How to properly install python-devel on RedHat x86_64?

Question

When installing python-devel with

yum  install python-devel.x86_64

I got this error:

Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package python-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.6-36.el6 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: python(x86-64) = 2.6.6-36.el6 for package: python-devel-2.6.6-36.el6.x86_64
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Error: Package: python-devel-2.6.6-36.el6.x86_64 (tmp1)
           Requires: python(x86-64) = 2.6.6-36.el6
           Installed: python-2.6.6-52.el6.x86_64 (@rhel-x86_64-server-6)
               python(x86-64) = 2.6.6-52.el6
           Available: python-2.6.6-36.el6.x86_64 (tmp1)
               python(x86-64) = 2.6.6-36.el6
 You could try using --skip-broken to work around the problem
 You could try running: rpm -Va --nofiles --nodigest

Has anybody an idea how to get python-devel installed?

Answer 1

You are trying to install (from Yum) an older version python-2.6.6-36.el6.x86_64 than it is detecting on your system python-2.6.6-52.el6.x86_64 perhaps you installed it somehow other than through yum, perhaps from source or RPM.

You could try removing the newer version with rpm -e python-2.6.6-52.el6.x86_64 but why would you want to downgrade?

Answer 2

Another way to add new versions of Python 2.7, 3.3, or 3.4 to RHEL (6 or 7) is to utilize Software Collections (aka RHSCL or SCL) which install along side the original Python versions. (There are many other languages, databases, web servers, and other tools, too.) RHSCLs are included in most RHEL subscriptions.

To get started: http://developers.redhat.com/products/softwarecollections/overview/

You can also find information here: https://access.redhat.com/products/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/Developer/#rhscl=&dev-page=5

OR here: http://developerblog.redhat.com/tag/software-collections/

Answer 3

This is not recommended, but I was having an issue installing pip packages. I ran yum install python-devel --nodeps. That command prevents dependencies from being installed, but it fixed my issue.