View source for Convert Debian CT to Kali


This guide explains the process of creating and converting a standard Debian container to a Kali CT.

== Create the container ==

For creating a basic container you can run:

  root@pve:~# pveam update && pveam download local debian-11-standard_11.3-1_amd64.tar.zst
  root@pve:~# pct create 31337 local:vztmpl/debian-11-standard_11.3-1_amd64.tar.zst --net0 name=eth0,bridge=vmbr0,firewall=1,ip=dhcp,type=veth --storage guests

You can also use the GUI to create it.

== Debian to Kali ==

Enter the container and update Debian packages to latest versions:
  root@pve:~# pct start 31337
  root@pve:~# pct enter 31337
  root@CT31337:~# apt update
  root@CT31337:~# apt dist-upgrade -y

continue with the package upgrades and answer the prompts as necessary.

Fetch the Kali repository keys and add it to your apt:

  root@CT31337:~# apt install gnupg dirmngr
  root@CT31337:~# wget -q -O - https://archive.kali.org/archive-key.asc | gpg --import
  root@CT31337:~# echo "deb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contrib" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kali.list
  root@CT31337:~# gpg --export ED444FF07D8D0BF6  > /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/kali-rolling.gpg

Then run update and upgrade again:

  root@CT31337:~# apt update                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
  Hit:1 http://security.debian.org bullseye-security InRelease                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  Hit:2 http://ftp.debian.org/debian bullseye InRelease·                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
  Hit:3 http://ftp.debian.org/debian bullseye-updates InRelease                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Get:4 http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling InRelease [30.6 kB]                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
  Get:5 http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling/main amd64 Packages [18.3 MB]                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
  Get:6 http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling/non-free amd64 Packages [213 kB]                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Get:7 http://kali.download/kali kali-rolling/contrib amd64 Packages [116 kB]                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  Fetched 18.7 MB in 2s (10.6 MB/s)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
  Reading package lists... Done                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Building dependency tree... Done                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
  Reading state information... Done                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
  233 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.
  root@CT31337:~# apt dist-upgrade -y

again answer the prompts as necessary and continue with the upgrades.

After updates are finished, exit and reboot the container:

  root@CT31337:~# exit
  root@pve:~# pct reboot 31337
  
Now the repositories should be set up:
  root@pve:~# pct enter 31337
  root@CT31337:~# cat /etc/os-release 
  PRETTY_NAME="Kali GNU/Linux Rolling"
  NAME="Kali GNU/Linux"
  ID=kali
  VERSION="2021.1"
  VERSION_ID="2021.1"
  VERSION_CODENAME="kali-rolling"
  ID_LIKE=debian
  ANSI_COLOR="1;31"
  HOME_URL="https://www.kali.org/"
  SUPPORT_URL="https://forums.kali.org/"
  BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.kali.org/"

And the container is ready to use.

== Tips ==

=== Get all packages ===

If you'd like to install all the Kali packages you can increase the size of the container rootfs and install <code>kali-linux-everything</code> package (about 20G of extra space is needed at the time of writing)

  root@pve:~# pct resize 31337 rootfs +20G
  root@pve:~# pct enter 31337
  root@CT31337:~# apt install kali-linux-everything

This might take a while.
Let the installation finish and you should have all the Kali packages available on your container.

=== ZSH ===

Kali has a nice ZSH theme. You can set this up instead of the classic Debian shell.

  root@CT31337:~# apt install kali-defaults zsh zsh-syntax-highlighting zsh-autosuggestions
  root@CT31337:~# exit
  root@pve:~# pct enter 31337
  ┌──(root@CT31337)-[~]
  └─# 

== Troubleshooting ==

=== Slow SSH Login ===

If you experience delays when logging in with SSH after enabling the kali repositories, you can enable the "nesting" option for your container.

  root@pve:~# pct set 31337 -features nesting=1 
  root@pve:~# pct reboot 31337
[[Category:HOWTO]]