A molecular modeling workflow can stall before the first structure is opened: the installer runs, but the application cannot start correctly or its graphics features are unavailable. Often, the cause is not the molecular model—it is a mismatch between the workstation’s operating system, graphics support, drivers, or Linux libraries.
A few checks before installation can help you identify that mismatch early. They are especially useful when preparing a new workstation, setting up a teaching lab, or working inside a virtual machine.
Start with the graphics requirement
SAMSON requires a 64-bit operating system and a graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.1. Having a dedicated GPU is not, by itself, enough to confirm compatibility: the graphics driver and the OpenGL capabilities available to the application matter too. For NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, the documentation recommends using the latest drivers.
Before installing, check that the machine’s active graphics setup can provide OpenGL 4.1. If you are unsure which GPU or driver is in use, confirm that with the tools provided by your operating system or graphics vendor. This can catch a common source of confusion: a computer may contain capable graphics hardware while an outdated driver—or a different active graphics device—limits what applications can use.
If you are using a virtual machine
Virtual machines need particular attention. SAMSON’s required OpenGL features may not be available unless hardware GPU acceleration is enabled. If an installation appears successful but the application’s graphics do not work as expected, check the VM’s graphics configuration before assuming the molecular project or installation itself is at fault.
For shared machines and teaching labs, test the graphics path on a representative workstation before deploying broadly. A successful test on one computer does not necessarily confirm that every machine has the same GPU, driver, or virtualized graphics setup.
Confirm that your operating system is in the support list
- Windows: Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Linux: Ubuntu 22.04 and newer, Fedora 42 and newer, CentOS, and other similar Linux operating systems.
- macOS: Tahoe (26), Sequoia (15), Sonoma (14), Ventura (13), and Monterey (12), on Intel and Apple Silicon.
Older platforms may work, but they are outside the currently tested support matrix. If you are preparing a workstation for a project or course, using a listed operating system helps reduce uncertainty when diagnosing an installation problem.
Linux: check for commonly needed libraries
On Linux, the installer or application may need additional system libraries. The documentation lists these examples for Ubuntu-like systems:
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sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0 libatomic1 |
For CentOS-like systems, it lists:
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sudo dnf install xcb-util* |
These are potential dependencies, not a claim that every Linux system will need them. If OpenGL libraries are missing or incorrectly configured, consult the Linux OpenGL driver installation guidance.
A quick pre-install checklist
- Confirm that the operating system is 64-bit and check whether its version appears in the supported list.
- Verify OpenGL 4.1 support and update NVIDIA or AMD drivers when applicable.
- If working in a virtual machine, enable hardware GPU acceleration.
- On Linux, check for any relevant libraries if SAMSON does not launch as expected.
- For a lab or shared deployment, test a representative machine before rolling out to everyone.
SAMSON installs in the user’s home directory and does not require administrator rights to install the application. That is separate from installing Linux system packages, for which your system may require the appropriate permissions.
For the full platform requirements and related setup guidance, see the SAMSON requirements and platforms documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.