In order to set your Kali Linux running on VirtualBox in fullscreen mode, you need Guest additions installed on the VM. In this tutorial, you will learn how to install VirtualBox guest additions on Kali Linux 2020.3. Apart from enabling the virtual machine to have a full screen view, guest additions offers many other features;
Mouse pointer integrationShared folders for easy sharing of files between the host and the guestEnsures better and accelerated video performance.Seamless windows integrationGeneric host/guest communication channels that enables you to control and manage guest execution.Provides Host-Guest time synchronization.Shared clipboard between host and guest vm.Automated logins.You can read more about these features on the VirtualBox User Manual.
Install VirtualBox Guest Additions on Kali LinuxThere are two ways in which you can install VirtualBox guest additions.
Via X11 guest utilities for package for VirtualBoxVia VirtualBox Guest Additions ImageInstall via x11 Guest Utilities packageX11 Guest Utilities package for VirtualBox are provided by the virtualbox-guest-x11 package. To install this package, you need to have the Kali Linux repositories installed.
Check if you Kali Linux repos installed;
grep -v '#' /etc/apt/sources.list | sort -udeb http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contribdeb-src http://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-free contribIf the command output is empty, run the command below to install Kali Linux rolling release repositories.
cat > /etc/apt/sources.list Auto-resize Guest display.
Install via Guest Additions ImageIf you want to take this long route, then you first need to insert the guest additions iso/image file into your Kali Linux 2020.3 virtual machine.
Insert the Guest Additions Image into the Kali Linux 2020.3 virtual machineGuest additions image can be inserted into a VirtualBox virtual machine manually via the VM menu or by installing the virtualbox-guest-additions-iso package.
Insert Guest Additions Image manuallyGuest additions image can be manually inserted into a vm via the VM virtualbox menu. Before the image can be inserted into the vm, you need to install required build tools, the Linux kernel headers and the support modules, if not already installed.
To verify if these build requirements have already been installed, run the command below;
sudo dpkg -l | grep -E "dkms|linux-headers-$(uname -r)|build-essential"ii build-essential 12.8 amd64 Informational list of build-essential packagesAs you can see, we only have the build-essential tools installed. The ii means that the package is installed. Install the missing packages;
cat > /etc/apt/sources.list Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image...Ensure that you have unallocated (empty) controller IDE from virtual machine storage settings to insert the image.
Once you insert the image, a dialog box which prompts you to run or cancel the Guest Additions installer is launched. You can click run or simply cancel and do the installation of VirtualBox guest additions on Kali Linux 2020.3 from the command line;
If no dialog is launch upon Guest addition image insertion, simply double click the image icon the desktop to mount it.
Insert Guest additions Image by installing itYou can as well install the VirtualBox Guest additions iso/image file from Kali Linux repositories;
sudo apt install virtualbox-guest-additions-isoWhen installed, the VirtualBox Guest Additions ISO is now available as /usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso.
To install the Guest Additions ISO, you need to mount it.
sudo mount -o loop /usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso /media/cdromIf you used the manual method of inserting the guest additions iso, the image can be mounted on either, /media/{cdrom,cdrom0,cdrom1}. You can find the mount point using df -h command.
Next, run the Guest additions installer for Linux on Kali Linux 2020.3 VirtualBox vm. Replace the path to the Guest additions installer appropriately.
bash /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.runOnce the installation is done, restart the system to reload the kernel modules and apply the changes.
Kali Linux 2020.3 FullScreen on VirtualBoxYour Kali Linux 2020.3 should now be running in fullscreen. If upon system reboot the screen doesn’t auto-resize automatically, be sure to toggle (off/on, so to say) View -> Auto-resize Guest Display on the VM menu bar to set right VM resolution.
That is how easy it is install VirtualBox Guest Additions on Kali Linux and run it on full-screen. Enjoy
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