When creating users, or more specifically their home directories, system-config-users relied on the access() system call to check if a directory was writable (and, consequently, whether a new home directory could be created in the requested location).

The access() system call returns reliable information for POSIX-compliant (or mostly POSIX-compliant) file-systems only. In some cases, therefore, relying on the information returned by access() could result in user creation failing.

If, for example, system-config-users was directed to create a user with a home folder in a directory managed by an auto-mounter (such as /net), access() returned inaccurate information and user creation subsequently failed.

With this update, system-config-users no longer relies on access(), or other operating system functions, in such cases: it now attempts to create the home directory and checks whether it has succeeded in doing so.

As well, if the chosen location is not writable, system-config-users returns an alert to this effect and requests 'a writable location' be chosen rather than simply writing errors to the terminal and failing. (BZ#672822)

Previously, passwords deemed too simple were always prohibited. This update only warns about passwords that are deemed unsuitable or too weak. Now, also short passwords are accepted. (BZ#582205)

Previously, system-config-users did not always detect if a home directory could be created correctly before actually doing it. Due to this problem, system-config-users did not create a home directory on certain file systems (e.g. home directories located beneath an autofs mount-point) but acted on the assumption that it did. As a workaround, this update tries to create the home directory before creating the user in system-config-users. (BZ#599214)

Previously, system-config-users failed to start if the maximum allowable length for user or group IDs (UID/GID) was already allocated. This update handles this situation by ignoring such high UIDs/GIDs where it needs to automatically allocate user or group IDs. (BZ#628730)

Previously, a search for users and groups would only search for names beginning with the search string. Due to this behavior, names that had the string somewhere else in the name were ignored. This update searches for substrings in user and group names. (BZ#612172)

Previously, several on-screen messages were not correctly translated in some languages. This update corrects the translated strings. Now, all messages are correctly translated. (BZ#629469)

Previously, users could not force password expiration from the graphical user interface. This update allows for forced expiry of passwords without the need to use command line utilities. (BZ#571571)