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+
+- [Responsibilities](#responsibilities)
+- [Github issue for tracking the release](#github-issue-for-tracking-the-release)
+- [Communication Channel](#communication-channel)
+- [Describing Tasks](#describing-tasks)
+ - [Preparation](#preparation)
+ - [Declare a release candidate build](#declare-a-release-candidate-build)
+ - [Issue tracking](#issue-tracking)
+ - [Run Integration Tests](#run-integration-tests)
+ - [Opensearch maven release](#opensearch-maven-release)
+- [Release Day](#release-day)
+- [Post Release Tasks](#post-release-tasks)
+
+## Responsibilities
+Reponsibilities of a release manager includes but not limited to -
+- ensuring completion of all tasks on the Release Issue
+- Keep track of any unresolved bugs and features that may affect the release timeline
+- complete the [Release Day](#release-day) Tasks
+
+## Github issue for tracking the release
+We use a github issue (eg: issue [#1417](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/issues/1417)) to track
+the tasks and progress of the current release. This issue is assigned to the release
+manager of the release. The release manager is responsible for executing or making sure
+all the tasks listed on the issue are executed correctly. These components are further discussed below.
+
+## Communication Channel
+All communication will should be done through the github release issue and the release channel on slack.
+Tag `@here` for any important updated regarding the releases, such as finalizing build number, integ test execution etc.
+
+## Describing Tasks
+### Preparation
+1. Assign this issue to a release owner.
+2. Make sure the issue is marked as "in progress" and is assigned to the release manager
+3. Document any new quality requirements or changes.
+4. [Create a version label](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-plugins/blob/main/META.md#create-or-update-labels-in-all-plugin-repos) in each component repo for this, and the next minor release.
+ `ghi label 'v1.2.4' -c '#0052cc'`
+ - Document the command used to generate the label (as above)
+5. Confirm that OpenSearch-Dashboards does not need an updated manifest
+ - This checkbox will be marked if the there is no dashboards release
+
+6. Make sure the version is bumped for all the repositories below
+ - [alerting](https://github.com/opensearch-project/alerting)
+ - [anomaly-detection](https://github.com/opensearch-project/anomaly-detection)
+ - [reports-scheduler](https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch-Dashboards)
+ - [dashboards-report](https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch-Dashboards)
+ - [index-management](https://github.com/opensearch-project/index-management)
+ - [job-scheduler](https://github.com/opensearch-project/job-scheduler)
+ - [k-NN](https://github.com/opensearch-project/k-NN)
+ - [sql](https://github.com/opensearch-project/sql)
+ - [opensearch-observability](https://github.com/opensearch-project/observability)
+ - [asynchronous-search](https://github.com/opensearch-project/asynchronous-search)
+ - [cross-cluster-replication](https://github.com/opensearch-project/cross-cluster-replication)
+ - [performance-analyzer](https://github.com/opensearch-project/performance-analyzer)
+ - [performance-analyzer-rca](https://github.com/opensearch-project/performance-analyzer-rca)
+ - [security](https://github.com/opensearch-project/security)
+ - [opensearch](https://github.com/opensearch-project/OpenSearch)
+ - [common-utils](https://github.com/opensearch-project/common-utils)
+ - [opensearch-java](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-java)
+ - [opensearch-build](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build)
+
+8. All the components then need to be added to opensearch-manifest such as [manifests/1.2.4/opensearch-1.2.4.yml](/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/tree/main/manifests/1.2.4/opensearch-1.2.4.yml)
+
+### Declare a release candidate build
+Once the new manifest file is merged, a build will be automatically triggered with the links to the
+artifacts and manifest file published on the console output and slack channel respectively.
+
+The message will also contain the build number of the success build. Once the build is a success,
+we declare them available for testing. (Example - [link](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/issues/1417#issuecomment-1010576235)).
+
+The message will contain the steps and to test the release candidates.
+One can simply reuse the message with updated values for the following -
+- gist
+ - can be created using an existing gist with updated version numbers
+- Update the build number used
+- update the urls for manifest and tar.gz files for arm64
+- update the urls for manifest and tar.gz files for x64
+
+**Note:** The release candidate can be updated in future if there is another merge related to the release. Make sure to
+select the release candidate for integration tests after all the merges for the release are completed. As a release manager,
+raise concerns over any delayed merges that can potentially change the release timeline.
+
+### Issue tracking
+- Holds the number of issues that are linked to the current release.
+- The number can be viewed using the links from the "State, Bug and Enhancement"
+
+### Run Integration Tests
+- Use the jenkins job to run integration tests for `arm64` and `x64`
+- Create an issue publish all test results of the tests Eg: [Integration tests for 1.2.4 OpenSearch Artifacts](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/issues/1479)
+
+### Recurring Tasks
+1. Keep the Issue tracking table updated as much as possible.
+2. Circle back to make sure all the component versions are bumped up correctly
+
+### Opensearch maven release
+Run the job `maven-bundle-build` with the build number and the version of the release.
+This will release the candidated to sonatype staging.
+
+This step should be executed one day before the release, since the artifacts on sonatype will otherwise expire.
+
+## Release Day
+1. Verify all issued labeled v1.2.4 in all projects have been resolved.
+2. Complete [documentation](https://github.com/opensearch-project/documentation-website) for this release.
+ - This will be done with the help of PMs
+3. Maven release
+ - Release the maven artifacts from staging to prod on sonatype. **This action is not reversible**
+4. Execute the `distribution-promotion` job to sign and promote opensearch, opensearch-dashboards and native plugins
+5. Publish Docker images
+ - Use the `dockerhub-ecr-promote` job to promote artifacts from dockerhub staging to dockerhub production
+6. Gather, review and publish release notes. [git-release-notes](https://github.com/ariatemplates/git-release-notes)
+7. Publish this release on [opensearch.org](https://opensearch.org/downloads.html)
+ - PMs will execute this step
+8. Publish forum posts - release is launched! Eg: https://discuss.opendistrocommunity.dev/t/opensearch-1-2-4-is-now-available/8330
+ - PMs will execute this step
+9. Publish [blog post](https://github.com/opensearch-project/project-website) - release is launched!
+ - PMs will execute this step
+
+## Post Release Tasks
+1. Create [release tags](https://github.com/opensearch-project/.github/blob/main/RELEASING.md#tagging) for each component.
+2. Replace refs in manifests/ with tags. Eg:
+ - [manifests/1.2.4](/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/tree/main/manifests/1.2.4)
+ - [PR link](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/pull/1503)
+3. Update [this template](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_template.md) with any new or missed steps.
+4. Conduct a retrospective meeting with everyone involved and publish its results on a github issue
+ - Eg: [1.2.4 Retrospective Issue](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/issues/1514)
+
+## FAQs
+1. How to get help on a critical issue?
+> Narrow down the issue source. Reach out the respective component's release engineer/manager for the issue. Create an issue
+> in the respective component's repository. Also list the issue on the release issue for visibility. Eg: [issue comment](https://github.com/opensearch-project/opensearch-build/issues/1417#issuecomment-1011675002)