diff --git a/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml b/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml
index dc53bbb57b..886d09496d 100644
--- a/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml
+++ b/.github/.OwlBot.lock.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 docker:
   image: gcr.io/cloud-devrel-public-resources/owlbot-java:latest
-  digest: sha256:d4b2141d65566523dfd523f63c6e6899ab1281463bce182a9f600e74b0511875
+  digest: sha256:14ecf64ec36f67c7bf04e3dc0f68eafcc01df3955121c38862b695e2ae7515d8
diff --git a/.github/release-please.yml b/.github/release-please.yml
index a43dbc35f8..8a0e92768a 100644
--- a/.github/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/release-please.yml
@@ -10,3 +10,7 @@ branches:
     handleGHRelease: true
     releaseType: java-backport
     branch: 2.1.x
+  - bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+    handleGHRelease: true
+    releaseType: java-backport
+    branch: 2.2.x
diff --git a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
index b97f6f3392..be62d8420f 100644
--- a/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
+++ b/.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml
@@ -48,6 +48,21 @@ branchProtectionRules:
       - 'Kokoro - Test: Integration'
       - cla/google
       - OwlBot Post Processor
+  - pattern: 2.2.x
+    isAdminEnforced: true
+    requiredApprovingReviewCount: 1
+    requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
+    requiresStrictStatusChecks: false
+    requiredStatusCheckContexts:
+      - dependencies (8)
+      - dependencies (11)
+      - lint
+      - clirr
+      - units (8)
+      - units (11)
+      - 'Kokoro - Test: Integration'
+      - cla/google
+      - OwlBot Post Processor
 permissionRules:
   - team: yoshi-admins
     permission: admin
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 2425d7234f..05de1f60dc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -8,13 +8,11 @@ jobs:
   units:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         java: [8, 11, 17]
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
-      with:
-        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
         distribution: zulu
@@ -27,9 +25,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: windows-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
-      with:
-        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
         distribution: zulu
@@ -45,9 +40,6 @@ jobs:
         java: [8, 11, 17]
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
-      with:
-        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
         distribution: zulu
@@ -58,13 +50,10 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
-      with:
-        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
         distribution: zulu
-        java-version: 8
+        java-version: 11
     - run: java -version
     - run: .kokoro/build.sh
       env:
@@ -73,9 +62,6 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-    - uses: stCarolas/setup-maven@v4
-      with:
-        maven-version: 3.8.1
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v2
       with:
         distribution: zulu
diff --git a/.kokoro/dependencies.sh b/.kokoro/dependencies.sh
index 9a5105d7eb..d7476cfe97 100755
--- a/.kokoro/dependencies.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/dependencies.sh
@@ -38,15 +38,13 @@ function determineMavenOpts() {
       | sed -E 's/^(1\.[0-9]\.0).*$/\1/g'
   )
 
-  case $javaVersion in
-    "17")
+  if [[ $javaVersion == 17* ]]
+    then
       # MaxPermSize is no longer supported as of jdk 17
       echo -n "-Xmx1024m"
-      ;;
-    *)
+  else
       echo -n "-Xmx1024m -XX:MaxPermSize=128m"
-      ;;
-  esac
+  fi
 }
 
 export MAVEN_OPTS=$(determineMavenOpts)
diff --git a/.kokoro/release/publish_javadoc11.sh b/.kokoro/release/publish_javadoc11.sh
index 9e573b8f61..64aa128f1c 100755
--- a/.kokoro/release/publish_javadoc11.sh
+++ b/.kokoro/release/publish_javadoc11.sh
@@ -36,13 +36,9 @@ mvn clean install -B -q -DskipTests=true
 export NAME=google-cloud-core
 export VERSION=$(grep ${NAME}: versions.txt | cut -d: -f3)
 
-# V3 generates docfx yml from javadoc
-# generate yml
-mvn clean site -B -q -P docFX
-
-# copy README to docfx-yml dir and rename index.md
-cp README.md target/docfx-yml/index.md
-# copy CHANGELOG to docfx-yml dir and rename history.md
+# cloud RAD generation
+mvn clean javadoc:aggregate -B -q -P docFX
+# include CHANGELOG
 cp CHANGELOG.md target/docfx-yml/history.md
 
 pushd target/docfx-yml
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2a30c81a54..bca8b4ab74 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,31 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.3.0](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/compare/v2.2.0...v2.3.0) (2021-11-11)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* next release from main branch is 2.3.0 ([#602](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/602)) ([34fa5f1](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/34fa5f1e750629d4431d5f97eb8b09ee65ebc016))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **java:** java 17 dependency arguments ([#1266](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/1266)) ([#612](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/612)) ([5be3eff](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/5be3eff4041ca39d513979b948afe99f27bb1d20))
+
+
+### Dependencies
+
+* update dependency com.google.api:api-common to v2.1.0 ([#613](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/613)) ([62d6ab8](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/62d6ab8b5a7c5edb4482d7afda5b87f4832226ca))
+* update dependency com.google.api:gax-bom to v2.7.0 ([#626](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/626)) ([4a1e965](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/4a1e96551e16a5abc5d8f71f9e096a284fc59528))
+* update dependency com.google.api.grpc:proto-google-iam-v1 to v1.1.7 ([#604](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/604)) ([0d36d59](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/0d36d59e4ff8817ba5984579188bfc6d7745348d))
+* update dependency com.google.auth:google-auth-library-bom to v1.2.2 ([#610](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/610)) ([c5e33d8](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/c5e33d87d211c22a93ea2e0de1776e7f2fbf6ef7))
+* update dependency com.google.auth:google-auth-library-bom to v1.3.0 ([#627](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/627)) ([f4403b2](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/f4403b2af856cc6ce45e2aab277d7e78baa6ecfe))
+* update dependency com.google.code.gson:gson to v2.8.9 ([#615](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/615)) ([ec0e387](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/ec0e387d3c96467218406ef4c5da5e59a11e8b7a))
+* update dependency com.google.errorprone:error_prone_annotations to v2.10.0 ([#618](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/618)) ([21139a8](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/21139a83821b12b5312e470c61b45ca76a0b921a))
+* update dependency com.google.protobuf:protobuf-bom to v3.19.1 ([#609](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/609)) ([28e6333](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/28e6333080fbe10ad8ecdfeef12d80af204f71fd))
+* update dependency io.grpc:grpc-bom to v1.42.0 ([#619](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/619)) ([da4cbd5](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/da4cbd5ccc54a81f89635435a2045cfa0de8d722))
+* update dependency org.threeten:threetenbp to v1.5.2 ([#624](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/issues/624)) ([91eec9d](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/commit/91eec9d83285e10cd9ecf3e75cb99b9a9d40cb89))
+
 ## [2.2.0](https://www.github.com/googleapis/java-core/compare/v2.1.8...v2.2.0) (2021-10-18)
 
 
diff --git a/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml
index da77e11abc..e7290c709e 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core-bom/pom.xml
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-bom</artifactId>
-  <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-shared-config</artifactId>
-    <version>1.1.0</version>
+    <version>1.2.1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <name>Google Cloud Core</name>
@@ -63,17 +63,17 @@
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
         <artifactId>google-cloud-core</artifactId>
-        <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+        <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
       </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
         <artifactId>google-cloud-core-grpc</artifactId>
-        <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+        <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
       </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
         <artifactId>google-cloud-core-http</artifactId>
-        <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+        <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
       </dependency>
     </dependencies>
   </dependencyManagement>
diff --git a/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml
index 0f79accabb..d2b4b993fb 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core-grpc/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-grpc</artifactId>
-  <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Google Cloud Core gRPC</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+    <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core-grpc</site.installationModule>
diff --git a/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml
index 300c7a92c8..7ad723891d 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core-http/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-http</artifactId>
-  <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Google Cloud Core HTTP</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+    <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core-http</site.installationModule>
diff --git a/google-cloud-core/pom.xml b/google-cloud-core/pom.xml
index 171cd7b58e..f92684a339 100644
--- a/google-cloud-core/pom.xml
+++ b/google-cloud-core/pom.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core</artifactId>
-  <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <name>Google Cloud Core</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+    <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   </parent>
   <properties>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core</site.installationModule>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 42418d6300..9d6fd4ff75 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
   <artifactId>google-cloud-core-parent</artifactId>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
-  <version>2.2.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
+  <version>2.3.0</version><!-- {x-version-update:google-cloud-core:current} -->
   <name>Google Cloud Core Parent</name>
   <url>https://github.com/googleapis/java-core</url>
   <description>
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>com.google.cloud</groupId>
     <artifactId>google-cloud-shared-config</artifactId>
-    <version>1.1.0</version>
+    <version>1.2.1</version>
   </parent>
 
   <developers>
@@ -151,15 +151,15 @@
     <project.reporting.outputEncoding>UTF-8</project.reporting.outputEncoding>
     <github.global.server>github</github.global.server>
     <site.installationModule>google-cloud-core-parent</site.installationModule>
-    <gax.version>2.6.1</gax.version>
-    <google.api-common.version>2.0.5</google.api-common.version>
+    <gax.version>2.7.0</gax.version>
+    <google.api-common.version>2.1.0</google.api-common.version>
     <google.common-protos.version>2.6.0</google.common-protos.version>
-    <google.iam.version>1.1.6</google.iam.version>
-    <google.auth.version>1.2.1</google.auth.version>
+    <google.iam.version>1.1.7</google.iam.version>
+    <google.auth.version>1.3.0</google.auth.version>
     <google.api.version>1.32.2</google.api.version>
     <google.http.version>1.40.1</google.http.version>
-    <grpc.version>1.41.0</grpc.version>
-    <protobuf.version>3.18.1</protobuf.version>
+    <grpc.version>1.42.0</grpc.version>
+    <protobuf.version>3.19.1</protobuf.version>
     <opencensus.version>0.28.0</opencensus.version>
     <annotations-api.version>1.3.2</annotations-api.version>
     <guava.version>31.0.1-jre</guava.version>
@@ -167,10 +167,10 @@
     <truth.version>1.1.3</truth.version>
     <easymock.version>3.6</easymock.version>
     <findbugs.version>3.0.2</findbugs.version>
-    <threetenbp.version>1.5.1</threetenbp.version>
+    <threetenbp.version>1.5.2</threetenbp.version>
     <objenesis.version>2.6</objenesis.version>
-    <errorprone.version>2.9.0</errorprone.version>
-    <gson.version>2.8.8</gson.version>
+    <errorprone.version>2.10.0</errorprone.version>
+    <gson.version>2.8.9</gson.version>
   </properties>
 
   <dependencyManagement>
diff --git a/versions.txt b/versions.txt
index 8127a52965..8edce4e999 100644
--- a/versions.txt
+++ b/versions.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 # Format:
 # module:released-version:current-version
 
-google-cloud-core:2.2.0:2.2.0
\ No newline at end of file
+google-cloud-core:2.3.0:2.3.0
\ No newline at end of file