Python: executing ping and whois

[WIWA]

Hi all,

Anybody that could tell me how to execute some Linux commands using
Python.
The application is that I want to be able from a website to launch a
Python script and that python script should be able to ping to the
provided IP address, or should do a whois of that IP address. I want
to use the existing Linux commands if possible.

Anyone has an idea or tutorial?

Thanks,