Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PAE High Memory in Backtrack Linux

PAE High Memory in Backtrack Linux

Here is a step by step guide to enabling the high memory kernel module in backtrack Linux.
This is what you need if you want to utilize the wasted memory while running in your favorite Penetration Testing Distribution!
We all want to get as much power out of our operating systems as possible and that goes double for penetration testers.
Use this simple tweak to enable an extra Virtual Machine or some much needed password cracking.

Enable PAE in Backtrack

########################################################################
#Upgrade BT4-R2 Kernel with PAE High Memory 64GB
#Caution! Upgrading the kernel can cause fatal problems.
#The backtrack developers have reasons to exclude modules
########################################################################
#It is recommended that only the brave attempt the following.
#It is a very simple kernel mod that allows the utilization of more memory
#under my favorite security testing distro.
#Things can and do go wrong but if your looking for this kind of tweak you
#are willing to get your hands dirty. I will walk you through updating the kernel
#for both a live distro and your personal iso. The iso can then be modified to
#include the tools you personally require and install.
#I use the iso update method to make several kernel tweaks and add all of my
#favorite missing software and you can do the same! Happy hacking!
################Upgrading from Backtrack 4 R2##########################
#
# 01. apt-get install linux-source-2.6.35.8
#
# 02. cd /usr/src
#
# 03. tar xvjf linux-source-2.6.35.8.tar.bz2
#
# 04. rm linux
#
# 05. ln -s linux-source-2.6.35.8 linux
#
# 06. cd /usr/src/linux
#
# 07. cp /boot/config-2.6.35.8 .config
#
# 08. make menuconfig
# In the menu Choose Processor type and features -> High Memory Support (4GB) -> 64GB
# and then choose exit and save the changes.
#
# 09. make
# Be patient this can take a long time.
#
# 10. make modules
#
# 11. make modules_install
#
# 12. make scripts && make prepare
#
# 13. mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35.8 2.6.35.8
#
# 14. cp /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.35.8/arch/x86/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35.8
#
# 15. cp /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.35.8/System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.35.8
#
# 16. ln -s /usr/src/linux /lib/modules/2.6.35.8/build
#
# 17. Update your menu.lst
#
# 18. reboot
#
# 19. fix-splash
############[Upgrading the Backtrack 4 R2 ISO]#########################
#
# 01. mkdir /root/BUILD/
#
#
# 02. cd /root/BUILD/
#
# 03. copy your iso to the build directory.
#
# 04. wget offsec.com/bt4-customise.sh
#
# 05. sed ‘s/bt4-pre-final/bt4-r2/g’ bt4-customise.sh >mod
#
# 06. mv mod bt4-customise.sh
#
# 07. chmod 755 bt4-customise.sh
#
# 08. ./bt4-customise.sh
#
# Once inside the chroot environment we can modify the kernel and other tools.
#
# 01. cd /usr/src/linux
#
# 02. cp /boot/config-2.6.35.8 .config
#
# 03. make menuconfig
# In the menu Choose Processor type and features -> High Memory Support (4GB)->64GB
# and then choose exit and save the changes.
#
# 04. make
# Be patient this can take a long time.
#
# 05. make modules
#
# 06. make modules_install
#
# 07. make scripts && make prepare
#
# 08. mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35.8 2.6.35.8
#
# 09. cp /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.35.8/arch/x86/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35.8
#
# 10. cp /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.35.8/System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.35.8
#
# 11. ln -s /usr/src/linux /lib/modules/2.6.35.8/build
#
# 12. install addition packages
#
# 13. apt-get update && dist-upgrade
#
# 14. apt-get clean
#
# 15. history -c
#
# 16. exit
###############################################################
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