After updateing openssh I couldn't get sshd to start with out doing "mkdir /var/empty" (I did as root and did not temper with chmod after). So It's not a show stopper, but a clitch in system. I don't remember what was the version of the openssh before update, but now it's naturaly 3.7.1_p2-r2 Reproducible: Didn't try Steps to Reproduce: 1. # emerge -U world 2. # /etc/init.d/sshd restart 3. Actual Results: Following error message: Missing privilege separation directory: /var/empty Expected Results: sshd should start just fine. Portage 2.0.50-r1 (default-x86-1.4, gcc-3.3.2, glibc-2.3.2-r9, 2.6.3-gentoo-r1) ================================================================= System uname: 2.6.3-gentoo-r1 i686 AMD Athlon(tm) MP 2200+ Gentoo Base System version 1.4.3.13 distcc 2.12.1 i686-pc-linux-gnu (protocols 1 and 2) (default port 3632) [enabled] ccache version 2.3 [enabled] Autoconf: sys-devel/autoconf-2.58-r1 Automake: sys-devel/automake-1.7.7 ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="x86" AUTOCLEAN="yes" CFLAGS="-march=athlon-mp -O3 -pipe" CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu" COMPILER="gcc3" CONFIG_PROTECT="/etc /opt/resin/conf /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb /usr/kde/2/share/config /usr/kde/3.1/share/config /usr/kde/3/share/config /usr/share/config /var/bind /var/qmail/control" CONFIG_PROTECT_MASK="/etc/gconf /etc/env.d" CXXFLAGS="-march=athlon-mp -O3 -pipe" DISTDIR="/usr/portage/distfiles" FEATURES="autoaddcvs ccache distcc sandbox" GENTOO_MIRRORS="http://trumpetti.atm.tut.fi/gentoo/ ftp://trumpetti.atm.tut.fi/gentoo/ http://mirror.pudas.net/gentoo ftp://mirror.pudas.net/gentoo" MAKEOPTS="-j4" PKGDIR="/usr/portage/packages" PORTAGE_TMPDIR="/var/tmp" PORTDIR="/usr/portage" PORTDIR_OVERLAY="" USE="X apache2 apm arts avi berkdb crypt cups encode esd foomaticdb gdbm gif gnome gpm gtk gtk2 imlib java jpeg ldap libg++ libwww mad mbox mikmod motif mozilla mpeg mysql ncurses nls oggvorbis opengl oss pam pdflib perl png python qt quicktime readline sdl sendmail slang snmp spell ssl svga tcltk tcpd truetype x86 xml xml2 xmms xv zlib"
I had the same problem. It has been resolved when I emerged openssh version 3.8_p1
Added check for /var/empty to initscript. Soon in CVS, thanks!