[AG-TECH] Python installation problem

[Michael Daw]

I seem to be falling at the first hurdle in my attempted installation of
AG2.0.

I'm trying to install Python 2.2. I'm running RH7.2 and I've downloaded the
file python2.2.2-2.2.2-1.src.rpm from http://www.python.org/2.2.2/rpms.html
(as instructed on
http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/fl/research/accessgrid/status/software.html).

When I run 'rpm -U python2.2.2-2.2.2-1.src.rpm', I get no messages.

When I run 'rpm -V python2.2.2-2.2.2-1.src.rpm', I get 'package
python2.2.2-2.2.2-1.src.rpm is not installed'.

When I run 'rpm -vvU python2.2.2-2.2.2-1.src.rpm' (to output debug), I get:

D: ============== python2.2.2-2.2.2-1.src.rpm
D: Expected size:      6667399 = lead(96)+sigs(180)+pad(4)+data(6667119)
D:   Actual size:      6667399
D:      added source package [0]
D: found 1 source and 0 binary packages
D: Expected size:      6667399 = lead(96)+sigs(180)+pad(4)+data(6667119)
D:   Actual size:      6667399
python2.2.2-2.2.2-1
D: ========= Directories not explictly included in package:
D:         0 /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES/
D:         1 /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/
D: =========
D: fini      100664  1 (   0,   0)   6669400
/usr/src/redhat/SOURCES/Python-2.2.2.tgz
D: fini      100644  1 (   0,   0)     10769
/usr/src/redhat/SPECS/python-2.2.spec
GZDIO:     816 reads,  6680552 total bytes in 0.096 secs

I thought I'd check whether I'd already got Python 2.2 installed, but
running 'python' at the command line gets:

Python 1.5.2 (#1, Jul  5 2001, 03:02:19)  [GCC 2.96 20000731 (Red Hat Linux
7.1 2 on linux-i386
Copyright 1991-1995 Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam
>>>

...which I assume means I'm running v1.5.2.

I've since gone down the track of downloading and making Python-2.2.tgz from
http://www.python.org/2.2/, then linking the resulting executable to
/usr/bin/python. Is this OK, or does the rpm do other things I should know
about?!

I guess either:

1. I'm doing something daft, in which case please enlighten me.
2. There are problems installing python using the rpm, in which case new
instructions are needed on the AG web page.

--Mike (about to embark on the second hurdle...)

_______________________________________________________

Michael Daw
SVE Group (Supercomputing, Visualization and e-Science)

Manchester Computing, Kilburn Building,
University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Tel: +44 (0)161 275 7026
Fax: +44 (0)161 275 6800
Email: michael.daw at man.ac.uk

http://www.sve.man.ac.uk/General/Staff/daw
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