OSCP+ Lab Requirements: What Computer You Need to Practice at Home

    Practicing for the OSCP+ (OSCP Plus) asks two very different things of your computer. Here's what OffSec's labs and the exam need, what a local Active Directory lab needs, and how to practice on a weaker machine or a Mac.

    By Hacker Blueprint··Updated ·8 min read

    The short answer

    For OffSec's labs and the OSCP+™ (OSCP Plus) exam, almost any modern computer will do. You run one Kali Linux VM and connect over VPN to targets on OffSec's network, so your machine only has to run Kali.

    Running an Active Directory lab at home is the demanding part. A three-machine domain plus Kali means four VMs on one computer, and for that our labs page asks for 8 GB of RAM minimum, 16 GB or more recommended, on a Windows or Linux PC with an Intel or AMD processor, or an older Intel Mac. Add hardware virtualization switched on, an SSD with room to spare, and VirtualBox.

    Two jobs with very different loads

    Attacking OffSec's labs, or sitting the exam. OffSec's connectivity guide says PEN-200 needs the VPN to reach its full range of lab machines, and the exam guide says your exam connection is made with Kali Linux using OpenVPN. That's light work. Kali's documentation says a default desktop install should aim for at least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space. For the exam computer itself, OffSec's proctoring requirements list a 64-bit dual-core processor at 2.2 GHz per core, recommend 8 GB of RAM, and require a webcam. Our OSCP+ proctoring guide lists the rest of the exam-day setup, from supported host systems to upload speed.

    Running a local Active Directory domain. Now the targets live on your computer too. Each of our chains is three VMs, two Windows clients and a domain controller, attacked from your Kali VM. That's four operating systems sharing one machine's memory, processor and disk, and a home-built AD lab of the same shape needs at least as much. The AD set is the biggest single block of points on the exam, so this is the setup worth sizing up.

    What you need OffSec's labs and the exam A local AD chain plus Kali
    RAM 2 GB or more for Kali, 8 GB recommended for the exam computer 8 GB minimum, 16 GB or more recommended
    Processor 64-bit dual core at 2.2 GHz per core for the exam Intel or AMD, with VT-x or AMD-V switched on
    Disk 20 GB for a default Kali install An SSD with room for four VMs and their snapshots
    Software Kali Linux and OpenVPN VirtualBox, or VMware from Chain_07
    Apple Silicon Mac Kali's ARM64 build Doesn't run

    How much RAM you need for OSCP labs

    Memory runs out first, and it decides how many VMs you can run. Each running VM holds the RAM you assign it, and your host system, browser and notes need their share on top. VirtualBox's manual tells you to always leave the host enough RAM, because once it runs short, the system swaps memory to disk and everything crawls.

    At 8 GB, a full chain and Kali fit with little to spare. At 16 GB, all four run side by side with room to breathe.

    Building the domain yourself? Plan from Microsoft's minimums. Windows Server 2025 needs 2 GB of RAM, with 4 GB recommended for the desktop version, and Windows 11 needs 4 GB. A domain controller, two Windows 11 clients and Kali at 2 GB add up to 12 GB before your host takes its share, so plan on 16 GB or more for that build.

    What you have What you can run
    Less than 8 GB of RAM Kali on its own, for OffSec's labs over VPN. Below the minimum for our chains, and OffSec recommends 8 GB for the exam computer
    8 GB of RAM A full three-VM chain plus Kali, the minimum on our labs page. Close everything else and follow the setup video's tips
    16 GB of RAM A full chain plus Kali running comfortably, the amount our labs page recommends
    32 GB of RAM More than our chains ask for, with headroom for a bigger lab of your own

    CPU: Intel or AMD, with virtualization switched on

    Processor type matters more than speed. Our chains are Windows VMs built for Intel and AMD processors, so they run on almost any Windows or Linux PC, plus older Intel Macs. VirtualBox's current manual lists Intel Macs on macOS 13 (Ventura) and newer as supported hosts.

    They won't run on Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and newer) or the rare Windows laptops with a Snapdragon processor. Both use Arm chips, and VirtualBox's manual is blunt: "Running an x86-based guest operating system on an Arm host platform is not supported."

    The second requirement is a setting. VirtualBox says its 64-bit guests and multi-core VMs both need hardware virtualization, which Intel calls VT-x and AMD calls AMD-V. Nearly every modern Intel and AMD processor has it, but on many computers you have to enable it in the BIOS or UEFI settings first.

    On Windows, if your VMs feel sluggish, check if Hyper-V is on. VirtualBox lists sharing a host with it as a known cause of poor performance, and its known issues page names the Windows features to turn off. Some of them protect your host, so on a work or school laptop, ask your IT team first.

    Disk: an SSD, with room for snapshots

    Keep the VMs on an SSD if you can. Four operating systems reading from one spinning hard disk at once is slow going.

    Leave plenty of free space too. Importing unpacks each OVA file into its own virtual disk, so for a while you're storing both, and every snapshot writes later changes to a separate file that grows as you work. VirtualBox's manual says to make sure your VM folder has enough free space, especially if you use snapshots, so check how big each chain download is and leave generous headroom. If you build your own lab, Microsoft sets the minimum disk at 32 GB for Windows Server and 64 GB for Windows 11, for each machine.

    VirtualBox, one internal network, and a snapshot first

    Chain_01 through Chain_06 run on VirtualBox, and official VMware support starts at Chain_07. Import the three OVA files and put all three machines on the same internal network, which only the VMs attached to it can see. That keeps a deliberately vulnerable domain off your home network, and the setup video walks you through it.

    Before your first attempt, snapshot every machine. The chains run fully offline, so one download gives you as many clean resets as you want. Our free OSCP labs guide shows how to use them for exam-style practice, and the Chain_01 writeup covers the chain to start with. New to VMs? Our free academy has a beginner path on virtual machines and Linux.

    If your machine falls short

    • Make 8 GB go further. Close the host browser and anything else heavy while the domain runs, and follow the setup video's tips. On a lab you build yourself, start with a domain controller and one client.
    • Use hosted labs for the Kali side. OffSec's labs and other hosted platforms only ask your computer to run Kali, so a modest laptop covers that half of your prep.
    • On an Apple Silicon Mac, split the work. OffSec's Kali article points Apple Silicon users to the ARM64 build of Kali, noting the different architecture can occasionally cause issues. Our chains won't run there, so borrow an Intel or AMD PC for them. Our guide to the OSCP on a Mac covers the full setup.
    • Watch the chains you can't run yet. Our OSCP Practice Labs playlist works through our chains part by part and plays on any device.

    FAQ

    How much RAM do I need for OSCP labs?

    For OffSec's labs, enough to run Kali, which its documentation puts at 2 GB or more for the default desktop. For a local Active Directory lab like our chains, our labs page lists 8 GB minimum and 16 GB or more recommended. A domain you build yourself on Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11 needs about 12 GB for the VMs alone, going by Microsoft's minimums.

    Can you run OSCP labs on a laptop?

    Yes. A Windows or Linux laptop with an Intel or AMD processor and virtualization switched on can run Kali for OffSec's labs. For our local AD chains, it needs at least 8 GB of RAM, and 16 GB or more is recommended.

    What are the minimum specs for the OSCP exam?

    OffSec's proctored exam requirements list a 64-bit dual-core processor at 2.2 GHz per core, recommend 8 GB of RAM, and require a webcam. On exam day you connect from Kali to the exam network with OpenVPN.

    Can I run Active Directory labs on an Apple Silicon Mac?

    Our chains won't run there. They're x86 Windows VMs, and VirtualBox doesn't support x86 guests on Arm hosts like M1 and newer Macs. Kali has an ARM64 build, so OffSec's labs are still an option.

    Which hypervisor do the free chains use?

    VirtualBox. Chain_01 through Chain_06 run on VirtualBox only, and from Chain_07 onward the chains support VMware as well.

    Set up your first chain

    Check your RAM and processor against the labs page, switch on virtualization, download Chain_01 and snapshot all three machines before you start.

    One of our students, Bl!zzarD, wrote: "I'm happy to share that I have successfully passed my OSCP! I found his course extremely valuable." (More reviews)

    Try our 30+ hour course for OSCP® prep with a free trial, or check your specs and start with one of our free Active Directory chains.

    Stuck on setup? Ask in the Hacker Blueprint Discord.

    Sources

    OffSec's help center pages checked on October 29, 2026. All other pages checked on November 3, 2026.

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