How to start OpenGL in software emulation mode?

Is there any way I can start OpenGL in software emulation mode, l开发者_JAVA技巧ike DirectX where there is reference rendering option?

if you are trying to just test your existing software there are a bunch of tricks... like: http://www.opengl.org/discussion_boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=148011

if you are writing software and have the ability to specify the render... then in windows:

from: http://www.opengl.org/resources/faq/technical/mswindows.htm

To force software rendering from your application, choose a pixel format that is not hardware accelerated. To do this, you can not use ChoosePixelFormat(), which always selects a hardware accelerated pixel format when one is available. Instead, use DescribePixelFormat() to iterate through the list of available pixel formats. Any format with the PFD_GENERIC_FORMAT attribute bit set will not be hardware accelerated.

for linux or mac... I would have to look through real books... let me know if you are on linux/Mac