Kali Linux
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Visit| Fact | Kali Linux | Photon OS |
|---|---|---|
| License | Kali-specific infrastructure and integration code is released under GNU GPL v3, while individual packages can have separate licenses and some non-free packages exist. | The site says ISO and OVA images are distributed under the VMware Photon OS EULA and links to open source license information. |
| Purpose | Kali Linux is a Debian-based distribution for advanced penetration testing and security auditing. | Photon OS is an open source, security-hardened Linux appliance operating system built for cloud and edge applications. |
Kali Linux is aimed at experienced penetration testers and security specialists who are familiar with Linux. Its supported environments include computers, virtualized systems, cloud, containers, ARM devices, and Android through Kali NetHunter.
Photon OS suits developers and operators building container, Kubernetes, cloud, or edge environments on physical hardware, virtual machines, or public clouds. Its Raspberry Pi images also make it relevant to users deploying on that device.