How to check out arcgis 10.2 desktop license using arcpy?

Question

Referring to ArcGIS help it seems possible to check out advanced desktop license. But typing arcpy.CheckOutExtension('ArcInfo')

gives

Unrecognized extension code ArcInfo

Answer 1

As the documentation states:

"SetProduct is a legacy; importing modules needs to be done before importing arcpy".

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.2/index.html#/SetProduct/03q30000000v000000/

The script might go something like this:

import arcinfo  
import arcpy

if arcpy.CheckProduct("ArcInfo") == "Available":  
    execute code  
else:  
    print "Error message"

Answer 2

Your issue stems from the fact that ArcInfo isn't an extension.

Try using:

arcpy.SetProduct('arcInfo')

It is customary to use a Try:Except block when setting a product level.

Try using:

class LicenseException(Exception):
    pass

try:  
    status = arcpy.SetProduct('arcInfo')
    if status == 'CheckedOut':
        pass
    if status == 'AlreadyInitialized':
        pass
    if status == 'NotLicensed':
        raise LicenseException(status)    # Extends Exception
    if status == 'Failed':
        raise LicenseException(status)

except LicenseException:
    # Handle the exception accordingly.
except:
    # Handle unexpected exceptions.

Look here for more information: http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/SetProduct/000v0000003w000000/