Setup the Instrument Cluster Simulator (ICSIM) in Kali

  • Author: Dr. Jim Marquardson (jimarqua@nmu.edu)
  • Updated 2024-06-11

The Instrument Cluster Simulator (ICSim) is a tool for learning how to work with sensors and controllers. In this exercise, you will install ICSim and related tools.

Learning Objectives

In this exercise, you will:

  • update Kali Linux's software,
  • download source code from GitHub,
  • compile programs in Linux.

Prerequisites

To complete this exercise, you will need:

  • Kali Linux, and
  • internet access.

Update Software

  • Start your Kali VM.
  • Launch the terminal.
  • As you run the following commands, remember that Linux is case-sensitive. Many of the commands are lower-case, but there are some capital letters that must be typed exactly as written here.
  • Ensure that Kali has the latest list of available software. If prompted, enter the Kali password.
sudo apt update
  • If the apt update command fails, you may have an older installation of Kali. In that case, run the following command to update the key used to connect to the software repository.
sudo wget http://http.kali.org/kali/pool/main/k/kali-archive-keyring/kali-archive-keyring_2024.1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i kali-archive-keyring_2024.1_all.deb
sudo apt update
  • Install the software required by ICSim. Enter y when prompted if you want to install the software.
sudo apt install libsdl2-dev libsdl2-image-dev can-utils
  • Ensure that you are in your home directory.
cd ~
  • Download two different software repositories from GitHub--ICSim and the CAN Utils. These commands will create two new directories in your home directory. If you are prompted for a password, there is a typo in your command.
git clone https://github.com/zombieCraig/ICSim.git
git clone https://github.com/linux-can/can-utils
  • Navigate to the newly created can-utils directory.
cd can-utils

Note that your Kali prompt should look like:

--(kali@kali)-[~/can-utils]
  • Compile the program using the make command.
make
  • Install the can-utils program on the system.
sudo make install

At this point, can-utils is ready. Next, you will complete the ICSim setup.

  • Copy the necessary library (i.e., a package of code) to the ICSim directory.
cp lib.o ~/ICSim
  • Change directories to the ICSim directory in your home directory.
cd ~/ICSim

Note that your Kali prompt should look like:

--(kali@kali)-[~/ICSim]
  • Compile ICSim using make.
make clean
make

Verification

  • Run the following command to verify that can-utils is installed.
candump -?

You should see the help documentation.

(kali@kali)-[~/ICSim]
$ candump -?
candump - dump CAN bus traffic.

Usage: candump [options] <CAN interface>+
  (use CTRL-C to terminate candump)
  • Run the following to verify that ICSim is installed. Notice that the command starts with ./.
./icsim

(kali@kali)-[~/ICSim]
$ ./icsim   
You must specify at least one can device
Usage: icsim [options] <can>
        -r      randomize IDs
        -s      seed value
        -d      debug mode
        -m      model NAME  (Ex: -m bmw)

Note that because can-utils was installed on the system, its commands can be run from any directory. But, ICSim tools must be run in the ~/ICSim directory.

Challenge

  • Close the terminal.
  • Launch a new terminal.
  • Run candump -?. Note that you can now run candump in any working directory in your terminal.
  • Change directories to the ICSim directory.
  • Run icsim to show the documentation. Note that your working directory must be /home/kali/ICSim to run the icsim program.

Reflection

  • How does the software installation process here differ from other computers you've used?
  • What is compiling?
  • What are some different ways that programmers distribute their applications?