Knime 5.5 on Works PC - Error trying to install Python extension

[mgirdwood]

Hi,
I was able to get the latest 5.5 onto the works PC today using the Full zipped version. We are behind Internet Firewalls so I have to use the offline extensions.

However when trying to install the Python extension the following error was given. It seems that for every install these Python issues are always there. Any ideas would be very appreciated

An error occurred while installing the items
session context was:(profile=KNIMEProfile, phase=org.eclipse.equinox.internal.p2.engine.phases.Install, operand=null → [R]org.knime.pythonscripting.channel.bin.win32.x86_64 5.5.0.v202506251113, action=org.knime.conda.envinstall.action.InstallCondaEnvironment$InstallAction).
Running InstallCondaEnvironment action failed
Installing the Pixi environment failed: pixi install failed with exit code 1
STDOUT:

STDERR:
Error: × Failed to run activation script for Default. Status: exit code: 1.
│ Stdout: . Stderr: This program is blocked by group policy. For more
│ information, contact your system administrator.
│ . Script: @chcp 65001 > nul
│ @SET
│ @ECHO RATTLER_ENV_START
│
│ @SET “Path=C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default;C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\Library/mingw-w64/bin;C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\Library/usr/bin;C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\Library/bin;C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\Scripts;C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\bin;%Path%”
│ @SET “CONDA_PREFIX=C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default”
│ @SET “PIXI_EXE=C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\plugins\org.knime.conda.pixi.bin.win32.x86_64_5.5.0.
│ v202506181256\bin\pixi.exe”
│ @SET “PIXI_PROJECT_VERSION=NO_VERSION_SPECIFIED”
│ @SET "PIXI_PROJECT_ROOT=C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ "
│ @SET “PIXI_PROJECT_NAME=org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0”
│ @SET “PIXI_PROJECT_MANIFEST=C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ \pixi.toml”
│ @SET “PIXI_IN_SHELL=1”
│ @SET “CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV=org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0”
│ @SET “PIXI_ENVIRONMENT_NAME=default”
│ @SET “PIXI_ENVIRONMENT_PLATFORMS=linux-64,win-64,osx-64,osx-arm64”
│ @SET "PIXI_PROMPT=(org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0) "
│ @CALL “C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\etc/conda/activate.d\libxml2_activate.bat”
│ @CALL “C:
│ \programs\knime_5.5.0\bundling\org_knime_pythonscripting_channel_bin_5.5.0
│ .pixi\envs\default\etc/conda/activate.d\openssl_activate-win.bat”
│ @ECHO RATTLER_ENV_START
│ @SET
│

[Marc_Lehner]

Hi @mgirdwood
Thank you for reporting this issue. Did the installation of extensions in 5.4 work on this machine for the same user? Are you allowing the execution of bash/command-line scripts? The line:

@mgirdwood

This program is blocked by group policy. For more
│ information, contact your system administrator.

makes me suspect that this is a security setting shutting down the install. During the installation of python extensions, scripts need to be executed on your machine. We changed the installation process from conda to pixi. If conda had some exception set in your security settings, the same needs to be applied to pixi.

[mgirdwood]

Hi @Marc_Lehner
Yes I can confirm that I have a 5.4.2 installation that I was able to add the AI and Python Extensions on the same machine.
We dont run or support Conda in the company

One install was in C:Program Files (5.4.2) the other is in C:Programs (5.5)

I have contacted the IT team to see if there was something else that needed to be run ie Powershell Script however if there is any further info that I should be aware of that they need know then please do add it here.

As mentioned the main Issue is we are a closed environment so any internet connection is blocked and actually so should be the installation of Extensions.

[Marc_Lehner]

Hi @mgirdwood
More information can be found here update python extensions to pixi. In previous versions, like 5.4.2, we used micromamba to install all the python environments required for python extensions (like the AI extension) to run. Now we use pixi instead. Both are package managers for installing PyPI and Conda packages. KNIME needs to be able to install these packages for the extensions to work. And that requires the execution of some scripts. The fact that everything is offline or in a closed environment should not matter (everything needed is included in the download) and previously led to a different error (see: offline install failure) that should be fixed.

[mgirdwood]

Hi @Marc_Lehner
Thanks for getting back, The links you posted don’t really provide additional info as to why the installation of the AI / Python extensions wont install in a clean 5.5 build and I am not trying to convert older extensions.

My IT department isnt happy with the separate Extensions not included in the core software which could mean for the 5.5 release I will have to request them to install each extension one by one. As it took me 4 months to get 5.4.2 working with the AI nodes I am reluctant to go down that road again.

[mgirdwood]

@Marc_Lehner
As anticipated the IT Dept has now ruled that all extensions need to be installed 1 by 1 on a separate Ticket.

Unfortunately this is totally unworkable so we will remove Knime completely and see if at some point in the Future the AI and python topics will be included as Core rather than as extensions and then I will be able to try to see if I can move people away from Alteryx to Knime.