Researchers and students working in shared or institutional computing environments often face a common barrier: lack of administrative privileges. Installing complex software like molecular modeling platforms often requires admin rights, which can slow down productivity and involve administrative delays.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Fortunately, SAMSON—a platform for integrative molecular design—removes this obstacle entirely.
Installation Without Admin Rights
Good news: SAMSON does not require administrative rights to install. The application is designed to install directly within your user account, making it especially convenient for researchers working in institutional settings or on systems with limited permissions. Not only is admin access unnecessary, SAMSON actively discourages running in admin mode by checking this at startup and alerting users.
This means you can get started on molecular modeling, structure prediction, visualization, or analysis—without waiting for IT approval.
System Requirements
Before installing SAMSON, make sure your system meets the following basic requirements:
- 64-bit operating system
- Graphics card with OpenGL 4.1 support (required for visualization)
- Up-to-date GPU drivers for NVIDIA or AMD cards
This Applies Across Platforms
Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux, the user-level installation works across the board:
- Windows: Installs in
C:/Users/<YourUsername>/OneAngstrom/ - Mac: Installs in
$HOME/Applications/SAMSON.app/ - Linux: Installs in your home directory and can be launched via script
For Linux users, SAMSON provides clear instructions to install any necessary dependencies such as:
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sudo apt install libxcb-cursor0 libatomic1 |
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sudo dnf install xcb-util* |
These simple one-liners help ensure your environment is ready to go without complex setup procedures.
Virtual Machines and GPU Acceleration
If you’re planning to run SAMSON in a virtual environment, make sure to enable hardware GPU acceleration. This is key to ensuring the performance necessary for rendering molecules, proteins, and simulations effectively.
Why This Matters
By eliminating the need for elevated privileges, SAMSON empowers molecular modelers to:
- Install and update independently
- Work efficiently in shared environments
- Explore extensions and tools right away
This also makes SAMSON ideal as a teaching tool in classroom or lab settings, where students may use institution-managed machines.
Get Started Today
You can download the installer and begin using SAMSON by visiting SAMSON Connect. During installation, you’ll be asked to enter your registration email and a SAMSON key (available under your account settings).
To learn more about requirements and the installation process, visit the official documentation.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can get SAMSON now at https://www.samson-connect.net.