Installing Nessus on BackTrack and Ubuntu Desktop

Step 1: Download from http://www.nessus.org and Install Nessus

Filename: Nessus-4.2.2-ubuntu810_i386.deb
Save in /tmp/ directory

Installing Nessus with Debian Package Manager

cd /tmp
dpkg -i Nessus-4.2.2-ubuntu810_i386.deb

Step 2: Add Nessus User

cd /opt/nessus/sbin
./nessus-adduser

Step 3: Register Nessus and Download All Plugins

Visit http://www.nessus.org/plugins/?view=homefeed
Register with your email address.
Open your email and get the registration/serial number.

cd /opt/nessus/bin
./nessus-fetch --register serial_number

Example:

./nessus-fetch --register 2B92-597B-2D44-C737-2309

Step 4: Launch Nessus Server and Apply All Plugins

cd /opt/nessus/sbin
./nessus-service

or

/etc/init.d/nessusd start

Step 5: Launch Nessus Client

https://localhost:8834/

Step 6: Update Plugins

cd /opt/nessus/sbin
./nessus-update-plugins

Nessus Plugins located at: /opt/nessus/lib/nessus/plugins