A molecular modeling session can lose time before the first structure is even opened: the installer starts, but the application cannot launch or its graphics features are unavailable. A short workstation check can help separate operating-system, graphics, and Linux dependency issues before you begin.
Start with the platform
Check that your computer is running a supported 64-bit operating system. The current SAMSON support matrix lists Windows 10 and 11; Ubuntu 22.04 and newer, Fedora 42 and newer, CentOS, and similar Linux systems; and macOS Tahoe (26), Sequoia (15), Sonoma (14), Ventura (13), or Monterey (12), on Intel and Apple Silicon. Older platforms may work, but they are not in the currently tested support matrix.
This is especially useful when preparing a shared workstation or teaching lab: verify the actual operating system on each machine rather than assuming that a similar-looking setup has the same support status. If a computer uses an older system, treat it as an untested configuration and check it before planning a wider deployment.
Check graphics before troubleshooting the installer
SAMSON requires a graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.1. The documentation also recommends using the latest drivers for NVIDIA or AMD GPUs when applicable. A computer’s operating system may be supported while its graphics path is not, so check the graphics requirement as a separate item.
Virtual machines need particular attention. Enable hardware GPU acceleration for the virtual machine; without it, the OpenGL features SAMSON needs may not be available. If you are preparing several machines, test the graphics setup on one representative computer first. That gives you a chance to catch a graphics configuration issue before repeating the installation across a lab.
On Linux, resolve common library dependencies
Some Linux systems may need additional libraries before SAMSON runs. On Ubuntu-like systems, the documented packages are:
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sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0 libatomic1 |
On CentOS-like systems, the documented command is:
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sudo dnf install xcb-util* |
These packages are listed as possible prerequisites, not as a guarantee that every Linux installation needs them. If OpenGL libraries are missing or incorrectly configured, use the documentation’s Linux OpenGL driver instructions for the next troubleshooting step.
Keep installation permissions in perspective
SAMSON installs in the user home, so admin rights are not necessary. The application also checks that it is not running in admin mode. This can simplify setup on personal computers and managed workstations, where users may not have administrator access. Follow the normal installation flow rather than trying to launch the application with elevated privileges.
A practical preflight checklist
- Confirm that the operating system is in the current support list and is 64-bit.
- Confirm that the graphics card supports OpenGL 4.1 and update NVIDIA or AMD drivers when applicable.
- If using a virtual machine, enable hardware GPU acceleration.
- On Linux, install the listed packages if needed and investigate OpenGL configuration if graphics libraries are unavailable.
- Check that you can access your account and installer through SAMSON Connect.
- Then follow the SAMSON installation guide.
Working through these checks in order makes it easier to identify whether a problem is related to platform support, graphics, or Linux libraries—rather than treating every launch issue as an installer failure. For the complete requirements and platform details, read the original documentation page.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.