Kali Linux – Terminal and Shell

Generally, operating systems have 2 interfaces GUI(Graphical User Interface) and CLI(Command Line Interface) and the same is the case with Linux Based Operating Systems. Linux Operating Systems are generally packed with terminal emulator packages for CLI based functioning and Desktop environment packages for GUI based functioning. Some common ones are listed below:

Read More: 101-500: Linux Administrator - 101 (LPIC-1 101)

Terminals:

◉ Qterminal

◉ gnome-terminal

◉ MATE terminal

◉ xterm

◉ Terminator

◉ konsole

Desktop Environments:

◉ Xfce/Xfce server Desktop

◉ GNOME3

◉ KDE plasma 5

◉ cinnamon Desktop

◉ MATE Desktop

So being one of the Linux based Operating Systems Kali comes packed with a few of these terminals and Desktop environments. By default, the terminal of Kali 2020.2 Linux is Qterminal and the Desktop environment is Xfce/Xfce server.

CLI(Command Line Interface) vs GUI(Graphical User Interface)

Now most of us think that when we have Graphical User Interface what is the need for Command Line Interface. Our hardware understands instructions in the form of bits(0 or 1), which are to be processed by the kernel in the form of system calls and those system calls are to be made by some code or some commands. So in order to work with them, it is necessary to have a good hands-on Command Line interface. And when we host a server over Linux, there we only have Command Line Interface without any GUI based environment. So in order to work there, we should have a good command on Linux commands which could be done with the help of Linux Terminals.

Though in many cases GUI is better still, if it is the case of Linux then the terminal and Command Line interface plays a vital role as Linux has many tools that are command based and have no GUI interface.

So concluding from this, it depends on what is the task which is to be performed. Sometimes a task could be performed easily with GUI while other times it could be performed with feasibility through terminal.

Terminals vs Shells

Many people confuse between a shell and a terminal emulator. They both are different. Linux based Operating Systems come pre-packed with some shells. In these shells, we need to input the commands, then these shells send these commands to the processor for processing, and then it returns back output to the terminal. Now, Terminal emulator packages allow us to input commands to shell and it reflects the output by the shell.

In simple words, the shell is a program that is responsible for the execution of an instruction and returning the output while the terminal is responsible to send instructions to the shell by taking input from the user and displaying the output of the instruction to the user.

Examples of shells:

◉ bash

◉ Borne

◉ cshell

◉ Korn

◉ POSIX

Working with Kali Linux Terminal

1. Customizing the terminal. In order to customize the kali Linux Terminal. Go to the File menu and select the preferences option. It has a lot of options to customize your terminal, customize the terminal as per your convenience.

2. Executing a command through terminal. To execute a command in the terminal, just enter a command there and provide the appropriate input, the terminal will execute the command through the shell and will return the output. Just type the following lines in the terminal.

echo "This is a terminal"

pwd

3. Using comments in terminal. To put a comment in the terminal we use “#” character. Following is the example of a comment.

#this is a comment.

Source: geeksforgeeks.org

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Difference between Kali Linux and Parrot OS

Kali Linux:

Kali Linux is an operating system used for penetration testing and digital forensics, with Linux at its core. It is developed according to Debian (a Linux distribution) standards. It was first released in March 2013 with the aim to be the replacement of the BackTrackOS.

Parrot OS:

Parrot OS is similar to Kali Linux, and is an open-source Debian-based operating system. It is used for cloud pentesting, computer forensics, hacking and privacy/anonymity. It was first released in April 2013.

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There are some similarities in these two operating systems:

◉ Both are useful for penetration testing.

◉ Both are developed on Debian standards.

◉ Both can support 32-bit and 64-bit architecture.

Let’s see the difference between Kali Linux and Parrot OS:

Kali Linux	Parrot OS
It needs more RAM, about 1 GB.	While it requires lesser RAM, about 320 MB.
In terms of GPU, it requires a graphical card, as it needs graphical acceleration.	While it does not need a graphical acceleration, hence no graphic card is needed.
It requires about 20 GB free space for installation.	While it requires about 16 GB free space for installation.
Its interface follows the Gnome desktop interface.	While its interface is built the Ubuntu-Matte-Desktop-Environment.
It does not have pre-installed compilers and IDEs.	While it comes pre-installed with a bunch of compilers and IDEs.
It has a simpler user interface.	While it has a much better user interface.
It has heavyweight requirements and is a bit laggy.	While it is very lightweight and doesn’t lag much.
It has all basic tools needed for hacking.	While it has all the tools that are available in Kali and also adds its own tools. Ex. AnonSurf, Wifiphisher, Airgeddon.

Source: geeksforgeeks.org

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Difference Between Ubuntu and Kali Linux

Ubuntu is a Linux based Operating System and belongs to the Debian family of Linux. As it is Linux based, so it is freely available for use and is open source. It was developed by a team “Canonical” lead by Mark Shuttleworth. The term “ubuntu” is derived from an African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. The Chinese version of Ubuntu is used for running the world’s fastest supercomputer. Google’s self-driving car uses the stripped version of ubuntu.

Difference between Ubuntu and Kali Linux

Ubuntu	Kali Linux
Developed by canonical.	Developed by Offensive Security.
Ubuntu was initially released on 20 October 2004.	Kali was initially released on 13 March 2013.
Ubuntu is used for daily use or on server.	Kali is used by security researchers or ethical hackers for security purposes
Latest version(2020.04) of ubuntu uses Gnome-terminal by default.	Latest version(2020.2) of kali uses qterminal by default.
Latest Ubuntu consists of the Gnome environment by default, though it allows you to change the same.	Latest Kali consists of the xfce environment by default, though it allows you to change the same.
Ubuntu doesn’t comes packed with hacking and penetration testing tools.	Kali comes packed with hacking and penetration testing tools.
Comes with a user friendly Interface	Comes with a less user friendly Interface as compared to ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a good option for beginners to Linux.	Kali Linux is a good option for those who are intermediate in Linux.
Latest Ubuntu live has the default username as root.	Latest Kali Linux has a default username as kali.
Latest Ubuntu live has the default password as (blank).	Latest Kali Linux has a default password as kali.

Source: geeksforgeeks.org

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Difference Between Arch Linux and Kali Linux

Arch Linux is an open-source Linux based Operating System that is freely available for use. It belongs to the Pacman based Linux family. It is a light weighted OS for daily use and could even be used by professionals. It was first released in March 2002. It is a beginner-friendly Linux Operating System.

Kali Linux is a Linux based open source Operating System which is freely available for use. It belongs to the Debian family of Linux. It was developed by “Offensive Security”. It was first released in March 2013 with the aim to be the replacement of the BackTrackOS. Kali comes packed with 100+ of penetration testing, security research, digital forensics, reverse engineering, and ethical hacking tools.

Difference between Arch Linux and Kali Linux

ARCH LINUX	KALI LINUX
Developed by Levente Polyak.	Developed by Offensive Security.
Arch was initially released in March 2002.	kali was initially released in March 2013.
Arch is light weight OS and used for daily purposes.	Kali is used by security researchers or ethical hackers for security purposes
The discussion forum for Arch is bbs.archlinux.org.	The discussion forum for Kali Linux is forums.kali.org.
Latest Arch consists of the Pantheon environment by default, though it allows you to change the same.	Latest Kali consists of the xfce environment by default, though it allows you to change the same.
Arch doesn’t comes packed with hacking and penetration testing tools.	Kali comes packed with hacking and penetration testing tools.
Arch comes with a user friendly Interface	Kali comes with a less user friendly Interface as compared to Arch.
Arch is a good option for beginners to Linux.	Kali Linux is a good option for those who are intermediate in Linux.

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