We need virtualization software to install and use Security Onion, 1
Kali Linux, and Metasploitable, so we will use virtual box for that purpose. 2
But let us first define virtualization. 3
So what is virtualization. 4
It is an abstraction layer using a hypervisor which is the virtualization software that hides the operating 5
systems from the underlying computer hardware and runs multiple VMs or virtual machines on a host or 6
physical machine so that they virtually share its resources. 7
And we have two types of hypervisors: type one or bare-metal which is loaded directly on the hardware 8
and then the VMs will be installed over that. 9
Examples include: VMware ESXI , and Microsoft Hyper-v. Type 2 hypervisor which is lorded over an operating 10
system that is running on the hardware. 11
So here we have an additional layer which is the host operating system. 12
And examples of these type is VMware workstation VMware Fusion which is used on Mac, and Oracle 13
VirtualBox. And as you guess type 1 hypervisor is better 14
in terms of performance and therefore it is usually used in data centers while type 2 is used usually 15
on desktops and laptops by individuals for testing and learning. And we have many types of virtualization: 16
We have for example server virtualization, desktop virtualization, network virtualization, such as virtual 17
routers, switches, and firewalls, and application virtualization, and so on. And the benefits of virtualization 18
include resources utilization, or optimization since it solves to the server under-utilization problem 19
so you can install multiple virtual servers on a single physical server instead of running one application 20
per physical server. That leads also to reduce the number of servers used which results in savings in 21
cost, power, cooling, and space. And this saving of power and cooling could be done also during operation 22
either manually based on utilization by moving machines between physical servers using VMotion for 23
example, or even automatically using the DRS or Distributed Resource Scheduler and DBM or Distributed 24
Power Management in VMware environments. 25
Another benefit is availability, so anything affects one VM does not affect other VMs on the same physical 26
server. And the DR or Disaster Recovery will be better since it can be faster and automated. And we 27
have also scalability. 28
For example virtual machines cloning, hot additions of CPU, and memory, and so on. Virtualization also 29
makes management easier because we have fewer physical servers, centralized management, and quick deployment. 30
So what is virtual box. 31
It is a free and open source virtualization software that is developed by Oracle Corporation after acquiring 32
Sun Microsystems, and it is a type 2 hypervisor, so it runs on a host operating system and not directly 33
on the hardware. 34
These host operating systems include: Linux, Mac OS, Windows, Solaris, and open Solaris. And the guest operating 35
systems include: Windows, Linux, BSD OS2 , Solaris and others. 36
So in this course we will be creating VMs where we will be asked first for essential information 37
such as the name of the VM, the type such as Microsoft Windows or Linux, and the version such as Windows 7 or 38
Ubuntu. 39
Also we have to specify the memory size for this VM. And then the hard disk. 40
So if we want to create a new virtual hard disk, 41
use an existing one, or not using one at all. 42
And if we selected to create a new hard disk then we will be asked to specify the type of that, which 43
can be VDI, VHD, or VMDK. 44
And if the size of the disk should be fixed or dynamically allocated. Then finally as you guess, we have 45
to specify the size of the disk. Then we can configure options such as networking, where we can enable 46
network adapters and specify how they will be attached to the network. 47
So we have the option of NAT for example which will allow VMs to only access the Internet, the NAT network 48
option which adds the possibility for the VMs to communicate with each other, the internal network option 49
which is like the NAT network, but does not allow accessing the internet, the host only option which 50
is like the internal network and adds the possibility to communicate with the host machine. 51
And finally the bridged option which allows for all types of communication. 52
And in our case because we want our adapter to sniff traffic or listen for all traffic, 53
even that does not destined to the VM, 54
we have to set the promiscuous option to allow VMs, or allow all. And we can also configure other things 55
such as: display, audio, serial ports, USB, and so on. So in this lecture I have given an introduction about 56
virtualization and the VirtualBox, and in the next lecture I will explain how to download and install 57
VirtualBox.