Mechanisms for switch upgrades using remote containers. An example system can export, to a server, a state of software processes associated with a first software container at the system. The system can generate a lightweight software container configured to forward traffic associated with the first software container to a second software container at the server, generated based on the state. The system can perform a switchover between the first software container and lightweight software container. The switchover can enable the lightweight software container to forward, to the second container, traffic associated with the first software container. The system can generate a fourth software container based on a snapshot of the second software container, and perform another switchover between the lightweight software container and fourth software container. The switchover can include enabling the fourth software container to handle traffic associated with the first software container, and disabling the lightweight software container.