Method, apparatus and computer program product for use in the upgrade of nodes in a group of nodes in a data communications network. One or more nodes in the group to which a given upgrade is yet to be applied are identified. A given node is selected from amongst the identified one or more nodes to which the given upgrade is yet to be applied as the leader node for the group. Data is transmitted indicating the selection of the given node as the leader node. The upgrade proceeds with the given node as the leader node.