Updated the IA64 system (HP RX2600) to 4.17-rc1, and the compile and install/boot was without incident..    The python-related warning with 4.16 was no longer present.. (see https://rglinuxtech.com/?p=2222 ).

...............
[ OK ] Started Getty on tty1.
[ OK ] Reached target Login Prompts.
[ OK ] Started Login Service.
[ OK ] Reached target Multi-User System.
[ OK ] Reached target Graphical Interface.

This is rgia64.unknown_domain (Linux ia64 4.17.0-rc1) 13:07:54
........................
# uname -a
Linux rgia64 4.17.0-rc1 #1 SMP Mon Apr 16 12:18:06 PDT 2018 ia64 Madison GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

Robert Gadsdon.  April 16, 2018.