custom kernel "unable to open initial console"

[Mitch Wiedemann]

I've downloaded the 2.6.9 source from kernel.org, but after configuring, 
compiling, and installing, I can't boot it.  I get this message: 
"Warning: unable to open initial console"  and then the boot process stops.

Google searching seems to imply some link between this problem and the 
switch from devfs to udev.

Has anyone else had this problem?  Or better yet, found a solution to 
allow me to boot my custom kernel?