A system and method are provided for updating a network including at least one optical circuit switch (OCS) to transition from an existing network topology to a new network topology. One or more intermediate topologies between the existing topology and the new topology are created. Creating the intermediate topologies includes selecting first links to be added to the existing topology without removing links, selecting additional links to be added to the existing topology upon removal of one or more existing links, and adding one or more of the selected first and additional links to the existing topology to create a first intermediate topology. It is determined whether any of the selected first and additional links are still to be added, and if no selected first and additional links are to be added, remaining links are removed. The transition from the existing topology to the first intermediate topology is then effected.