* Removed some redundant rules created by the iptables proxier to improve performance on systems with very many services. ([#57461](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/57461), [@danwinship](https://github.com/danwinship))

 - Fixed the behavior of the `KUBE_PROXY_NFTABLES_SKIP_KERNEL_VERSION_CHECK` environment variable in the nftables proxier. The kernel version check is now skipped only when this variable is explicitly set to a non-empty value. To skip the check, set the `KUBE_PROXY_NFTABLES_SKIP_KERNEL_VERSION_CHECK` environment variable. ([#130401](https://github.com/kubernetes/kub...

* Set kernel.softlockup_panic =1 based on the flag. ([#38001](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/38001), [@dchen1107](https://github.com/dchen1107))
* Configure local-up-cluster.sh to handle auth proxies ([#36838](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/36838), [@deads2k](https://github.com/deads2k))

## Changes by Kind

### Deprecation

- A deprecation notice has been added when using the kube-proxy userspace proxier, which will be removed in v1.25. (#103860) ([#104631](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/104631), [@perithompson](https://github.com/perithompson))

- Migrate `proxy/ipvs/proxier.go` logs to structured logging. ([#97796](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/97796), [@JornShen](https://github.com/JornShen))

* Fix port number and default Stackdriver Metadata Agent in daemon set configuration. ([#56576](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/56576), [@kawych](https://github.com/kawych))
* Declare ipvs proxier beta ([#56623](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/56623), [@m1093782566](https://github.com/m1093782566))

## Changelog since v1.12.1

### Other notable changes

* IPVS proxier mode now support connection based graceful termination. ([#66012](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/66012), [@Lion-Wei](https://github.com/Lion-Wei))