From Zero to Simulating: Installing SAMSON Without Admin Rights

If you’ve ever tried installing scientific software in a university or institutional setting, you’ve likely run into a familiar obstacle: you don’t have admin rights. Maybe you’re working on shared lab computers, maybe IT is hard to reach, or maybe you’re just trying something new on your personal computer and want to avoid deeper system changes.

That’s where SAMSON, the molecular design platform, stands out. Unlike many other computational tools, SAMSON doesn’t require admin rights to install or run. This makes it extremely convenient for students, researchers, and professionals who want to spend their time modeling molecules—not battling installation issues.

The Common Pain: Admin Rights Roadblocks

Access restrictions often slow down scientific progress. You’re interested in testing out a simulation, analyzing interaction models, or visualizing macromolecular systems, but you’re blocked at step one: installing the software. Many molecular modeling environments require elevated permissions to install dependencies, libraries, or even just to unpack the files.

How SAMSON Simplifies Setup

SAMSON is designed to be user-first. Here’s what makes it particularly useful:

• Installs in the user’s home directory — no need for elevated privileges.
• Runs in non-admin mode — SAMSON actively checks NOT to run with admin rights, encouraging secure and efficient usage.
• Cross-platform support — Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Ready-to-use extensions — Installs and updates extensions automatically (as long as you install in user mode).

Step-by-Step: Installing SAMSON

Although the process is straightforward, here’s what to expect for a smoother experience:

No Admin Mode on Windows

Everything is installed under your user profile paths like:

There’s no need to request admin installation or deal with access permission dialogues.

Same Story on macOS and Linux

The platform detects your user environment and correctly places its components in directories like:

This design is a welcome relief for anyone who’s had to deal with restricted machines in labs or institutions.

What About Virtual Machines?

SAMSON can be installed on virtual machines, too. Just keep in mind:

• Make sure your VM supports hardware GPU acceleration.
• Check OpenGL support—it’s required by some graphical components.

If those conditions are met, you’re ready to simulate even from the cloud.

Running Older Versions

Need to maintain compatibility with a collaborator’s project or reproduce specific results? SAMSON allows installation of older versions through a simple checkbox in the installer. At the second step:

After enabling that, you’ll be presented with available versions:

This is ideal for validating results against older studies or using extensions that haven’t yet migrated to the latest version.

Into the Lab Without IT

If you’re a molecular modeler stuck behind access barriers, this might change your workflow dramatically. With SAMSON, you can install and get to work in minutes, without waiting for anyone to authorize your request.

Learn more in the official SAMSON FAQ.

SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON here.