[Retrospective] Release Version 2.17.1

[github-actions]

Related release issue?

#5046

How to use this issue?

Please add comments to this issue, they can be small or large in scope. Honest feedback is important to improve our processes, suggestions are also welcomed but not required.

What will happen to this issue post release?

There will be a discussion(s) about how the release went and how the next release can be improved. Then this issue will be updated with the notes of that discussion along side action items.

[Divyaasm]

[Release 2.17.1]

Though we had the code freeze ended on September 24th, we still received few last minute changes after the announced date. I think we will need to take measures to honor the code-freeze and set the entrance and exit criteria accordingly.

[Divyaasm]

Closing as the release is out and no further items for discussion.
Thanks