Parrot OS places great emphasis on providing extensive security and penetration testing capabilities to end users. Even though most advanced users only use Kali Linux for their penetration testing needs, the reality is that Parrot OS is an equally efficient operating system that is useful as a privacy-focused distro.
Since Parrot OS is inspired by Debian, the Linux distribution continues to be easy for users to install. It inherits some smart features from its counterparts, including the APT Package Manager and a full suite of penetration and privacy testing tools.
To test Parrot OS, you can install the distribution on Oracle’s VirtualBox.
Prerequisites for installing Parrot OS
To install Parrot OS on VirtualBox, you must meet certain basic criteria. If VirtualBox is not installed on your system, you can download it from the official website.
To download: VirtualBox
You will also need to download the Parrot OS installation image from the distribution’s official website.
To download: Parrot OS ISO
Step 1: Creation of a virtual machine for Parrot OS
To configure the virtual environment, open VirtualBox and click on the New button. In the pop-up window that appears, specify the following details:
- Last name: A suitable name for the virtual environment
- Machine folder: This would be automatically populated based on the virtual machine name you specify. If you want to change the installation path, click on the drop-down menu and select Other to navigate to a path of your choice.
- Type: Select Linux from the drop-down menu
- Version: select Debian (64 bits) from the list of options
Set the memory size to 2048 MB on the next screen. You can increase the RAM size depending on your system specifications, but keep in mind that you should not allocate more than 50% of your host machine’s memory.
In the virtual hard disk screen, leave it at the default: Create virtual hard drive now.
Once you click on the To create button, another pop-up will appear asking you to specify the hard drive file type. Similar to before, leave it at the default option: VDI (VirtualBox disk image). Click on Following once done.
In the Storage on physical hard drive screen, select the default option: Dynamically assigned. Click on Following.
On the next screen, you will need to specify the location of the file and the size of the virtual machine. Modify the path according to your needs and set the size of the virtual hard disk to 20 GB. Click on To create to complete the setup process.
After configuration, you are ready to launch the newly created virtual machine by clicking on the virtual machine entry available in the left panel. The virtual machine will run some configuration protocols on the first run to get the environment up and running.
Once the environment is started, you need to configure the ISO image path by clicking on the folder icon in the lower right corner. Click on To add to set the image path.
Step 2: Install Parrot OS on the virtual machine
As the basic configurations are now complete, it is time to begin the installation process. You must follow the on-screen instructions to continue moving forward with the installation.
Click on Try / Install to start the installation of Parrot OS.
The live system will start and you will soon be on the desktop interface; the rest of the process will now begin.
On the desktop, click the Install Parrot icon. This will take you to the main installation interface, from where you can choose your preferred language, location, time zone, keyboard, user details, and much more.
On the home screen, you will be greeted with installation instructions. Choose the preferred language from the drop-down menu and click Following.
The next screen will present you with a world map so you can choose your location and time zone. Select the region and area from the drop-down menus or simply select the location on the map. hurry Enter, once done.
Select the keyboard layout for your virtual machine configuration and click Following proceed.
On the disk partitioning screen, you will have two options to choose from:
- Erase disk
- Manual partitioning
It is best to start from scratch, so choosing the first option will be beneficial. If you are an advanced user, you can go for the second option. If you select Erase disk, the installer will remove everything from the virtual hard disk.
In the second option, you can manually set the disk space configurations, according to your usage needs. While the first option will be automatically configured, you would have full control over the configuration, if you opt for the latter.
Click on Following, once you have decided on the disk allocation process.
Now is the time to define user details. Enter details as requested on the screen. You will need to define the username, login name, machine name and finally the login password. Click on Following Carry on.
Finally, the installer will present a summary of all your choices. If you are satisfied with the final selections, click To install. In the next prompt, click Install now.
Under no circumstances exit the installer until the installation is complete. Any interruption would negatively affect the configuration and possibly cause problems.
As soon as the installation is complete, the installer will ask you to restart the system. Select the Restart now option and click Do. The system will now restart; remove the installation media (ISO image) and press Enter.
After installation, you will be taken to the login screen where you can enter your username and password to log into the system.
That’s it; Parrot OS is ready to use.
Test Linux distributions on VirtualBox
The installation process of Parrot OS is quite simple and you can install it easily on VirtualBox. You don’t need to go through endless manual steps to complete the process on your virtual machine.
Whether you are a novice user or an experienced user, rest assured, you will be able to install Parrot OS on VirtualBox without hassle.
If you are interested in penetration testing and digital security, you will need to choose an operating system that specifically meets your needs. Kali Linux, Parrot OS, and BackBox are some of the well-known security-focused Linux distros that you should try.
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