This project documents my first hands-on virtualization and Linux networking lab using VMware Workstation Pro, Ubuntu Desktop, Kali Linux, NAT networking, snapshots, troubleshooting, and Markdown documentation.
The goal of this lab was to build a clean beginner-friendly environment that supports future learning in Linux, networking, IT support, cloud, cybersecurity, and defensive security concepts.
This project is intentionally beginner-level and honest. It does not claim professional cybersecurity experience or offensive security work. It demonstrates foundational technical skills, documentation habits, troubleshooting, and safe lab practices.
- Install and organize a local virtualization lab on Windows 11 Pro.
- Create a clean folder structure for ISOs, VM files, screenshots, documentation, exports, and GitHub write-ups.
- Install and update an Ubuntu Linux VM.
- Import and stabilize a Kali Linux VM using the official Kali VMware image.
- Confirm both VMs use VMware NAT networking.
- Identify hostnames, network interfaces, IP addresses, and default routes.
- Test basic VM-to-VM connectivity using
ping. - Document the process with screenshots and a Markdown lab journal.
- Prepare a sanitized GitHub portfolio project suitable for resume and internship discussions.
- Windows 11 Pro host system
- VMware Workstation Pro
- Ubuntu Desktop
- Kali Linux
- VMware NAT networking
- Linux terminal commands
- Markdown documentation
- GitHub
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Host OS | Windows 11 Pro |
| Hypervisor | VMware Workstation Pro |
| Ubuntu VM | Ubuntu-Lab-01 |
| Kali VM | Kali-Lab-01 |
| Ubuntu RAM | 4 GB |
| Kali RAM | 3 GB |
| Ubuntu Network Mode | NAT |
| Kali Network Mode | NAT |
| Ubuntu Interface | ens33 |
| Kali Interface | eth0 |
| Ubuntu IP | 192.168.71.128/24 |
| Kali IP | 192.168.71.130/24 |
| VMware NAT Gateway | 192.168.71.2 |
The lab was organized under a dedicated VM lab directory on a separate lab drive.
D:\VM-Labs\
D:\VM-Labs\ISOs\
D:\VM-Labs\VM-Images\
D:\VM-Labs\VirtualMachines\
D:\VM-Labs\Screenshots\
D:\VM-Labs\Documentation\
D:\VM-Labs\Exports\
D:\VM-Labs\GitHub-Writeups\
Screenshot:
Ubuntu Desktop was installed as the first Linux VM in the lab. After installation, the VM was updated, rebooted, verified, and snapshotted.
Key tasks completed:
- Installed Ubuntu Desktop in VMware Workstation Pro.
- Assigned 4 GB RAM, 2 CPU cores, and a 50 GB virtual disk.
- Configured the VM to use NAT networking.
- Set the hostname to
ubuntu-lab-01. - Verified network connectivity.
- Updated the system using
apt. - Created VMware snapshots for restore points.
Commands used:
hostnamectl
lsb_release -a
ip addr
ping -c 4 google.com
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt autoremove -yScreenshots:
Kali Linux was imported using the official prebuilt VMware image. The VM was configured, stabilized, updated, and snapshotted.
Key tasks completed:
- Downloaded and extracted the official Kali VMware image.
- Opened the Kali
.vmxfile in VMware Workstation Pro. - Adjusted VM resources for the host laptop.
- Confirmed NAT networking.
- Changed the default Kali password.
- Set the hostname to
kali-lab-01. - Updated
/etc/hoststo prevent hostname resolution warnings. - Updated Kali using the rolling-release upgrade process.
- Created stable and updated VMware snapshots.
Commands used:
passwd
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname kali-lab-01
sudo nano /etc/hosts
hostnamectl
ip addr
ping -c 4 google.com
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo apt autoremove -yScreenshots:
During the Kali setup, the VM booted successfully but the mouse cursor was invisible inside VMware. Mouse input worked, but the pointer could not be seen.
The issue was traced to the Kali VM using an older VMware virtual hardware compatibility level. Updating the VM hardware compatibility from an older Workstation setting to the newest available VMware Workstation compatibility option resolved the issue.
What I learned:
- Prebuilt VM images may use older compatibility settings for broad support.
- A VM can boot successfully while still having display or input integration problems.
- Troubleshooting should be documented before making unnecessary changes.
- A clean baseline snapshot should only be created after the VM is stable.
After both VMs were installed and updated, I confirmed that Ubuntu and Kali were both using VMware NAT networking.
Commands used on both VMs:
hostnamectl --static
ip -br addr
ip routeUbuntu results:
Hostname: ubuntu-lab-01
Interface: ens33
IP address: 192.168.71.128/24
Default route: default via 192.168.71.2
Kali results:
Hostname: kali-lab-01
Interface: eth0
IP address: 192.168.71.130/24
Default route: default via 192.168.71.2
Screenshots:
I tested basic connectivity between the two local VMs using ping.
Kali to Ubuntu:
ping -c 4 192.168.71.128Ubuntu to Kali:
ping -c 4 192.168.71.130Both tests succeeded with 4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, and 0% packet loss.
Screenshots:
This lab helped me practice and understand:
- How to organize a virtualization lab professionally.
- How VMware NAT networking allows VMs to communicate through a private virtual network.
- The difference between a subnet address, host IP address, and default gateway.
- How to identify Linux hostnames, interfaces, IP addresses, and routes.
- How to test basic connectivity safely using
ping. - How to create restore points using VMware snapshots.
- How to troubleshoot VM compatibility issues.
- How to document hands-on technical work for a portfolio.
This lab was limited to my own local virtual machines. No public systems, employer systems, school systems, family devices, or third-party networks were scanned, attacked, or tested.
Kali Linux was used only as a local learning and defensive-awareness tool in a controlled virtual lab environment.
| Area | Screenshot |
|---|---|
| Setup | screenshots/setup/02-vm-labs-folder-structure.png |
| Ubuntu | screenshots/ubuntu/04-ubuntu-desktop-running.png |
| Ubuntu | screenshots/ubuntu/08-ubuntu-post-update-verification.png |
| Kali | screenshots/kali/10-kali-vm-settings.png |
| Kali | screenshots/kali/15-kali-cursor-fixed-after-hardware-compatibility.png |
| Kali | screenshots/kali/20-kali-updated-baseline-snapshot.png |
| Networking | screenshots/networking/21-nat-network-setting-confirmed.png |
| Networking | screenshots/networking/22-ubuntu-network-identity-and-route.png |
| Networking | screenshots/networking/23-kali-network-identity-and-route.png |
| Networking | screenshots/networking/24-kali-ping-to-ubuntu.png |
| Networking | screenshots/networking/25-ubuntu-ping-to-kali.png |
Future versions of this lab may include:
- Static IP addressing practice.
- SSH connectivity between Linux VMs.
- Basic firewall practice with
ufw. - Packet capture practice with Wireshark.
- Optional pfSense lab network segmentation.
- A separate cleaned lab journal in the
docsfolder.