Achu Philemon Tabufor

Cybersecurity enthusiast building hands-on skills in threat detection, virtual labs, and network security.

Overview

This project outlines the step-by-step setup of my Kali Linux lab environment using VMware Workstation Pro. It serves as the foundation for running penetration testing tools and building a hands-on cybersecurity lab.

Objectives

  • Create an isolated lab for safe offensive/defensive tool testing
  • Set up Kali Linux with internet access and proper resource allocation
  • Enable snapshotting and secure network configurations

Tools Used

  • Kali Linux (VMware pre-built ISO)
  • VMware Workstation Pro

Setup Highlights

  • Downloaded the Kali for VMware ISO from Offensive Security
    Kali home screen

  • Loaded it directly into VMware Workstation—no manual installation required

  • VMware Tools preinstalled—full-screen and clipboard sharing worked out-of-the-box

  • Performed sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade to bring all tools and packages up to date

  • Updated the OS via terminal
    Terminal showing update command

  • Configured VM with custom specs (4GB RAM, NAT networking, etc.)
    VMware settings

  • Created a post-upgrade snapshot
    Snapshot confirmation

What I Learned

  • Networking tradeoffs: NAT vs Bridged for isolated testing
  • Snapshot management for safe experimentation
  • Optimizing VM performance for a smoother Kali experience

Next Steps

  • Install custom tools: Wireshark, Python libraries, and security scripts Applications menu showing Kali tools

  • Set up a target VM (e.g., Metasploitable or Windows 10)
  • Run basic enumeration and vulnerability scanning exercises

This setup marks the first milestone in building a fully operational lab environment. It’s the launchpad for future projects in threat detection, scripting, and log analysis.