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
  • 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?