A Step-by-Step Guide on Checking the Current Version of your Raspberry Pi Kali Linux Desktop

Learn how to check the version of your Raspberry Pi’s Kali Linux desktop and update it if needed. This guide will show you the commands required to identify the current installed version, compare it w …


Updated August 8, 2023

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Learn how to check the version of your Raspberry Pi’s Kali Linux desktop and update it if needed. This guide will show you the commands required to identify the current installed version, compare it with the latest available release, and update it if necessary.

Checking Your Raspberry Pi Kali Linux Desktop Version

If you have a Raspberry Pi running Kali Linux desktop and want to check its current version, follow these steps:

  1. Open a terminal window by clicking on the menu icon in the upper left corner of your screen, then navigate to “Accessories” > “Terminal.”

  2. Type uname -a and press enter. This command will display information about your operating system, including the kernel version, which should include the Kali Linux version number. For example:

Linux raspberrypi 5.10.63-v7+ #1438 SMP Tue May 17 21:09:14 BST 2022 armv7l GNU/Linux

In this case, the Kali Linux version is 5.10.63-v7.

Comparing Your Version with the Latest Release

To check if your installed version is up to date, you can visit the official Kali Linux website: https://www.kali.org/releases/. Here, you will find the latest release information and a list of available downloads.

  1. Scroll down to the “Kali Linux Images” section and click on the “Kali Linux Releases” link to see the most recent version number. At the time of writing, it is 2021.4.

Updating Your Raspberry Pi Kali Linux Desktop (if Needed)

If your installed version is not the latest release, you can update it by following these steps:

  1. Open a terminal window and type sudo apt update to ensure that your package list is up to date. Press enter and enter your password when prompted.

  2. Next, run sudo apt upgrade to install any available updates. This may take several minutes depending on the number of packages that need to be upgraded.

  3. Once the upgrade process is complete, type sudo apt dist-upgrade and press enter. This command will perform a distribution upgrade, which can include updating your Kali Linux desktop as well. Enter your password when prompted.

  4. Reboot your Raspberry Pi by typing sudo reboot and pressing enter. After the system reboots, check your Kali Linux version again using uname -a to confirm that it has been updated successfully.

And that’s it! You have now checked and (if necessary) updated your Raspberry Pi Kali Linux desktop version. Remember to keep your system up to date by regularly checking for new releases and applying any available updates. This will ensure that you have the latest security patches and features.