Install Alien in Kali Linux – Convert or install an alien Binary Package

In this article, we are going to learn how to install alien in Kali Linux. Alien – Convert or install an alien binary package. Alien is a program that converts between Red Hat rpm, Debian deb, Stampede slp, Slackware tgz, and Solaris pkg file formats. If you want to use a package from another linux distribution than the one you have installed on your system, you can use alien to convert it to your preferred package format and install it. It also supports LSB packages.

Install Alien in Kali Linux

Alien is a computer program that converts different Linux package distribution file formats to Debian. It supports conversion between Linux Standard Base, RPM, deb, Stampede (.slp) and Slackware (tgz) packages.

Update/upgrade Kali Linux

Now we have to update our Kali Linux packages index list. Open your favorite terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt update

If you want to display all packages which are scheduled for an update.

sudo apt list --upgradable

Now we can upgrade individual packages using sudo apt install PCKAGE_NAME or we can upgrade the whole system using

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Update Kali Linux

All done. Your Kali Linux system is now fully upgraded. Or you can use all in one command to update and upgrade your Kali Linux using this command.

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Install Alien

You may install alien with the command

sudo apt install alien

How Alien Work

OPTIONS

alien will convert all the files you pass into it into all the output types you specify.
If no output type is specified, it defaults to converting to deb format.

file [...]
The list of package files to convert.

-d, --to-deb
Make debian packages. This is the default.

-r, --to-rpm
Make rpm packages.

-t, --to-tgz
Make tgz packages.

--to-slp
Make slp packages.

-p, --to-pkg
Make Solaris pkg packages.

-i, --install
Automatically install each generated package, and remove the package file after it has
been installed.

-g, --generate
Generate a temporary directory suitable for building a package from, but do not
actually create the package. This is useful if you want to move files around in the
package before building it. The package can be built from this temporary directory by
running "debian/rules binary", if you were creating a Debian package, or by running
"rpmbuild -bb <packagename>.spec" if you were creating a Red Hat package.

-s, --single
Like -g, but do not generate the packagename.orig directory. This is only useful when
you are very low on disk space and are generating a debian package.

-c, --scripts
Try to convert the scripts that are meant to be run when the package is installed and
removed. Use this with caution, because these scripts might be designed to work on a
system unlike your own, and could cause problems. It is recommended that you examine
the scripts by hand and check to see what they do before using this option.

This is enabled by default when converting from lsb packages.

--patch=patch
Specify the patch to be used instead of automatically looking the patch up in
/var/lib/alien. This has no effect unless a debian package is being built.

--anypatch
Be less strict about which patch file is used, perhaps attempting to use a patch file
for an older version of the package. This is not guaranteed to always work; older
patches may not necessarily work with newer packages.

--nopatch
Do not use any patch files.

--description=desc
Specifiy a description for the package. This only has an effect when converting from
the tgz package format, which lacks descriptions.

--version=version
Specifiy a version for the package. This only has an effect when converting from the
tgz package format, which may lack version information.

Note that without an argument, this displays the version of alien instead.

-T, --test
Test the generated packages. Currently this is only supported for debian packages,
which, if lintian is installed, will be tested with lintian and lintian's output
displayed.

-k, --keep-version
By default, alien adds one to the minor version number of each package it converts. If
this option is given, alien will not do this.

--bump=number
Instead of incrementing the version number of the converted package by 1, increment it
by the given number.

--fixperms
Sanitize all file owners and permissions when building a deb. This may be useful if
the original package is a mess. On the other hand, it may break some things to mess
with their permissions and owners to the degree this does, so it defaults to off. This
can only be used when converting to debian packages.

--target=architecture
Force the architecture of the generated package to the given string.

-v, --verbose
Be verbose: Display each command alien runs in the process of converting a package.

--veryverbose
Be verbose as with --verbose, but also display the output of each command run. Some
commands may generate a lot of output.

-h, --help
Display a short usage summary.

-V, --version
Display the version of alien.

EXAMPLES

Here are some examples of the use of alien:

alien --to-deb package.rpm
Convert the package.rpm into a package.deb

alien --to-rpm package.deb
Convert the package.deb into a package.rpm

alien -i package.rpm
Convert the package.rpm into a package.deb (converting to a .deb package is default,
so you need not specify --to-deb), and install the generated package.

alien --to-deb --to-rpm --to-tgz --to-slp foo.deb bar.rpm baz.tgz
Creates 9 new packages. When it is done, foo bar and baz are available in all 4
package formats.

Important Things To Remember:

The author of this article does not promote any illegal activities It is just for education purpose All the activities provided in this article, YouTube channel, and on the website techdhee.org are only for educational purposes. If you are using and follow this tutorial for any illegal purpose, techdhee.org can not be responsible for your action. My purpose is to educate or share the information who have not, how to secure your self from the Internet, and the world of digital. Also, read the Disclaimer

Finally

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