from your traceback: ... File "/usr/src/Zope-2.1.1-src/inst/do.py", line 104, in do if i and picky: raise SystemError, i SystemError: 512 ... I had this error myself when I tried to compile Zope with PCGI. My solution was to get myself the python-devel rpms. (with Redhat 6.0). So, if you are working under Linux, you might give it a try... Andy