diff --git a/include/villas/node_type.h b/include/villas/node_type.h
index dee935d32..29666b8ab 100644
--- a/include/villas/node_type.h
+++ b/include/villas/node_type.h
@@ -50,23 +50,25 @@ struct node_type {
 
 	enum state state;
 
-	/** Global initialization per node type.
-	 *
-	 * This callback is invoked once per node-type.
-	 *
-	 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
-	 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
-	 */
-	int (*init)(struct super_node *sn);
+	struct {
+		/** Global initialization per node type.
+		 *
+		 * This callback is invoked once per node-type.
+		 *
+		 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
+		 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
+		 */
+		int (*start)(struct super_node *sn);
 
-	/** Global de-initialization per node type.
-	 *
-	 * This callback is invoked once per node-type.
-	 *
-	 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
-	 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
-	 */
-	int (*deinit)();
+		/** Global de-initialization per node type.
+		 *
+		 * This callback is invoked once per node-type.
+		 *
+		 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
+		 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
+		 */
+		int (*stop)();
+	} type;
 
 	/** Allocate memory for an instance of this type.
 	 *
@@ -74,6 +76,13 @@ struct node_type {
 	 */
 	void * (*create)();
 
+	/** Initialize a new node instance.
+	 *
+	 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
+	 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
+	 */
+	int (*init)();
+
 	/** Free memory of an instance of this type.
 	 *
 	 * @param n	A pointer to the node object.
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/iec61850.h b/include/villas/nodes/iec61850.h
index 349549ffa..08ee86900 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/iec61850.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/iec61850.h
@@ -99,9 +99,11 @@ struct iec61850_receiver {
 	};
 };
 
-int iec61850_init(struct super_node *sn);
+/** @see node_type::type_start */
+int iec61850_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
-int iec61850_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int iec61850_type_stop();
 
 const struct iec61850_type_descriptor * iec61850_lookup_type(const char *name, char fmt);
 
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/iec61850_sv.h b/include/villas/nodes/iec61850_sv.h
index 7213c20fb..597b03134 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/iec61850_sv.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/iec61850_sv.h
@@ -81,24 +81,34 @@ struct iec61850_sv {
 	} publisher;
 };
 
-int iec61850_sv_init(struct super_node *sn);
+/** @see node_type::type_start */
+int iec61850_sv_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
-int iec61850_sv_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int iec61850_sv_type_stop();
 
+/** @see node_type::parse */
 int iec61850_sv_parse(struct node *n, json_t *json);
 
+/** @see node_type::print */
 char * iec61850_sv_print(struct node *n);
 
+/** @see node_type::start */
 int iec61850_sv_start(struct node *n);
 
+/** @see node_type::stop */
 int iec61850_sv_stop(struct node *n);
 
+/** @see node_type::destroy */
 int iec61850_sv_destroy(struct node *n);
 
-int iec61850_sv_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
+/** @see node_type::read */
+int iec61850_sv_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release);
 
-int iec61850_sv_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
+/** @see node_type::write */
+int iec61850_sv_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release);
 
+/** @see node_type::fd */
 int iec61850_sv_fd(struct node *n);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/infiniband.h b/include/villas/nodes/infiniband.h
index 7a5058f71..4555af1ae 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/infiniband.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/infiniband.h
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ int ib_destroy(struct node *n);
 /** @see node_type::close */
 int ib_stop(struct node *n);
 
-/** @see node_type::init */
-int ib_init(struct super_node *n);
+/** @see node_type::type_start */
+int ib_type_start(struct super_node *n);
 
-/** @see node_type::deinit */
-int ib_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int ib_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::read */
 int ib_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/mqtt.h b/include/villas/nodes/mqtt.h
index fb4b96563..05fe624c1 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/mqtt.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/mqtt.h
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ int mqtt_destroy(struct node *n);
 /** @see node_type::close */
 int mqtt_stop(struct node *n);
 
-/** @see node_type::init */
-int mqtt_init();
+/** @see node_type::type_start */
+int mqtt_type_start();
 
-/** @see node_type::deinit */
-int mqtt_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int mqtt_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::read */
 int mqtt_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h b/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h
index b417317ca..090a446f7 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h
@@ -70,15 +70,15 @@ struct ngsi {
 
 /** Initialize global NGSI settings and maps shared memory regions.
  *
- * @see node_type::init
+ * @see node_type::type_start
  */
-int ngsi_init(struct super_node *sn);
+int ngsi_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
 /** Free global NGSI settings and unmaps shared memory regions.
  *
- * @see node_type::deinit
+ * @see node_type::type_stop
  */
-int ngsi_deinit();
+int ngsi_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::parse */
 int ngsi_parse(struct node *n, json_t *cfg);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/opal.h b/include/villas/nodes/opal.h
index 10d96e514..f2dfdf5e6 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/opal.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/opal.h
@@ -58,15 +58,15 @@ struct opal {
 
 /** Initialize global OPAL settings and maps shared memory regions.
  *
- * @see node_type::init
+ * @see node_type::type_start
  */
-int opal_init(struct super_node *sn);
+int opal_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
 /** Free global OPAL settings and unmaps shared memory regions.
  *
- * @see node_type::deinit
+ * @see node_type::type_stop
  */
-int opal_deinit();
+int opal_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::parse */
 int opal_parse(struct node *n, json_t *cfg);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/socket.h b/include/villas/nodes/socket.h
index 5db551339..184b1e9b8 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/socket.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/socket.h
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ struct socket {
 };
 
 
-/** @see node_vtable::init */
-int socket_init(struct super_node *sn);
+/** @see node_vtable::type_start */
+int socket_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
-/** @see node_type::deinit */
-int socket_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int socket_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::open */
 int socket_start(struct node *n);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/stats.h b/include/villas/nodes/stats.h
index cc50d9148..2f111d409 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/stats.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/stats.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ struct stats_node {
 };
 
 /** @see node_type::print */
-int stats_node_init(struct super_node *sn);
+int stats_node_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
 /** @see node_type::print */
 char *stats_node_print(struct node *n);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h b/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h
index 232bcc04d..dd8d770b3 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ struct websocket_destination {
 
 int websocket_protocol_cb(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reason, void *user, void *in, size_t len);
 
-/** @see node_vtable::init */
-int websocket_init(struct super_node *sn);
+/** @see node_type::type_start */
+int websocket_type_start(struct super_node *sn);
 
-/** @see node_type::deinit */
-int websocket_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int websocket_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::open */
 int websocket_start(struct node *n);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/zeromq.h b/include/villas/nodes/zeromq.h
index c5d62c4b2..5dc4c8d26 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/zeromq.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/zeromq.h
@@ -89,11 +89,11 @@ char * zeromq_print(struct node *n);
 /** @see node_type::parse */
 int zeromq_parse(struct node *n, json_t *cfg);
 
-/** @see node_type::init */
-int zeromq_init();
+/** @see node_type::type_start */
+int zeromq_type_start();
 
-/** @see node_type::deinit */
-int zeromq_deinit();
+/** @see node_type::type_stop */
+int zeromq_type_stop();
 
 /** @see node_type::open */
 int zeromq_start(struct node *n);
diff --git a/lib/node_type.c b/lib/node_type.c
index f962ab1f6..b1ff6eb6e 100644
--- a/lib/node_type.c
+++ b/lib/node_type.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ int node_type_start(struct node_type *vt, struct super_node *sn)
 
 	info("Initializing " CLR_YEL("%s") " node type which is used by %zu nodes", node_type_name(vt), list_length(&vt->instances));
 	{ INDENT
-		ret = vt->init ? vt->init(sn) : 0;
+		ret = vt->type.start ? vt->type.start(sn) : 0;
 	}
 
 	if (ret == 0)
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ int node_type_stop(struct node_type *vt)
 
 	info("De-initializing " CLR_YEL("%s") " node type", node_type_name(vt));
 	{ INDENT
-		ret = vt->deinit ? vt->deinit() : 0;
+		ret = vt->type.stop ? vt->type.stop() : 0;
 	}
 
 	if (ret == 0)
diff --git a/lib/nodes/iec61850.c b/lib/nodes/iec61850.c
index b6aae1706..6c01ea446 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/iec61850.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/iec61850.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ int iec61850_parse_mapping(json_t *json_mapping, struct list *mapping)
 	return total_size;
 }
 
-int iec61850_init(struct super_node *sn)
+int iec61850_type_start(struct super_node *sn)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ int iec61850_init(struct super_node *sn)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int iec61850_deinit()
+int iec61850_type_stop()
 {
 	int ret;
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c b/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c
index c4050dfb8..acda79c81 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ int iec61850_sv_destroy(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int iec61850_sv_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt)
+int iec61850_sv_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release)
 {
 	int pulled;
 	struct iec61850_sv *i = (struct iec61850_sv *) n->_vd;
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ int iec61850_sv_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt)
 	return pulled;
 }
 
-int iec61850_sv_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt)
+int iec61850_sv_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release)
 {
 	struct iec61850_sv *i = (struct iec61850_sv *) n->_vd;
 
@@ -429,8 +429,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct iec61850_sv),
-		.init		= iec61850_init,
-		.deinit		= iec61850_deinit,
+		.type.start	= iec61850_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= iec61850_type_stop,
 		.parse		= iec61850_sv_parse,
 		.print		= iec61850_sv_print,
 		.start		= iec61850_sv_start,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/infiniband.c b/lib/nodes/infiniband.c
index ff13b2ebf..277b89590 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/infiniband.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/infiniband.c
@@ -670,16 +670,6 @@ int ib_stop(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int ib_init(struct super_node *n)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int ib_deinit()
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
 int ib_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release)
 {
 	struct infiniband *ib = (struct infiniband *) n->_vd;
@@ -909,8 +899,6 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.start          = ib_start,
 		.destroy        = ib_destroy,
 		.stop           = ib_stop,
-		.init           = ib_init,
-		.deinit         = ib_deinit,
 		.read           = ib_read,
 		.write          = ib_write,
 		.fd             = ib_fd,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/mqtt.c b/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
index c0045ee90..a17d31f0c 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ int mqtt_stop(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int mqtt_init()
+int mqtt_type_start()
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ int mqtt_init()
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int mqtt_deinit()
+int mqtt_type_stop()
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -420,14 +420,14 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct mqtt),
+		.type.start	= mqtt_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= mqtt_type_stop,
 		.reverse	= mqtt_reverse,
 		.parse		= mqtt_parse,
 		.print		= mqtt_print,
 		.start		= mqtt_start,
 		.destroy	= mqtt_destroy,
 		.stop		= mqtt_stop,
-		.init		= mqtt_init,
-		.deinit		= mqtt_deinit,
 		.read		= mqtt_read,
 		.write		= mqtt_write,
 		.fd		= mqtt_fd
diff --git a/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c b/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c
index 0ce59c31c..57a0e76c2 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ int nanomsg_destroy(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int nanomsg_deinit()
+int nanomsg_type_stop()
 {
 	nn_term();
 
@@ -284,13 +284,13 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct nanomsg),
+		.type.start	= nanomsg_type_stop,
 		.reverse	= nanomsg_reverse,
 		.parse		= nanomsg_parse,
 		.print		= nanomsg_print,
 		.start		= nanomsg_start,
 		.stop		= nanomsg_stop,
 		.destroy	= nanomsg_destroy,
-		.deinit		= nanomsg_deinit,
 		.read		= nanomsg_read,
 		.write		= nanomsg_write,
 		.fd		= nanomsg_fd
diff --git a/lib/nodes/ngsi.c b/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
index 59a8588e9..a4d8d896a 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
@@ -389,12 +389,12 @@ out:	json_decref(request);
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int ngsi_init(struct super_node *sn)
+int ngsi_type_start(struct super_node *sn)
 {
 	return curl_global_init(CURL_GLOBAL_ALL);
 }
 
-int ngsi_deinit()
+int ngsi_type_stop()
 {
 	free(name);
 
@@ -586,14 +586,14 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0, /* unlimited */
 		.size		= sizeof(struct ngsi),
+		.type.start	= ngsi_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= ngsi_type_stop,
 		.parse		= ngsi_parse,
 		.print		= ngsi_print,
 		.start		= ngsi_start,
 		.stop		= ngsi_stop,
 		.read		= ngsi_read,
 		.write		= ngsi_write,
-		.init		= ngsi_init,
-		.deinit		= ngsi_deinit,
 		.fd		= ngsi_fd
 	}
 };
diff --git a/lib/nodes/opal.c b/lib/nodes/opal.c
index af378ffa9..28c96c75b 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/opal.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/opal.c
@@ -309,14 +309,14 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectoroize	= 1,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct opal),
+		.type.start	= opal_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= opal_type_stop,
 		.parse		= opal_parse,
 		.print		= opal_print,
 		.start		= opal_start,
 		.stop		= opal_stop,
 		.read		= opal_read,
-		.write		= opal_write,
-		.init		= opal_init,
-		.deinit		= opal_deinit
+		.write		= opal_write
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/socket.c b/lib/nodes/socket.c
index ec8d58bac..a76f26ccd 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/socket.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/socket.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ static struct plugin p;
 /* Private static storage */
 struct list interfaces = { .state = STATE_DESTROYED };
 
-int socket_init(struct super_node *sn)
+int socket_type_start(struct super_node *sn)
 {
 #ifdef WITH_NETEM
 	int ret;
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ found:		list_push(&i->sockets, s);
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int socket_deinit()
+int socket_type_stop()
 {
 #ifdef WITH_NETEM
 	for (size_t j = 0; j < list_length(&interfaces); j++) {
@@ -789,6 +789,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct socket),
+		.type.start	= socket_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= socket_type_stop,
 		.destroy	= socket_destroy,
 		.reverse	= socket_reverse,
 		.parse		= socket_parse,
@@ -797,8 +799,6 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= socket_stop,
 		.read		= socket_read,
 		.write		= socket_write,
-		.init		= socket_init,
-		.deinit		= socket_deinit,
 		.fd		= socket_fd
 	}
 };
diff --git a/lib/nodes/stats.c b/lib/nodes/stats.c
index 57dcfa2ab..ec22f494b 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/stats.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/stats.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 static struct list *nodes; /** The global list of nodes */
 
-int stats_node_init(struct super_node *sn)
+int stats_node_type_start(struct super_node *sn)
 {
 	if (!sn)
 		return -1;
@@ -161,16 +161,16 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.description	= "Send statistics to another node",
 	.type		= PLUGIN_TYPE_NODE,
 	.node		= {
-		.vectorize = 1,
-		.size	= sizeof(struct stats_node),
-		.init	= stats_node_init,
-		.parse	= stats_node_parse,
-		.destroy= stats_node_destroy,
-		.print	= stats_node_print,
-		.start	= stats_node_start,
-		.stop	= stats_node_stop,
-		.read	= stats_node_read,
-		.fd	= stats_node_fd
+		.vectorize	= 1,
+		.size		= sizeof(struct stats_node),
+		.type.start	= stats_node_type_start,
+		.parse		= stats_node_parse,
+		.destroy	= stats_node_destroy,
+		.print		= stats_node_print,
+		.start		= stats_node_start,
+		.stop		= stats_node_stop,
+		.read		= stats_node_read,
+		.fd		= stats_node_fd
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/websocket.c b/lib/nodes/websocket.c
index 008dbfe11..2f2faf8cf 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/websocket.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/websocket.c
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ int websocket_protocol_cb(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reason, voi
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int websocket_init(struct super_node *sn)
+int websocket_type_start(struct super_node *sn)
 {
 	list_init(&connections);
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ int websocket_init(struct super_node *sn)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int websocket_deinit()
+int websocket_type_stop()
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -598,8 +598,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0, /* unlimited */
 		.size		= sizeof(struct websocket),
-		.init		= websocket_init,
-		.deinit		= websocket_deinit,
+		.type.start	= websocket_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= websocket_type_stop,
 		.start		= websocket_start,
 		.stop		= websocket_stop,
 		.destroy	= websocket_destroy,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/zeromq.c b/lib/nodes/zeromq.c
index db27d6f6b..55c019867 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/zeromq.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/zeromq.c
@@ -232,14 +232,14 @@ char * zeromq_print(struct node *n)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-int zeromq_init(struct super_node *sn)
+int zeromq_type_start(struct super_node *sn)
 {
 	context = zmq_ctx_new();
 
 	return context == NULL;
 }
 
-int zeromq_deinit()
+int zeromq_type_stop()
 {
 	return zmq_ctx_term(context);
 }
@@ -527,14 +527,14 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct zeromq),
+		.type.start	= zeromq_type_start,
+		.type.stop	= zeromq_type_stop,
 		.reverse	= zeromq_reverse,
 		.parse		= zeromq_parse,
 		.print		= zeromq_print,
 		.start		= zeromq_start,
 		.stop		= zeromq_stop,
 		.destroy	= zeromq_destroy,
-		.init		= zeromq_init,
-		.deinit		= zeromq_deinit,
 		.read		= zeromq_read,
 		.write		= zeromq_write,
 		.fd		= zeromq_fd