1. A method operated in conjunction with one or more processors to update network devices, comprising: selecting a first member within a plurality of members in a first cluster; bifurcating the first cluster, wherein the bifurcation comprises: creating a second cluster, wherein the second cluster includes the selected first member; activating the first member within the second cluster, wherein the first member is activated with a defined configuration upgrade; and determining if a defined failover criteria is satisfied, and if the defined failover criteria is satisfied, failing over connectivity from the first cluster to the second cluster such that the second cluster becomes an active cluster for managing connections; removing at least one other member from the first cluster; upgrading the at least one other member with the defined upgrade; and joining the at least one other member as a member to the second cluster.