[users-admin] users & groups: should have some mention than a session restart is required to apply a group change

[Brad Allen]

Binary package hint: gksu

I'm running Ubuntu Dapper Drake, and created a user called "svn" using the GUI tool found under System->Administration->Users and Groups. I noted that along with this user called "svn" a group of the same name was consequently auto-created. I pressed ok to close.

Next, I decided to add my own account, "ballen", to the group "svn".

Once again, I opened the Users and Groups GUI, then found the group "svn" under the Groups tab. I doubleclicked the "svn" group, then added the "ballen" user to the "svn" group. I then pressed ok to close and closed the Users and Groups GUI.

I quickly discovered that my "ballen" account did not have the priveleges of being a member of the "svn" group. When I typed the "id" command while logged in as "ballen", the "svn" group was nowhere among the list.

After a reboot, the change took effect, and the id command showed "ballen" to be a member of "svn".

Hopefully, you will consider this a bug. It caused me considerable consternation as I suspect it will others.

Thanks!

[Sebastian Heinlein (glatzor)]

Generally group changes are only applied on relogin.

Perhaps this should be mentioned on a more central place.

[Brad Allen (bradallen)]

>Generally group changes are only applied on relogin.
>
>Perhaps this should be mentioned on a more central place.

How about in a dialog box informing the user? After all, GUIs are
supposed to help users who may not be so advanced or have read
documentation.

[Sebastian Heinlein (glatzor)]

You should file a bug report in GNOME's bugzilla.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

I've forwarded the issue upstream: http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=343809

[Daniel Hahler (blueyed)]

Xiegai, thanks for your patch.

Please consider forwarding it upstream (https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=343809), where it belongs.

Additionally, I suggest fixing the message:
"It is strongly recommended that you restart system for the changes to take effect."
to
"It is strongly recommended that you restart the system for the changes to take effect."

Thanks.

[Daniel Hahler (blueyed)]

Also, it should suggest logging out and in first, because that's easier/faster than rebooting.

[Daniel Hahler (blueyed)]

I've unsubscribed sponsors: this is getting discussed at the gnome bugtracker, and should come into Ubuntu via Gnome.