How to install 64-bit python on Ubuntu

[Curious]

On Oct 7, 5:11 pm, Roger Binns <rog... at rogerbinns.com> wrote:
> Curious wrote:
> > Did you mean to say that Ubuntu does come pre-installed with 64-bit
> > Python?
>
> I am saying that 64 bit Ubuntu comes with 64 bit Python.  (32 bit Ubuntu
> comes with 32 bit Python.)
>
> > When I used the same command as you did, I see a 32-bit
> > version there.
>
> It is most likely that you are running 32 bit Ubuntu (unless you bypassed
> Ubuntu's packaging and similar stunts).  Run 'uname -a' and look near the
> end.  For 64 bit you should see something like this:
>
> $ uname -m
> x86_64
>
> If you see i686 instead of x86_64 you are on 32 bit.
>
> > $ file /usr/bin/python2.6
> > /usr/bin/python2.6: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1
> > (SYSV), dynamically linked (uses shared libs), for GNU/Linux 2.6.15,
> > stripped
>
> That is definitely a 32 bit binary.  Try some others like /bin/ls and
> /sbin/init.  (A 64 bit kernel can run 32 bit binaries but these core system
> files should all match the kernel.)
>
> > I also tried building Python on this machine by setting following
> > configuration option:
> > /configure --enable-universalsdk --with-universal-archs="64-bit"
>
> That is a road you don't want to go down unless you really know what you are
> doing and want to bypass the packaging system.  As far as I am aware those
> options only apply to Macs anyway!
>
> > Could you please explain how did you get a 64-bit version there?
>
> When I download Ubuntu I got the 64 bit version.  Look at the bottom of the
> page:
>
>  http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
>
> You may find various guides on how to convert a 32 bit installation into a
> 64 bit one.  Do not do any of those (if you do then mention it when asking
> for help at which point people will tell you not to have done that!)  Make a
> backup and do a *fresh* install.
>
> Roger

Thanks Roger. Actually we have one machine at our disposal to try
different things out. We installed Linux on it just yesterday and
wanted to get Python working so there's nothing important that we fear
to loose. We'll probably do the fresh install. Will post on the forum
about how it goes and if I get 64-bit Python version.