-linux-default meta package

Run the following command to install the default toolkit:

sudo apt install -y kali-linux-default
  • -yAutomatically confirm the installation of parameters to reduce interaction.
  • The metapack itself is small (about 20 KB), but its dependencies may require several GB of space depending on what is installed.
  • Installation time varies by network speed and system performance.

3. Verify the installation

After the installation is complete, check whether the tool is installed correctly:

dpkg -l | grep kali-tools

This command lists all installed packages related to Kali tools.

You can also run commands for specific tools (e.g.nmap --versionormsfconsole) Confirm its availability.

4. (Optional) Use kali-tweaks for graphical installation

If you prefer a graphical interface, you can use the one provided by Kalikali-tweakstool:

kali-tweaks
  • Go to the “Metapackages” tab.
  • choosekali-linux-default。
  • Click "Apply" and enter your password to confirm.

This method is beginner-friendly and reduces the risk of errors in command-line operations.

Frequently Asked Questions and Solutions

Dependency error: If you encounter dependency issues, try to fix:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

Or update the entire system:

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Software source issues:make sure/etc/apt/The correct Kali software source is configured, for example:

deb /kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib

Then run againsudo apt update。

Insufficient disk space: Check if the disk space is sufficient (df -h), clean or expand the disk if necessary.

Tool not found: Some tools may require manual configuration or initialization. For example, Metasploit requires setting up the database:

msfdb init

Other Metapackage Options

Kali Linux provides a variety of metapackages to meet different needs:

  • kali-linux-core: Only include basic systems and core tools, suitable for minimalist needs.
  • kali-linux-headless: Toolset without graphical interface, suitable for server or low-resource devices.
  • kali-linux-large: More richer than the default tool set, including more tools.
  • kali-linux-everything: Contains all Kali tools, taking up about 15 GB, suitable for users who need a complete tool set.

The command to install other metapackages is similar to the default toolkit, for example:

sudo apt install -y kali-linux-large

Things to note

  • Network requirements: The installation requires network connection. If you cannot connect to the Internet, you can use the "Everything" offline image containing all the tools.
  • Newbie advice: Kali Linux is powerful, but not suitable as a daily operating system. It is recommended to run in virtual machines such as VirtualBox or VMware to avoid misoperation.
  • Language Support: Kali's interface and tools support Chinese, but the documentation or output of some tools may be mainly in English.
  • Disk space: Check the available space before installation (df -h) to avoid interruption due to insufficient space.

Summarize

By installingkali-linux-defaultMetapack, you can quickly configure a powerful set of penetration testing tools for Kali Linux.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced security researcher, this tool set is an ideal starting point.

Ready to start your safety testing journey?Follow the above steps and your Kali system will be ready soon!

The above is personal experience. I hope you can give you a reference and I hope you can support me more.