How do I deploy Kali Linux (Web Terminal) on Railway?

You can deploy Kali Linux (Web Terminal) on Railway by clicking the "Deploy Now" button on this page. Railway will automatically set up all the necessary services and configurations for you.

What are the system requirements?

Railway handles all the infrastructure requirements. You only need a web browser to deploy and manage your application.

Is this template free to use?

Yes, this template is free to use within your existing Railway account.

Can I customize this template?

Yes, you can fully customize this template. After deployment, you will have full control of what you've deployed in your Railway project.

How do I get support for this template?

You can get support through our community forum: kali-linux-web-terminal-7b92229f, or click "Get template help" for this template for more assistance.

Deploy and Host Kali Linux (Web Terminal) on Railway

This template provides a one-click Kali Linux web terminal running on Railway, giving you instant browser-based access to the world’s most popular penetration testing distribution, without managing servers or SSH keys. Kali Linux is a Debian-based operating system built for penetration testing, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and security research.

About Hosting Kali Linux (Web Terminal)

Deploying Kali Linux (Web Terminal) on Railway uses the official kalilinux/kali-rolling Docker image in a lightweight, containerized environment. Railway handles orchestration, networking, and scaling, delivering a ready-to-use Kali Linux shell with minimal setup.

A persistent volume is mounted at /data to retain installed tools, scripts, configurations, and collected artifacts across redeployments and restarts. This provides an on-demand, cloud-hosted Kali Linux environment ideal for security testing, labs, and isolated experimentation.

Common Use Cases

Penetration testing and ethical hacking labs
Red team and blue team security exercises
Digital forensics and incident response testing
Running Kali security tools, scripts, and custom workflows
Learning and training in cybersecurity and offensive security

How Access Works

Access the Kali Linux shell directly from your browser
Secured with basic authentication
Powered by ttyd, providing a real interactive terminal
Fully compatible with Railway’s dynamic port routing

Dependencies for Kali Linux (Web Terminal) Hosting

Environment Variables

Configure the following variables in the Railway dashboard:

USERNAME Choose a username used to log in to the web-based terminal.
PASSWORD Choose a password used to log in to the web-based terminal.

Deployment Dependencies

Official Kali Linux Docker image: kalilinux/kali-rolling https://hub.docker.com/r/kalilinux/kali-rolling
SSH: Railway CLI for proxy access and diagnostics https://docs.railway.app/guides/cli#ssh

SSH Usage (Optional)

Prerequisites

Railway CLI installed on your local machine
Logged in with your Railway account using railway login

Usage

You can copy the exact command directly from the Railway dashboard:

Open your project in the Railway dashboard
Right-click the Kali Linux service
Select “Copy SSH Command”
Paste the command into your local terminal to connect

Why Deploy Kali Linux on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying Kali Linux (Web Terminal) on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.