Installing Python 2.7 on older RHEL-based package installations

Steps for installing Python 2.7 on older distributions such as CentOS 6.5.

1. Verify your Python version:

   python -V

2. If Python is not version 2.7.x, install it from the operating system software collection:
   • For RHEL Software Collections:

     $ sudo yum update ## optional
     $ sudo yum install scl-utils
     $ sudo yum-config-manager --enable rhel-server-rhscl-6-rpms
     $ sudo yum install python27
     $ sudo scl enable python27 bash
     $ export PYTHONPATH="/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/":$PYTHONPATH

   • For CentOS Software Collections ( SCL ) Repository:

     $ sudo yum update ## optional
     $ sudo yum install scl-utils
     $ sudo yum install centos-release-scl-rh
     $ sudo yum install python27
     $ sudo scl enable python27 bash
     $ export PYTHONPATH="/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/":$PYTHONPATH

3. Verify the update:

   python -V
   
   Python 2.7.8

4. After logging out or restarting, you must enable python 2.7 and set the export command:

   $ sudo scl enable python27 bash
   $ export PYTHONPATH="/usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages/":$PYTHONPATH

   Enabling Python 2.7 in .bash_profile or .bashrc causes the machine to hang because CentOS 6 relies on Python 2.6 for Yum.