The Radxa Zero has a quad core 1.8GHz, with 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. There are multiple eMMC versions available, we recommend at least 32GB.

By default, the Kali Linux Radxa Zero image contains the kali-linux-default metapackage similar to most other platforms. If you wish to install extra tools please refer to our metapackages page.

Kali does not provide pre-built images for download, but you can still generate one by cloning the Kali-ARM Build-Scripts repository on GitLab, and follow the README.md file’s instructions. The script to use is radxa-zero-emmc.sh.

Once the build script finishes running, you will have an img.xz file in the images directory where you ran the script from. At that point, the instructions are the same as if you had downloaded a pre-built image.

The easiest way to generate these images is from within a pre-existing Kali Linux environment.

The Radxa Zero requires entering maskrom mode in order to write the Kali Linux image to the eMMC.

To install Kali on your Radxa Zero (eMMC), follow these instructions:

Windows:

Linux (maskrom mode):

We will need to download a few files from Radxa’s website as well as install the Amlogic boot tool in order to write to the eMMC with the Radxa Zero in maskrom mode.

• radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin - automatically erases the eMMC, then presents the eMMC as a USB storage device.
• rz-udisk-loader.bin - expose the eMMC device as a USB Mass Storage device.

1. sudo apt update
2. sudo apt install python3-pip
3. sudo pip3 install pyamlboot
4. connect the Radxa Zero to the computer in maskrom mode

• Locate the USB boot button on the bottom of the Radxa Zero
• Press the button and while holding it down, plug the Radxa Zero in to the computer
• You can release the button when the power LED turns on

5. Verify that the computer sees the Radxa Zero in maskrom mode via lsusb

• lsusb

kali@kali:~$ lsusb | grep Amlogic
Bus 001 Device 048: ID 1b8e:c003 Amlogic, Inc. GX-CHIP

6. sudo boot-g12.py radxa-zero-erase-emmc.bin
7. Use the dd utility to image this file to the newly presented USB device (same process as making a Kali USB.

In our example, we assume the storage device is located at /dev/sdX. Do not simply copy these value, change this to the correct device path.

$ xzcat kali-linux-2024.2-radxa-zero-emmc-arm64.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progres

This process can take a while, depending on your PC, your Radxa Zero’s storage, and the size of the Kali Linux image.

Once the dd operation is complete, unplug the Radxa Zero from the computer, and boot up the Radxa Zero.

You should be able to log in to Kali.

Linux (sdcard boot, write to eMMC):

With this mode, we first boot the Radxa Zero from a microSD card, and simply use the dd utility to write an image to the eMMC.

1. Follow the Radxa Zero (sdcard) instructions
2. Connect the Radxa Zero to a wireless network
3. Copy the image file you want to use to the microSD card. Keep in mind that you will need enough free space on the microSD card
4. Use the dd utility to image this file to the eMMC device (same process as making a Kali USB.

In our example, we assume the storage device is located at /dev/mmcblk0. Do not simply copy these value, change this to the correct device path.

$ xzcat kali-linux-2024.2-radxa-zero-emmc-arm64.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=4M status=progres

This process can take a while, depending on your microSD card, your Radxa Zero’s storage, and the size of the Kali Linux image.

Once the dd operation is complete, power off the Radxa Zero, unplug the microSD card, and then boot up the Radxa Zero.

You should be able to log in to Kali.