docs: v2.1 release notes

[polarweasel]

Please target v2.1 release-note update PRs to this branch. This PR should remain open until we're ready to release v2.1.

Tag list The tag list in the frontmatter defines what's in the filter dropdown on the main release-notes page. When you add an entry, check to see if you should add a tag, too.

Related issues

#4416

Type of Change

• Add - New feature or capability
• Change - Changes in existing functionality
• Fix - Bug fixes
• Remove - Removed features or deprecated functionality
• Internal - Internal changes (refactoring, tests, docs, etc.)

Breaking Changes

• This PR contains breaking changes

Testing

• Unit tests added/updated
• Integration tests added/updated
• Manual testing performed
• No testing required (docs, internal refactor, etc.)

[coderabbitai]

No actionable comments were generated in the recent review. 🎉

ℹ️ Recent review info

⚙️ Run configuration

Configuration used: Path: .coderabbit.yaml

Review profile: CHILL

Plan: Enterprise

Run ID: eb78fb7f-f10c-476b-88df-9b01ebb754c2

📥 Commits

Reviewing files that changed from the base of the PR and between cb8040f and 89218f2.

📒 Files selected for processing (1)

• fern/changelog/2026-08-31.mdx

---

Summary by CodeRabbit

• Documentation
  • Added an upcoming NVIDIA Infra Controller v2.1 release entry with “Next” labeling.
  • Documented machine-a-tron validation, Helm deployment, setup automation, and the deployment guide.
  • Clarified that the current usage is limited to simulation scenarios.
  • Added placeholder sections for two forthcoming features.

Walkthrough

A new changelog entry adds a tagged “Next” release section for NVIDIA Infra Controller v2.1. It includes two placeholder feature sections and documents machine-a-tron validation, deployment, documentation, and usage restrictions.

Changes

Release Notes

Layer / File(s)	Summary
Add v2.1 release entry and deployment notes fern/changelog/2026-08-31.mdx	Adds next frontmatter, placeholder feature sections, and machine-a-tron validation and deployment details. The entry documents Helm and setup-script configuration, simulated-scale results, documentation, and restrictions on real hardware and the release/v2.0 branch.

Estimated code review effort: 1 (Trivial) | ~2 minutes

Possibly related PRs

• NVIDIA/infra-controller#4223: Documents the machine-a-tron deployment and setup workflow.
• NVIDIA/infra-controller#4367: Modifies the same changelog entry and introduces related machine-a-tron documentation.

🚥 Pre-merge checks | ✅ 5

✅ Passed checks (5 passed)

Check name	Status	Explanation
Title check	✅ Passed	The title clearly identifies the v2.1 release notes documentation update.
Description check	✅ Passed	The description explains the v2.1 release notes scope, tags, release timing, issue, change type, and testing status.
Docstring Coverage	✅ Passed	No functions found in the changed files to evaluate docstring coverage. Skipping docstring coverage check.
Linked Issues check	✅ Passed	Check skipped because no linked issues were found for this pull request.
Out of Scope Changes check	✅ Passed	Check skipped because no linked issues were found for this pull request.

✨ Finishing Touches

🧪 Generate unit tests (beta)

• Create PR with unit tests

---

_{Comment @coderabbitai help to get the list of available commands.}

[github-actions]

🌿 Preview your docs: https://nvidia-preview-pull-request-4417.docs.buildwithfern.com/infra-controller

Here are the markdown pages you've updated:

• infra-controller/documentation/release-notes/2026/8/31