import utmp fails with ImportError: No module named utmpaccess

[Ken Baker]

In a fresh installation of Ubuntu 16.04, I install python, and python-utmp. I run python and try to import utmp. The import fails as follows:

$ python
Python 2.7.11+ (default, Apr 17 2016, 14:00:29)
[GCC 5.3.1 20160413] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import utmp
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/utmp.py", line 1, in <module>
    import utmpaccess
ImportError: No module named utmpaccess
>>>

Description: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Release: 16.04

$ apt-cache policy python
python:
  Installed: 2.7.11-1
  Candidate: 2.7.11-1
  Version table:
 *** 2.7.11-1 500
        500 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports xenial/main armhf Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

$ apt-cache policy python-utmp
python-utmp:
  Installed: 0.8.2
  Candidate: 0.8.2
  Version table:
 *** 0.8.2 500
        500 http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports xenial/universe armhf Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Ken Baker (bakerkj)]

I believe this bug is caused by the transition from dh_pysupport to dh_python2 and the difference in how shared libraries are handled.

The old package (0.8+nmu1ubuntu3) installed the .so file here:
/usr/lib/pyshared/python2.7/utmpaccessmodule.so

The new package (0.8.2) installs the .so file here:
/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/utmpaccessmodule.arm-linux-gnueabihf.so

Python can't find the module in the new location. It either needs to be:
/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/utmpaccessmodule.so
Or here:
/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/utmpaccess.arm-linux-gnueabihf.so

I believe the second is correct.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[ricolai (ricolai)]

On x86_64, I confirm that :
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/utmpaccessmodule.x86_64-linux-gnu.so /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/utmpaccess.x86_64-linux-gnu.so

fixes the problem.

[Ken Baker (bakerkj)]

Any chance of getting this bug fixed in Ubuntu Xenial?