[TriLUG] Python x 2 on 1 system?

[Paul G. Szabady]

Greetings,

I need to be able to run python v2.4 or later, but the standard version
for RHEL4.x appears to only go to 2.3.  Someone told me that there is (or
used to be) a redhat RPM that would install a second version of python,
without conflicting with the standard v2.3, but I am unable to locate it.

I asked Redhat to confirm whether or not there is in fact a newer version
of python that I can install without causing issues to the current version
and its dependencies.  If so, where can I find it?  Their response was
fairly typical (see below) so as to not void any SLAs.  However, python is
a tricky beast so maybe it's true this time.  Can anyone confirm or deny
the ability to run a second version of python?  I suspect I would have to
download/compile/install from source.


<Redhat response>
 Thank you for contacting Red Hat support.

It is not possible to install two different version of python package ,2.3
and 2.4, on the same system, the python package is not relocatable.

The latest python version is available with RHEL4 is 2.3, the 2.4 is
available with RHEL5 and fedora. Please note that as per SLA installing
these packages on a RHEL4 box is not supportable. Please refer the
following URL for more details.

http://www.redhat.com/support/policy/soc/production/

You can find the RHEL5 version of the specified rpm on the following
location.

https://rhn.redhat.com/network/software/packages/details.pxt?pid=387877

Please let me know if you have any questions.
</Redhat response>


-- 
Paul
@ Thy Service