If you’re a molecular modeler interested in exploring simulations, data visualization, or integrative design workflows, trying new software should be exciting—not a fight with system requirements or installation errors. That’s why it’s helpful to know upfront what it takes to run a modern molecular design platform like SAMSON.
SAMSON is designed to be accessible across many platforms and doesn’t force you into admin rights or complex installs. But like any specialized software, it still needs certain system capabilities, especially for graphics. In this post, we’ll walk you through the key requirements across supported operating systems and cover a few gotchas to help you avoid installation surprises.
✅ Supported Platforms
- Windows: Windows 11 and Windows 10 are officially supported.
- macOS: SAMSON supports both Intel and ARM-based Macs running macOS 12 (Monterey) through macOS 15 (Sequoia).
- Linux: Ubuntu 22.04+, Fedora 42+, CentOS, and similar distributions are supported.
Note: Older operating systems might not work as expected, and compatibility is not guaranteed.
🛠 Minimum System Requirements
- 64-bit Operating System: SAMSON does not support 32-bit systems.
- Graphics Card: A GPU that supports OpenGL 4.1 is required. Make sure your drivers are up to date, especially if you’re using NVIDIA or AMD cards.
Interestingly, SAMSON has explicit checks to avoid being run with admin rights and is installed in the user home directory. This makes it easier to deploy in institutional settings or on systems with restricted permissions. 👍
💻 Special Considerations for Linux Users
If you’re running on Linux, there are a few more things to keep in mind:
On Ubuntu-like distributions, install the following libraries before launching SAMSON for the first time:
|
1 |
sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0 libatomic1 |
On CentOS-like distros, install:
|
1 |
sudo dnf install xcb-util* |
If you experience issues with OpenGL, check out the OpenGL troubleshooting guide.
⚠️ Running in a Virtual Machine?
SAMSON does work in virtual environments, but only if you enable GPU hardware acceleration. Without proper graphics support, you may run into performance problems or visual glitches that could interfere with your work.
🔑 No Admin Rights? No Problem
Many users ask: does installing SAMSON require administrator privileges? The answer is—no. SAMSON installs within the user profile and even prevents you from running it in admin mode to limit security risks. That’s a relief for those working in constrained IT environments.
📄 For More Info
All these installation prerequisites, including platform-specific advice and guidance for proxy settings, can be found in SAMSON’s Getting Started documentation.
Getting this right from the beginning saves time and lets you focus on what matters: building molecular models, running simulations, and analyzing results.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.