Kali Linux 2.0 wireless network penetration testing is inseparable from good support for the network card chip. This article is written by the editor of Downcodes to introduce in detail several mainstream network card chips compatible with Kali Linux 2.0 and their advantages and disadvantages, including Atheros, Realtek, Ralink and Broadcom, and provides answers to some common questions, hoping to help readers make a better choice. and configure network cards to improve penetration testing efficiency.

Kali Linux 2.0, as a popular penetration testing Linux distribution, has critical support for network card chips, because wireless network penetration testing is an important part of penetration testing. The network card chips supported by Kali Linux 2.0 mainly include Atheros, Realtek, Ralink, and Broadcom. Among them, the Atheros chipset is recommended by many network security experts because of its good compatibility and stability.
Atheros chipsets are renowned in the world of penetration testing for their broad compatibility and outstanding performance. Atheros has specially launched several chips that are particularly friendly to penetration testing, such as AR9271, AR9280 and AR9285. These chips not only support monitoring mode and packet injection functions, but also can be automatically recognized in most Linux systems, greatly simplifying Configuration process.
Its main advantages include:
Highly compatible: Whether in Kali Linux or other Linux distributions, the Atheros chipset has a high recognition rate. Powerful features: Supports monitoring mode and packet injection, which are necessary for wireless network penetration testing.However, a small number of new models of Atheros chips may encounter driver problems in certain Linux versions, but in general, these problems can be solved through community support and various open source driver updates.
Some of Realtek's chips are also loved by the network security community, especially the RTL8187L and RTL8812AU. These two chips also support monitoring mode and packet injection, making them ideal for network security analysis and testing.
Realtek chipset features include:
Easy to obtain: Many affordable network cards on the market use Realtek chips. Strong support: For most Realtek chipsets, the community and manufacturers provide Linux drivers.Although some models may require additional steps during installation and configuration, Realtek provides documentation and online resources to help users overcome these difficulties.
Ralink is another popular chip brand in the field of wireless network security, especially the two chips RT3070 and RT5370, which perform well in Kali Linux 2.0. They support monitoring mode and packet injection, making them a good choice for penetration testing.
The main advantages of the Ralink chipset are:
Cost-Effectiveness: The network cards that Ralink is based on are relatively low-priced and suitable for penetration testing enthusiasts with a limited budget. Community support: For Ralink chips, there are a large number of online resources and community technical support to help solve technical problems.While individual models may encounter compatibility issues, Ralink's popularity in the cybersecurity world makes finding a solution relatively easy.
Broadcom chipset support in Kali Linux is also quite good, especially some of its models such as BCM4312, BCM4313 and BCM43224. Although these chips support monitor mode, packet injection may be difficult to achieve due to driver issues.
Broadcom chip features include:
Good performance: In supported models, Broadcom chips are able to provide stable network connection speeds. Driver support: Although some models may require manual driver installation, Broadcom provides comprehensive driver support for its products.When using Broadcom chips, it may take extra time to configure and debug, especially when it comes to monitoring mode and packet injection features being turned on.
In general, Kali Linux 2.0 provides good support for a variety of network card chips. Choosing the right chip and configuring it correctly is crucial for penetration testing and network security research. Atheros, Realtek, Ralink and Broadcom are all options worth considering, each with their own unique advantages and limitations. When choosing a network card, it is important to understand its compatibility, performance, and community support.
1. Which network card chips are compatible with Kali 2.0?
Kali 2.0 is a powerful penetration testing and security assessment operating system that supports a wide range of network card chips. Some common compatible network card chips include Atheros, Ralink, Realtek, and Intel. Of course, there are other chips that are compatible with Kali 2.0, but using these as examples will satisfy most users.
2. How to make sure my network card chip is compatible with Kali 2.0?
Determining that the network card chip is compatible with Kali 2.0 is very simple. You can enter the command "lspci" or "lsusb" in the terminal to list the devices connected to your computer. Then, search for your network card device in the output results. You can search the network card device model on the Internet to determine whether it is compatible with Kali 2.0. In addition, you can also look for the compatibility list on the official Kali website to determine whether your network card chip is officially supported.
3. If my network card chip is not compatible with Kali 2.0, are there any other solutions?
If your network card chip is not compatible with Kali 2.0, don't worry, there are other solutions to solve this problem. One solution is to use an external USB network card, as most USB network cards have good compatibility. Choose a well-regarded brand of USB network card and make sure it is compatible with Kali 2.0. Another solution is to use virtual machine technology, install Kali 2.0 in the virtual machine and bridge the physical network card device to the virtual machine through the network. This way, you can use the Kali system in the virtual machine to operate your physical network card device, even if it is not compatible with Kali 2.0.
Hope this article was helpful! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.