Updating the README to include a note and information about the archiving of the repository.

Author: jcatera-splunk

README.md

@@ -1,30 +1,76 @@
-# Splunk Observability Cloud Documentation
+# Splunk Observability Cloud Documentation - Archived
+
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> This repository, public-o11y-docs, will soon be archived and transitioned to a read-only  
+> state as part of our migration to a new authoring and publishing platform. We would 
+> like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors, collaborators, and organization 
+> members for their valuable contributions to this project. Your efforts have played 
+> a critical role in its development and success.
+
+## Key Dates and Timeline
+
+### July 1st, 2025:
+
+* The repository will enter maintenance mode, and no new collaborators or contributors will be added.
+* Only individuals with prior contributions will retain the ability to participate.
+
+### July 1st – July 31st, 2025:
+
+* Existing contributors may continue to create pull requests (PRs).
+* Contributors without prior involvement in the repository will no longer be able to participate.
+
+### August 1st – August 30th, 2025:
+
+Contribution permissions will be limited to Collaborators and Organization members only.
+
+### August 30th, 2025:
+
+The repository will be officially archived and transitioned to a read-only state.
+
+## What Happens After Archival
+
+Once the repository is archived:
+
+* It will remain accessible in a read-only state for reference purposes.
+* No further pull requests (PRs), issues, or contributions will be accepted.
+* The repository’s history will remain available for cloning and viewing but will no longer allow modifications.
+
+## Moving Forward
+
+We encourage all contributors to refer to the new platform for future contributions and updates. If you have any questions regarding this transition or require assistance, please contact us at [email protected]. 
+
+We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this transition period.
+
+---
+
+## Content (Deprecated)
 
 This repository contains the code and documentation for https://docs.splunk.com/Observability
 
 A private mirror exists where the Splunk technical writers edit documentation for new and updated features. The public and the private repositories update each other automatically using [repo-sync](https://github.com/repo-sync/repo-sync).
 
-## Contribute to the documentation
+
+### Contribute to the documentation (Deprecated)
 
 Docs contributions are welcome. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for the contribution guidelines.
 
-## Requirements
+### Requirements (Deprecated)
 
 The documentation is built from [reStructuredText](https://docutils.sourceforge.io/rst.html) files using [Sphinx](https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/).
 
 To contribute to the documentation you need a GitHub account. See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for our contribution guidelines.
 
 To build the documentation on your machine use the Docker container in this repository, which provides a configured Python environment. To run the container you need Docker Desktop or a compatible container runtime.
 
-### Install the docs on your machine
+#### Install the docs on your machine (Deprecated)
 
 Follow these steps to fork this repo and install it on your machine:
 
 1. Clone this repository using `git clone`.
 2. Navigate to the cloned repository in your file system.
 3. Change the permissions of `start.sh` by entering `chmod +x start.sh` in the terminal.
 
-## License
+### License (Deprecated)
 
 This Splunk repository is subject to the Splunk Websites Terms and Conditions of Use ("Terms")
 [https://www.splunk.com/en_us/legal/terms/terms-of-use.html](https://www.splunk.com/en_us/legal/terms/terms-of-use.html)