An information handling system may include at least one processor; and a non-transitory memory coupled to the at least one processor. The information handling system may be configured to manage an upgrade of a cluster of N host systems by: receiving an indication of a number M of host systems of the cluster that are needed to satisfy an operational requirement of the cluster; removing N-M of the host systems from the cluster; causing the removed host systems to be upgraded in parallel; and adding at least one of the removed host systems back to the cluster after the at least one of the removed host systems has completed the upgrade.