Installing complex modeling software is often the first unexpected hurdle for molecular modelers in academic or industrial environments. Administrative restrictions on shared machines or institutional policies can block installations altogether or lead to days of back-and-forth with IT support. If you’ve ever been there, you’re not alone.
Fortunately, SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, offers a streamlined solution: it installs without requiring administrative privileges.
Who Benefits from This?
Anyone working on shared clusters, university machines, or otherwise restricted environments stands to gain. Installing software in user space is not just a technical detail—it’s often the difference between making progress or being blocked for days.
No admin access required means you can:
- Install SAMSON on student lab machines
- Use it on university computing clusters with no root permissions
- Experiment freely across multiple platforms without escalating permissions
What’s Needed to Install?
- A 64-bit operating system
- A graphics card supporting OpenGL 4.1
For Linux systems, a few extra steps might be needed like installing specific libraries:
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sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0 libatomic1 |
or on Fedora/CentOS-based systems:
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sudo dnf install xcb-util* |
Installing on Your Platform
Once you download the installer from SAMSON Connect, here’s what the process looks like:
✔️ Windows
No special privileges needed. SAMSON gets installed in your user directory:
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C:/Users/%USERNAME%/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/9.0.0/Binaries/SAMSON-Core.exe |
✔️ macOS
Installed under $HOME/Applications/SAMSON.app/. If needed, grant full disk access under System Settings. Fully compatible with Intel and ARM architectures.
✔️ Linux
Make the downloaded script executable and run it, no root access required:
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chmod +x ./SAMSON-Setup.run QT_QPA_PLATFORM=xcb ./SAMSON-Setup.run |
The launcher script is found here:
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~/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/9.0.0/Binaries/SAMSON-Core.sh |
Admin-Free, But Still Secure
SAMSON goes a step further—it explicitly checks that it’s not run in admin mode. This not only aligns with best software practices but encourages responsible use, crucial in research environments dealing with sensitive data.
After Installation
Your first run will download the default SAMSON Extensions, allowing you to get started right away. These include visualizers, editors, and simulation tools for molecular structures. And if you need more advanced capability, the Marketplace offers a library of free and commercial modules you can add with a single click.
Conclusion
If administrative limitations have been blocking your access to molecular modeling tools, SAMSON removes that barrier. Quick to install, easy to run, and fully featured even without elevated privileges, it’s a practical option for researchers needing agility without compromise.
To explore the full documentation and getting started guides, visit https://documentation.samson-connect.net/users/latest/getting-started/.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download the platform at https://www.samson-connect.net.