Separate release notes for machine configuration

Prior to this change, the release notes for the Azure machine
configuration agent were kept in the `agents.md` file, colocating the
notes for releases on Windows and Linux in the same document. This made
it difficult for users to navigate to the correct release and wasn't
intuitive for discovery and reading.

This change:

- Separates the release notes by platform, making it easier to find the
  correct release for a platform.
- Adds anchors to each article to simplify linking to a specific version
  or release date.
- Replaces `agent.md` with `agent/index.md` as an overview to direct
  readers to the platform-specific release notes. This obviates needing
  a redirection as the URL remains valid.
- Fixes some minor grammar and formatting for the release notes.

Author: MutemwaRMasheke

articles/governance/machine-configuration/toc.yml

@@ -19,8 +19,14 @@ items:
 
 - name: What's new in Machine Configuration
   items:
-    - name: What's new in the agent
-      href: ./whats-new/agent.md
+    - name: What's new in the Azure machine configuration agent
+      items:
+      - name: Overview
+        href: ./whats-new/agent/index.md
+      - name: Windows agent release notes
+        href: ./whats-new/agent/windows.md
+      - name: Linux agent release notes
+        href: ./whats-new/agent/linux.md
     # Planned, not yet written
     # - name: What's new in the service
     #   href: ./whats-new/service.md

articles/governance/machine-configuration/whats-new/agent.md

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+---
+title: Azure machine configuration agent release notes overview
+description: >-
+  Overview of the guest configuration agent release notes, issues, and frequently asked questions.
+ms.date:  04/13/2026
+ms.topic: release-notes
+---
+
+# Azure machine configuration agent release notes overview
+
+The machine configuration agent receives improvements on an ongoing basis. To stay up to date with
+the most recent developments by platform, see the following articles:
+
+- [Azure machine configuration agent for Linux release notes][01]
+  (`Microsoft.GuestConfiguration.ConfigurationforWindows`)
+- [Azure machine configuration agent for Windows release notes][02]
+  (`Microsoft.GuestConfiguration.ConfigurationforLinux`)
+
+Each article provides you with information about:
+
+- The latest releases
+- Known issues
+- Bug fixes
+
+For information on release notes for the connected machine agent, see
+[What's new with the connected machine agent][03].
+
+## Release timeline
+
+The following table shows the releases for both platforms from most recent to oldest. Each entry
+includes a direct link to the relevant release for more information.
+
+| Platform |   Version    |  Release date  |                   Link                   |
+|:--------:|:------------:|:--------------:|:----------------------------------------:|
+|  Linux   | `1.26.104.0` |  January 2026  |  [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.104.0)  |
+| Windows  | `1.29.104.0` |  January 2026  | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.104.0) |
+|  Linux   | `1.26.101.0` | November 2025  |  [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.101.0)  |
+| Windows  | `1.29.101.0` | November 2025  | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.101.0) |
+|  Linux   | `1.26.93.0`  |   July 2025    |  [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.93.0)   |
+| Windows  | `1.29.98.0`  |   July 2025    | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.98.0)  |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.87`   |   April 2025   |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.87)    |
+| Windows  | `1.29.92.0`  |   April 2025   | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.92.0)  |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.85`   |   March 2025   |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.85)    |
+| Windows  | `1.29.91.0`  |   March 2025   | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.91.0)  |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.80`   |  January 2025  |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.80)    |
+| Windows  | `1.29.86.0`  |  January 2025  | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.86.0)  |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.79`   |  October 2024  |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.79)    |
+| Windows  | `1.29.85.0`  |  October 2024  | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.85.0)  |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.77`   | September 2024 |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.77)    |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.76`   | September 2024 |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.76)    |
+| Windows  | `1.29.82.0`  | September 2024 | [Release notes](./windows.md#1.29.82.0)  |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.47`   |  January 2023  |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.76)    |
+|  Linux   |  `1.26.38`   |       -        |   [Release notes](./linux.md#1.26.76)    |
+
+## Next steps
+
+- Set up a custom machine configuration package [development environment][04].
+- [Create a package artifact][05] for machine configuration.
+- [Test the package artifact][06] from your development environment.
+- Use the `GuestConfiguration` module to [create an Azure Policy definition][07] for at-scale
+  management of your environment.
+- [Assign your custom policy definition][08] using Azure portal.
+- Learn how to view [compliance details for machine configuration][09] policy assignments.
+
+<!-- Reference link definitions -->
+[01]: ./windows.md
+[02]: ./linux.md
+[03]: /azure/azure-arc/servers/agent-release-notes
+[04]: ../../how-to/develop-custom-package/1-set-up-authoring-environment.md
+[05]: ../../how-to/develop-custom-package/2-create-package.md
+[06]: ../../how-to/develop-custom-package/3-test-package.md
+[07]: ../../how-to/create-policy-definition.md
+[08]: ../../../policy/assign-policy-portal.md
+[09]: ../../../policy/how-to/determine-non-compliance.md