# Rolling Updates

Upgrading and modifying a k8s cluster often requires the replacement of nodes.  To not cause loss of service and other disruptions a kops uses a functionality call rolling updates.  Rolling a cluster is the replacement of the masters and nodes with new cloud instances.

![Rolling Update Diagram](/docs/development/images/rolling-update.png?raw=true "Rolling Updates Diagram")

`kops` executes steps 2-4 for all the masters until the masters are replaced.   Then the same process is followed to replaces all nodes.