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Installing Backtrack 2 in VMware 6

Backtrack 2 is a live CD linux distribution designed for penetration testers. It is packed with hundreds of ready to use tools for security professionals, and is based on Slax (live CD Slackware).

This mini-tutorial will show you how to get Backtrack 2 up and running inside VMware Workstation, and installed to the HDD. This should work the same in both VMware Workstation 5 and 6.

1. Download the Backtrack 2 iso

http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download.html

2. Open VMware Workstation and create a new virtual machine

File > New > Virtual Machine

Click Next

Select Typical, then click Next.

Select Linux, then select Other 2.6.x Kernel from the pull down menu. Click Next.

Name your virtual machine Backtrack 2, or whatever you wish, then click next.

Choose Use bridged networking if you are on a network where you can acquire an IP address separate from your host operating system. If you’re on a home cable or DSL connection, you may only have one IP address, in which case you should choose Use network address translation (NAT). Read below for information on how this affects Backtrack!

Leave the default 8.0GB unless you think you may need more. You can select Allocate all disk space now if you’d like, but keep in mind it could take several minutes.

Click Finish

3. Edit virtual machine settings

Adjust the RAM depending on how much you want to allocate to the virtual machine. My Backtrack 2 installation seems to do fine with 512MB, and I have 2GB on the host machine.

Select CD-ROM

Select Use ISO Image, then browse to the Backtrack 2 ISO that you downloaded before. You don’t need to burn this ISO to a CD, one of the great features of VMware is that it can map an ISO file as if it were a physical CD-ROM drive. This works with DVD isos too!

Click OK

4. Start the virtual machine

5. Login with username root, password toor

Don’t worry, you can change this once you install Backtrack to the hard drive.

6. Partition and mount the hard drive

The virtual SCSI hard drive in VMware is usually /dev/sda. We need to partition this drive and create a filesystem on which Backtrack 2 can be installed.

We will use fdisk to create 2 partitions - one for the filesystem and one for swap space.

fdisk /dev/sda

Enter each line below into fdisk’s prompt:

n

p

1

<enter>

+7168M

n

p

2

<enter>

<enter>

w

This will create a 7GB partition for the filesystem and a 1GB swap space. If you want more space on the filesystem (or if you made your virtual disk larger than 8GB), you can change +7168M to another number (in megabytes).

Create an ext3 filesystem on the first partition:

mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda1

Create swap space on the other:

mkswap /dev/sda2

Mount the drive:

mkdir /mnt/backtrack

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/backtrack

7. Run startx to boot up KDE

8. Use the Backtrack installer

Start > System > Backtrack Installer

Leave the source blank

Install backtrack to: /mnt/backtrack

Write MBR to: /dev/sda

Select Real (2700 MB required) for the installation method

Click install. It could take awhile or hang at certain parts (seems to hang for awhile at 81% on my machine).

9. Have fun

Restart the virtual machine, and you’re ready to start using Backtrack 2 in VMWare!

More about running Backtrack in VMware:

I have found that you can do just about anything with Backtrack in VMware that you can running natively, with the exception of wireless. That’s right, wireless isn’t going to work through VMware (that means both 802.11 and Bluetooth). As far as I know, VMware doesn’t attempt to virtualize wireless hardware, and even if it did, most of the wireless pen testing tools require special drivers that would need to be much closer to the hardware.

Keep in mind that to get reliable and accurate results, you will probably want to be running networking in Bridged mode for your virtual machine - assuming you can get a separate IP from the host OS. I have not had good results trying to run things like nmap through VMware’s NAT. The general rule for scanning is you want to be as close to the physical wire as possible. That means anything between a scanning tool and the target could potentially alter the packets that are being sent and received. Routers, firewalls, software NATs, host-based firewalls, etc. can affect the scan results or make them completely inaccurate.

42 Responses to “Installing Backtrack 2 in VMware 6”

  1. very nice. thanks.

    y_o_u - August 28th, 2007 at 1:31 am

  2. Thanks for the nice tutorial

    It was really helpful for me

    bandar.s - August 28th, 2007 at 5:04 am

  3. Thank you fort this very good tutorial

    Dasse - August 29th, 2007 at 3:28 am

  4. It looks like you can use wireless if its on usb. In VMware 6 click on VM>REMOVABLE DEVICES>USB Devices> and check your network card.
    Keep in mind that your virtual machine has to be running for you to select this option.

    mario - August 30th, 2007 at 10:27 pm

  5. thanks a lot !!!

    cool - August 31st, 2007 at 12:11 am

  6. Thanks… Yes, I have recently heard you can do 802.11 wireless (and possibly bluetooth) through USB devices. I will try this out with my new linksys wireless USB thingy and publish another tutorial, or update this one.

    Johann - August 31st, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  7. I’ve found that some installations, backtrack-installer forget to copy the vmlinuz this will cause failed or maybe blank screen on boot.

    Solution:
    After backtrack-installer done copied all files, do not forget to check if vmlinuz already copied to /mnt/backtrack/boot, if not go get from /boot on livecd and copy to /mnt/backtrack/boot. that’s all.

    t0m - September 3rd, 2007 at 3:49 am

  8. top class this works top marks dude keep up the good work

    h4x0r - September 5th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

  9. great tutorial.. those of you who dont like fdisk.. you can use cfdisk instead.. just type cfdisk at the prompt and then its all menu/option driven…

    Hizar - September 20th, 2007 at 9:41 pm

  10. Great tutorial. Has anyone got AIRCRACK to work this way with a USB wireless dongle? I am trying it now with no luck. It just sees the eth0 and not the RAUSB0. I need to figure out how to switch it over, In the boot sequence i saw that it gave rausb0 an ip.

    thanks!

    jeremy - September 28th, 2007 at 10:28 pm

  11. Fantastic. Just what I was looking for. Great job, man. =)

    Ronin1377 - October 5th, 2007 at 9:48 pm

  12. Awesome, KISS ( Keep it so simple) this is the way
    tks

    cimaster - October 6th, 2007 at 4:02 pm

  13. Hey guys ,
    Nice tutorial on Backtrak2 , anybody please explain me how to configure bluetooth and broadband internet connection as i am new to linux

    Anil - October 8th, 2007 at 10:18 am

  14. Realy awesome frnd thanks a lote realy saved my life, those using Vmware here is the vware tools link for backtrack 2

    http://www.offensive-security.com/downloads.php

    download and using Ultra ISO place it in backtrack 2 live CD under module.

    so it may get installed automatic.. so u may put less stress on ur self.. while working.. thnz

    dextor - October 12th, 2007 at 3:05 am

  15. Hi Guys,
    for me the wireless is working perfect without any problems.

    Junior - October 16th, 2007 at 4:57 am

  16. A ++++++++++plus

    h4x0r - October 20th, 2007 at 1:38 pm

  17. Thank you for this wonderful tutorial !!!

    Bobby - November 13th, 2007 at 2:27 pm

  18. i got the backtrack 2.iso on a cd
    i downloaded itfrom
    http://www.remote-exploit.org/backtrack_download.html
    it boots and everything & when i reach the bt login and password & i put bt login: root
    password:toor
    it says incorrect password..why is that please i need help ASAP. i need a fast solution…
    what can i do or how can i reset the basword?
    help plzz.
    btw, i am a great fan of yours;)

    Nicole - November 20th, 2007 at 10:13 am

  19. CAN i use knoppix 3.7 or 3.8 or Mandrake Move instead of back track 2 and do the same effect?
    using same commands of back track will i get the passwords of a wireless router nearby my laptop/pc????
    please reply back to my mail as soon as possibly….
    Your help is very much appreciated.
    Truly,
    Nicole

    Nicole - November 20th, 2007 at 10:23 am

  20. Great tutorial got BT running in VM ware in no time. thnx. Shame my wireless just wont work as u said but read it would work via usb. thanx once again.

    Eddie - November 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 am

  21. Lol u did not make this tutorial… I’ts on the remote-exploit forum

    loool - February 10th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

  22. I believe you are mistaken, my friend. I seem to remember writing every word of the above tutorial, while performing an installation myself.

    Johann - February 10th, 2008 at 2:27 pm

  23. [...] Link: http://baseunderattack.com/2007/08/13/installing-backtrack-2-in-vmware-6/ [...]

    Installing BackTrack2 in VMware 6 | ..::GeniusTouch::.. - February 21st, 2008 at 3:55 am

  24. My Dears, I have problem that my internet does not get connected with NAT and also with Bridge . Tell me which IP addresses should I assign inside the backtrack IP Address setting as also in VM ware Connection icon on host computer . Please guide me .

    Maqsood - February 25th, 2008 at 3:40 am

  25. Is your host machine able to connect to the internet? Backtrack should use DHCP to get an IP address by default - whether you are using NAT or Bridged mode. If you are using bridged mode but only have one IP address available via DHCP, you won’t be able to connect. This is often the case with dsl or cable connections at home.

    Johann - February 25th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

  26. 1.000.000 THX!!!:)

    M0Rph3U5 - March 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm

  27. Great tutorial!
    Im gone use it with virtualbox though :P Cause i think the wireless cards work there !

    Martin - March 7th, 2008 at 9:52 am

  28. Great help thank you, about the WIRELESS all you have to do is have VM v.6 or greater and just plug in the wireless USB devices after boot for a smooth adaptation. I have been successful in using bluetooth and 802.11

    lilshad4th - March 9th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

  29. nice tutorial. but you forgot to mention, that the virtual disk has to be set up as an IDE device, because backtrack won’t mount SCSI.

    Rhodeni - March 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

  30. ok i got everything install thanks to the great tutorial. But, how do i get aircrack to work on backtrack ??? just e-mail me plz….thanks

    ace - March 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am

  31. Do not try to split VMWare files into 2 GB chunks, as Backtrack will not be able to allocate more than 2 GBs and therefore cannot install Backtrack. Unfortunately the installer does not state, that something went wrong, but the image is not bootable.

    Cheers David

    David - April 6th, 2008 at 10:31 am

  32. hi
    i have strange problem.
    i left the default 8gb space when creating vm but now when i try to create primary partition in bt i am only limited to 900kb????
    in settings of my bt2 vm it shows the 8gb but says currently using 900kb?????

    ufo973 - April 9th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

  33. Hi. nice work dude.. well i had installed BT 3.0 by same process but after success full installation Bt wont work.. even i had check /mnt/backtrack/boot and also copies the missing files to it from /boot

    but seems some thing is fishy…. any body can write about it..

    i have vmware 5.0 and BT 3.0

    Acekilller - April 13th, 2008 at 1:24 am

  34. I am working out to use BT in VMware virtual machine. I wonder anybody can successfully using usb wireless device and tuned into monitor mode or using aircrack-ng.

    Many thanks.

    BT_Fans - April 14th, 2008 at 6:51 am

  35. For anyone installing DVL Damn vulnerable linux, this works perfectly except yo need to allocate at least 6GB. So don’t be cheap like I was and try to install it on only 3GBs. Also I used 2.4 kernel because DVL is half based off damn small linux DSL.

    harrizle - April 21st, 2008 at 3:21 am

  36. great tutorial!!
    I’m using bt2 to test my whole network under VMware, does somebody can show me a tutorial about how to send attacks? thx

    Jamel - June 2nd, 2008 at 1:45 am

  37. i tried to create the partition HOWEVER the max it can input is 1044 cylinder units. You mentioned to put down around 7000M but how do u do that? Can you please elaborate on this partition creation section?

    backtracker - June 4th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

  38. Haven’t tested it yet, but if it works i’m gonna use it fearlessly. What can a man do to you to make you so scared? Considering that life is given without choice and it’s too short - I don’t think anyone deserves a copyright for anything… let alone to block other people’s freedoms and inventions.

    Kaosa - August 8th, 2008 at 10:17 am

  39. Great work!, tested and working under backtrack 3.

    Thanks a lot

    loki - September 2nd, 2008 at 12:05 pm

  40. I ran backtrack 3.0 on Vmware 6.0 .. Nmap results aren’t too good on windows.. As well the results are quite different as I get from Nmap on Backtrack .. It seems that backtrack ( and other tools ) work with more reliable results as they are closer to the machine .. So I feel running backtrack on my HDD rather than VMware .. the only downside would be I won’t be able to switch 0/S as easily as now :(

    Vinox - September 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

  41. Hi, thanks a lot for your help. I followed the same steps to intall BT3 on VMWare and it worked fine.
    Just one question. Has any of you tried to boot the live cd directly in a Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757? Because in my case after saying “loading vmlinuz” it hangs on a black screen and doesn’t boot. Any ideas? Thanks.

    Karina - November 30th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

  42. Is there anything I can do in order for my wireless connection to work with BT on VMWare?. Am thinking of getting a separate USB wirelss Adapter.

    Tunde - January 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am

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