HOWTO : Dual Boot Kali Linux 1.0.6 on MacBook Air (Mid 2013) with rEFInd 0.7.7

A better method to dual boot Kali Linux on MacBook Air with rEFInd is here.


Pros :

(1) Simple to Use and Install
(2) Straight Forward
(3) Easy to Use and Install

Cons :

(1) No GRUB on Kali Linux
(2) Need to be coexist with Mac OSX
(3) Bootloader is situated in Mac OSX
(4) Need to Edit rEFInd configure file when the Kali Linux Kernel is upgraded
(5) The Mac OSX should not be whole disk encrypted
(6) The Kali Linux cannot be full disk encryption

Step 1 :

First of all, you are required to create a bootable USB pendrive for Kali Linux. Please refer to the Kali Linux Documentation for the procedure at here. I recommend to use 4GB (or larger) USB 2.0 pendrive.

Step 2 :

Boot up Macbook Air and resize the existing partition by adding one more partition with "Disk Utilities". After applied the change, you need to delete the partition that you just created (the partition without Mac OSX). Then leave it unformated.

Step 3 :

Go to rEFInd official site and download the binary zip file. Unzip the downloaded file.

cd Download/refind-bin-0.7.7/
sudo ./install.sh --alldrivers

Step 4 :

Insert the bootable Kali Linux USB pendrive and reboot the Macbook Air with long pressing the "Option" or (alt) key. Upon the boot menu is displayed, select the "Windows" icon to boot the Kali Linux.

Make sure you are connected to the internet by "Thunderbolt to Ethernet" or "PCi USB 3.0 Gagabit LAN Adapter UE-1000T-G3". If you want to connect to internet with wifi, you are required to install the wireless driver by following this guide.

Select "Install" or "Graphical Install". When going to the partition part, select "Install on the available free space". Do not select entire disk; otherwise, you will delete the Mac OSX partitions.

Follow the instruction on screen to install. When you are prompted to select where to install the GRUB, just skip it. GRUB is not required to install.

Then finish the install. Reboot and unplug the USB pendrive.

Step 5 :

Boot to Kali Linux via rEFInd Boot Manager menu. Find out the UUID of EXT4 partition. You can find it at /etc/fstab or "System Monitor". You are also required to write down the file names of /boot. After that, reboot to Mac OSX.

Step 6 :

Boot to Mac OSX via rEFInd Boot Manager menu. Go to the /EFI/refind.

cd /EFI/refind
sudo nano refind.conf

Append the following to the end of the file :



* replace the captioned UUID with your UUID; otherwise, it will not be booted up.

* where 'volume "3:"' is the forth partition that the Kali Linux root is situated.

Step 7 :

Reboot and you will see two Linux icons. The first one is detected automatically which has no optional kernel parameters. Select the second Linux icon which is labelled "Kali Linux". If you can boot to the Kali Linux. The setup is almost completed.

Step 8 :

Reboot to Mac OSX again. Go to the /EFI/refind/refind.conf.

Locate "scan_all_linux_kernels" and comment it out with "#" in the front of the line.

Step 9 :

Reboot to Kali Linux and configure the Kali Linux by following this guide and also this guide. Do not follow the "CUDA" part if you have no nVidia display card.

Step 10 :

After done the Step 9, you can reboot to Kali Linux by selecting the only Linux icon. Now, the setup is completed. Enjoy!

Remarks :

If the Kali Linux kernel is upgraded, you need to change the kernel version at the rEFInd config file.

The full disk encryption for Kali Linux and Mac OSX are not supported.

You may consider to add "noatime, nodiratime, discard" to the /etc/fstab.

That's all! See you.