[galaxy-dev] Galaxy local install

Hi, I contacted with this question vendor tech support (Dell), but they could not answer (or did not want to) and directed me to Galaxy developers. I am using RHEL58 and SciLinux55 and want to install a local instance of Galaxy. Both my systems are based on Python 2.4. Question - can I install Python 2.6/2.7 locally without messing up the system? I was advised earlier not to make system install, but being unhealthy curious I did and ended up with reinstalling SciLinux 55 from scratch. How to make sure 2.6/2.7 will not mess up the system's Python? Thanks, Vladimir