A method for managing a cluster of network devices, the cluster includes a command network device and at least one member network device, and the command network device has a commander IP address and a commander MAC address, includes: defining a standby group by assigning a virtual IP address and a virtual MAC address; selecting a first network device, which is the command device, for the standby group; selecting at least one second network device, which has an IP address, for the standby group; defining a standby priority for each network device in the standby group; and binding the standby group to the cluster, by replacing the commander IP address with the virtual IP address and replacing the commander MAC address with the virtual MAC address. Upon the binding, the network device with a highest priority becomes an active commander, and the network device with a second highest priority becomes a standby commander.