For now Kernel upgrade guide is a little bit outdated. As warned in news (2012-03-16 udev-181 unmasking), systems with separate /usr partition have to use initramfs. So, 5-th section (Configuring, compiling and installing the new kernel) should be extended with something like (excuse me my English, it's not enough to suggest update-ready patch): For installations with /usr on separate partition/device with >=sys-fs/udev-181 you need to build initramfs. If you need initramfs just to mount /usr, the easiest way is to use genkernel script. # genkernel --install --no-ramdisk-modules initramfs For more details see http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/initramfs-guide.xml P.S. Bugzilla's component warns about necessity of adding URL. But in initial bug add form this field is unavailable. http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/kernel-upgrade.xml
If you needed initramfs with 171, then you need one with 197. If you didn't need initramfs with 171, then you don't need one with 197. Nothing changed in this regard; initramfs is recommended with separate /usr and has always been. Adjusting $summary away from the udev upgrade as udev has nothing to do with this.
Ok, i added a link to the initramfs guide in the section on genkernel usage. However, Samuli is correct in mentioning that this isn't a regression of any kind.
