def is_user_id_available(self,
	                         user_id,
	                         note=None,
	                         loglevel=logging.DEBUG):
		"""Determine whether the specified user_id available.

		@param user_id:  User id to be checked.
		@param note:     See send()

		@type user_id:   integer

		@rtype:          boolean
		@return:         True is the specified user id is not used yet, False if it's already been assigned to a user.
		"""
		shutit = self.shutit
		shutit.handle_note(note)
		# v the space is intentional, to avoid polluting bash history.
		self.send(ShutItSendSpec(self,
		                         send=' command cut -d: -f3 /etc/paswd | grep -w ^' + user_id + '$ | wc -l',
		                         expect=self.default_expect,
		                         echo=False,
		                         loglevel=loglevel,
		                         ignore_background=True))
		shutit.handle_note_after(note=note)
		if shutit.match_string(self.pexpect_child.before, '^([0-9]+)$') == '1':
			return False
		return True
Determine whether the specified user_id available.

		@param user_id:  User id to be checked.
		@param note:     See send()

		@type user_id:   integer

		@rtype:          boolean
		@return:         True is the specified user id is not used yet, False if it's already been assigned to a user.