Installing complex molecular modeling software can sometimes feel like a project of its own—especially in restricted computing environments like corporate or university networks. One of the common stumbling blocks modelers face is the need for admin rights to install software, which slows down experimentation, delays collaboration, and requires going through IT for even minor updates.
Thankfully, SAMSON, the integrative platform for molecular design, takes a smoother approach.
No Admin? No Problem.
When you install SAMSON, there’s no need for elevated privileges. The installer is designed to be user-friendly and self-contained—it installs directly in the user’s home directory and explicitly checks that it’s not launched in admin mode.
This approach is not only convenient but also encourages users to only grant minimal permissions, aligning with best practices for data security and responsible computing in research environments.
Why This Matters in Practice
If you’re a molecular modeler, here are a few scenarios where this small but meaningful design choice makes your life easier:
- You’re working from a shared system at your university lab. Admin access might not be available—and rightly so. But you can still install and run SAMSON without contacting system administrators.
- You’re conducting a workshop or training session. Participants can install SAMSON on their own laptops regardless of the OS and what kinds of limitations are in place.
- You’re using a cloud-hosted desktop environment. Even here, local installations without admin rights are possible, whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Lightweight Installation Requirements
SAMSON keeps things flexible. The only prerequisites are minimal:
- A 64-bit operating system
- A graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.1 or higher
Drivers for NVIDIA and AMD cards need to be compatible with OpenGL. If you’re running SAMSON in a virtual machine, just ensure that the virtualization environment gives access to hardware GPU acceleration.
Warning
If you plan on running SAMSON in a virtual machine, then please make sure to give your virtual machine access to hardware GPU acceleration.
Getting Started
To begin the installation process:
- Visit the SAMSON Connect download page.
- Sign in or create an account to receive your SAMSON key for activation.
- Run the installer. No need for admin mode or advanced permissions.
Post-installation, you can begin customizing your experience with SAMSON Extensions from the Marketplace, also available via SAMSON Connect.
You can explore additional setup details and troubleshooting suggestions in the official documentation on the Getting Started page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON from https://www.samson-connect.net.