Ansible 2.7 and Python 3.6 on a Red Hat linux 7.5

How to install ansible inside a python virtual environment on Red Hat Linux 7.5.

This allows you to control the python ansible versions. All while protecting the kernal's python version.

The python-ovirt-engine-sdk4 is an optional library for oVirt API connections (Example: Red Hat Virtualization)

Environment:

• Red Hat Linux 7.5 (Virtual machine)
• Python 3.6.3 used
• Anisble 2.7
• oVirt API libraries

Install

• Prepare the VM with RHEL 7.5
• Change hostname and subscribe the VM.

hostnamectl set-hostname ansible.dev
subscription-manager register --autosubscribe
<access.redhat.com credentials>

• Enable dev and software repos

subscription-manager repos --enable rhel-7-server-optional-rpms  --enable rhel-server-rhscl-7-rpms --enable rhel-7-server-rh-common-rpms
yum -y install @development

• Install development versions of curl and openssl

yum -y install vim-enhanced libcurl-devel openssl-devel

• Install new version of Python

yum -y install rh-python36

• Install common python libraries for that version

yum -y install rh-python36-numpy rh-python36-scipy rh-python36-python-tools rh-python36-python-six
export PYCURL_SSL_LIBRARY=openssl
export LDFLAGS=-L/usr/local/opt/openssl/lib
export CPPFLAGS=-I/usr/local/opt/openssl/include
scl enable rh-python36   (Only once persession)
python3 -m pip install pycurl --compile --no-cache-dir
yum -y install python-ovirt-engine-sdk4

• Add a normal user for daily use

useradd awx
usermod -aG wheel awx
passwd awx

• You should add those environment variables above inside this user's ~/.bashrc file.
• Installing pipenv for current user.

scl enable rh-python36 bash
python3.6 -m pip install --user pipenv
mkdir myproject; cd myproject
pipenv --python 3.6
pipenv shell

• Install ansible in a venv
• Pick up the version of python to use before entering the shell.
• If you haven't done this yet. (Only once persession)

scl enable rh-python36 bash

• Now get the path and save for later

which python
/opt/rh/rh-python36/root/usr/bin/python

• Move to the project directory (Exa: myproject) and install ansible

cd ~/myproject
pipenv install ansible

• Check the ansible version to confirm installation in the shell.

pipenv shell
(myproject) [myproject]$ ansible --version

• Create the ansible.cfg configuration file.

(myproject) [myproject]$ vim ansible.cfg

• Create the inventory yaml and add this variable to each group:

ansible_python_interpreter: /opt/rh/rh-python36/root/usr/bin/python

• Later Update ansible using:

pipenv update ansible

• To start a new project create a new folder and set the python version.

scl enable rh-python36 bash (Only once per session)
mkdir ovirtproject; cd ovirtproject
pipenv --python 3.6
pipenv install ansible
pipenv shell