SYSTEM_PATH // General

Install on VirtualBox as a Guest OS // DOCS

KERNEL: 6.7.2-berserk
STATUS: STABLE
ENCRYPTION: AES-256-GCM

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing Berserk Arch Linux as a guest operating system in Oracle VirtualBox using the Calamares graphical installer, optimized for penetration testing and security research.


Prerequisites

Host System Requirements

  • VirtualBox Version: 7.0+ (latest recommended)
  • Host RAM: 8GB minimum (16GB+ recommended)
  • Available Storage: 60GB+ free space
  • CPU: Intel VT-x or AMD-V virtualization support
  • Host OS: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, or Linux kernel 4.0+

Download Requirements

  • Berserk Arch ISO file (with Calamares installer)
  • VirtualBox Extension Pack (for enhanced features)

Virtual Machine Creation

Step 1: Create New VM

  1. Launch VirtualBox Manager
    • Click “New” button

Create new vm

Step 2: Virtual Machine Configuration

  1. Name and Operating Sytem
    Name: BerserkArch
    Type: Linux
    Subtype: ArchLinux
    Version: Arch Linux (64-bit)

VM creation wizard with fields filled

  1. Unattended Install

    Leave this part as is, and click Hardware

  2. Hardware

    Base Memory: 8192 MB # for 8 GB use 4096 for 4 GB
    Processors: 4 # give as much as you can

    now click on Hard Disk next

Hardware Configuration

  1. Hard Disk

    Select create a virtual hard disk now

    Size: 60 GB # atleast give it this much

    now click on Finish

Hardware Configuration

Step 3: Start the VM

start the vm



Installation Process

Step 1: Boot from ISO

  1. Boot Menu Selection
    • Select “Boot Berserk Arch (x86_64)” and hit enter.
    • Wait for live environment to load

Boot Menu

Step 2: Live Environment

The system will boot into XFCE DE, for the password use liveuser:liveuser

Pre-Installation Checks

  1. Display Resolution For setting up the correct display resolution,
    • Right click on the desktop
    • choose Settings > Display

Display settings

  1. Set the resolution
    • Now choose the correct resolution
    • Click on Apply
    • Then click keep the configuration

display resolution

Installation

Now everything is out-of-way, we can move straight to installation.

desktop

Here’s the installation guide, move on and install the system.