Add upgrade note for Sidekiq concurrency limiter job backlogs on Helm chart deployments

What does this MR do?

Adds an upgrade note to doc/update/versions/gitlab_18_changes.md documenting the known issue where GITLAB_SIDEKIQ_MAX_REPLICAS, set by default in the Helm chart starting in GitLab 18.9, activates the Sidekiq concurrency limiter on Self-Managed and Dedicated environments without KEDA-based autoscaling. This causes job backlogs, Redis memory growth, and delayed execution for workers including webhooks, audit events, and Geo replication.

The note covers:

  • Affected versions (18.9.0 - 18.9.5, 18.10.0 - 18.10.3) and fixed patch levels
  • Symptoms (job backlogs, Redis memory growth, delayed execution)
  • Two mitigation options (per-worker feature flag, GITLAB_SIDEKIQ_MAX_REPLICAS=0)
  • Geo secondary caveat (ConcurrencyLimit::ResumeWorker not running on secondaries)
  • Links to the fix MR and backports

Author's checklist

Reviewer's checklist

Documentation-related MRs should be reviewed by a Technical Writer for a non-blocking review, based on Documentation Guidelines and the Style Guide.

If you aren't sure which tech writer to ask, use roulette or ask in the #docs Slack channel.

  • If the content requires it, ensure the information is reviewed by a subject matter expert.
  • Technical writer review items:
    • Ensure docs metadata is present and up-to-date.
    • Ensure the appropriate labels are added to this MR.
    • Ensure a release milestone is set.
    • If relevant to this MR, ensure content topic type principles are in use, including:
      • The headings should be something you'd do a Google search for. Instead of Default behavior, say something like Default behavior when you close an issue.
      • The headings (other than the page title) should be active. Instead of Configuring GDK, say something like Configure GDK.
      • Any task steps should be written as a numbered list.
      • If the content still needs to be edited for topic types, you can create a follow-up issue with the docs-technical-debt label.
  • Review by assigned maintainer, who can always request/require the reviews above. Maintainer's review can occur before or after a technical writer review.
Edited by Alvin Gounder

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