- Fix an error when using external etcd but storing etcd certificates in the same folder with the same name used by kubeadm for local etcd certificates; for an older version of kubeadm, the workaround is to avoid file name used by kubeadm for local etcd. ([#80867](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/80867), [@fabriziopandini](https://github.com/fabriziopandini))...

however, kubectl v1.21 and older do not support the new API for ephemeral containers.

- Kubeadm: do not check if the `/etc/kubernetes/manifests` folder is empty on joining worker nodes during preflight ([#104942](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/104942), [@SataQiu](https://github.com/SataQiu))

- Resolve regression in `metadata.managedFields` handling in update/patch requests submitted by older API clients ([#91748](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/91748), [@apelisse](https://github.com/apelisse))

- VSphere: Fix regression during attach disk if datastore is within a storage folder or datastore cluster. ([#102999](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/102999), [@gnufied](https://github.com/gnufied)) [SIG Cloud Provider]

## Dependencies

### Added
_Nothing has changed._

AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR

ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR

Please see the [Releases Page](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/releases) for older releases.

Release notes of older releases can be found in:
- [CHANGELOG-1.2.md](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/blob/master/CHANGELOG/CHANGELOG-1.2.md)

- The `StructuredAuthenticationConfiguration` feature is now beta and enabled. ([#123719](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/123719), [@enj](https://github.com/enj))
- The `kube_codegen` tool now ignores the vendor folder during code generation.
   ([#122729](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/122729), [@jparrill](https://github.com/jparrill))

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LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,