Configuring the Package Manager apt from the Kali Linux Guide by OnWorks

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Configuring the Package Manager (apt)‌‌

In order to be able to install additional software, APT needs to be configured and told where to find Debian packages. In Kali, this step is mostly non-interactive as we force the mirror to be http.kali. org. You just have to confirm whether you want to use this mirror (Figure 4.15, “Use a Network Mirror?” [page 81]). If you don’t use it, you won’t be able to install supplementary packages with apt unless you configure a package repository later.

Figure 4.15 Use a Network Mirror?

If you want to use a local mirror instead of http.kali.org, you can pass its name on the kernel command line (at boot-time) with a syntax like this: mirror/http/hostname=my.own.mirror.

Finally, the program proposes to use an HTTP proxy as shown in Figure 4.16, “Use an HTTP Proxy” [page 82]. An HTTP proxy is a server that forwards HTTP requests for network users. It sometimes helps to speed up downloads by keeping a copy of files that have been transferred through it (we then speak of a caching proxy). In some cases, it is the only means of accessing an external web server; in such cases the installer will only be able to download the Debian packages if you properly fill in this field during installation. If you do not provide a proxy address, the installer will attempt to connect directly to the Internet.