A SAMSON installation can appear to be the problem when the real obstacle is the workstation: an unsupported operating system, missing Linux libraries, or graphics drivers that do not provide the required OpenGL support. Finding that out after downloading the installer—or just before a lab session—is frustrating. A short preflight check can help you spot the likely blockers first.
Start with the graphics requirement
SAMSON requires a 64-bit operating system and a graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.1. For NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, use the latest available drivers. These are practical checks, not just hardware details: if OpenGL support is missing or incorrectly configured, the application may not have the graphics capabilities it needs.
If you are using a virtual machine, check its graphics configuration before troubleshooting SAMSON itself. Hardware GPU acceleration needs to be enabled; without it, required OpenGL features may not be available. If you are preparing a shared workstation or teaching lab, test the graphics path on a representative machine before installing across the whole room.
Check your operating system
The current support list includes Windows 11 and Windows 10; Ubuntu 22.04 and newer, Fedora 42 and newer, CentOS, and similar Linux systems; and macOS Tahoe (26), Sequoia (15), Sonoma (14), Ventura (13), and Monterey (12), on both Intel and Apple Silicon. Older platforms may work, but they are not part of the currently tested support matrix.
For a lab or team, compare the operating system on the actual computer with this list—not only the system on your own laptop. A centrally managed workstation can have different drivers, graphics hardware, or virtualization settings from a personal computer.
On Linux, check dependencies if the installer or app has trouble
Some Linux installations may need additional libraries. On Ubuntu-like systems, the documentation lists these packages:
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sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0 libatomic1 |
On CentOS-like systems, it lists:
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sudo dnf install xcb-util* |
These are possible dependencies, not a universal requirement for every machine. If OpenGL libraries are missing or incorrectly configured, consult the Linux OpenGL troubleshooting guidance rather than assuming that installing these packages alone will resolve a graphics issue.
Remember: administrator rights are not required
SAMSON installs in the user’s home directory and checks that it is not running in administrator mode. So if you are blocked by an admin-rights prompt, that may be a sign to check how the installer is being launched. You do not need to run it as an administrator to meet the documented installation requirements.
A quick pre-install checklist
- Is the operating system 64-bit and on the supported list?
- Does the graphics card support OpenGL 4.1?
- Are the latest NVIDIA or AMD drivers installed, when applicable?
- If using a virtual machine, is hardware GPU acceleration enabled?
- On Linux, might the listed system libraries be needed?
- Can you access your account and installer through SAMSON Connect?
Checking these points before installation can help distinguish a platform or graphics issue from an installer issue, and save time when preparing a workstation for molecular modeling. For the full requirements and platform details, read the SAMSON requirements documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.