diff --git a/include/villas/node_type.h b/include/villas/node_type.h
index 94d23072b..692222a53 100644
--- a/include/villas/node_type.h
+++ b/include/villas/node_type.h
@@ -79,21 +79,21 @@ struct node_type {
 	 */
 	char * (*print)(struct node *n);
 
-	/** Opens the connection to this node.
+	/** Start this node.
 	 *
 	 * @param n	A pointer to the node object.
 	 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
 	 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
 	 */
-	int (*open) (struct node *n);
+	int (*start) (struct node *n);
 
-	/** Close the connection to this node.
+	/** Stop this node.
 	 *
 	 * @param n	A pointer to the node object.
 	 * @retval 0	Success. Everything went well.
 	 * @retval <0	Error. Something went wrong.
 	 */
-	int (*close)(struct node *n);
+	int (*stop)(struct node *n);
 
 	/** Receive multiple messages at once.
 	 *
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/file.h b/include/villas/nodes/file.h
index aaa53a884..d8355421b 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/file.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/file.h
@@ -60,10 +60,10 @@ char * file_print(struct node *n);
 int file_parse(struct node *n, config_setting_t *cfg);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::open */
-int file_open(struct node *n);
+int file_start(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
-int file_close(struct node *n);
+int file_stop(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::read */
 int file_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/fpga.h b/include/villas/nodes/fpga.h
index 89d5c0ed5..c8846ed57 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/fpga.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/fpga.h
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ struct fpga_card * fpga_lookup_card(const char *name);
 char * fpga_print(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::open */
-int fpga_open(struct node *n);
+int fpga_start(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
-int fpga_close(struct node *n);
+int fpga_stop(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::read */
 int fpga_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h b/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h
index ad1ddd489..d518e0025 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/ngsi.h
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ int ngsi_parse(struct node *n, config_setting_t *cfg);
 char * ngsi_print(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::open */
-int ngsi_open(struct node *n);
+int ngsi_start(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
-int ngsi_close(struct node *n);
+int ngsi_stop(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::read */
 int ngsi_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/opal.h b/include/villas/nodes/opal.h
index 21a8afa92..4b07fb0d1 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/opal.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/opal.h
@@ -60,10 +60,10 @@ char * opal_print(struct node *n);
 int opal_print_global();
 
 /** @see node_vtable::open */
-int opal_open(struct node *n);
+int opal_start(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
-int opal_close(struct node *n);
+int opal_stop(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::read */
 int opal_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/socket.h b/include/villas/nodes/socket.h
index 9a8f228b4..cc1db7628 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/socket.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/socket.h
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ int socket_init(int argc, char *argv[], config_setting_t *cfg);
 int socket_deinit();
 
 /** @see node_vtable::open */
-int socket_open(struct node *n);
+int socket_start(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
-int socket_close(struct node *n);
+int socket_stop(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::write */
 int socket_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt);
diff --git a/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h b/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h
index 8415ec47d..93ddce3c2 100644
--- a/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h
+++ b/include/villas/nodes/websocket.h
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ int websocket_init(int argc, char * argv[], config_setting_t *cfg);
 int websocket_deinit();
 
 /** @see node_vtable::open */
-int websocket_open(struct node *n);
+int websocket_start(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
-int websocket_close(struct node *n);
+int websocket_stop(struct node *n);
 
 /** @see node_vtable::close */
 int websocket_destroy(struct node *n);
diff --git a/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c b/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c
index 98d70ec5c..3447c6211 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ int cbuilder_parse(struct node *n, config_setting_t *cfg)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int cbuilder_open(struct node *n)
+int cbuilder_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	int ret;
 	struct cbuilder *cb = n->_vd;
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ int cbuilder_open(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int cbuilder_close(struct node *n)
+int cbuilder_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct cbuilder *cb = n->_vd;
 	
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.vectorize	= 1,
 		.size		= sizeof(struct cbuilder),
 		.parse		= cbuilder_parse,
-		.open		= cbuilder_open,
-		.close		= cbuilder_close,
+		.start		= cbuilder_start,
+		.stop		= cbuilder_stop,
 		.read		= cbuilder_read,
 		.write		= cbuilder_write
 	}
diff --git a/lib/nodes/file.c b/lib/nodes/file.c
index b8ea1262b..ad5a4f000 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/file.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/file.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ char * file_print(struct node *n)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-int file_open(struct node *n)
+int file_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct file *f = n->_vd;
 	
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ int file_open(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int file_close(struct node *n)
+int file_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct file *f = n->_vd;
 	
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.reverse	= file_reverse,
 		.parse		= file_parse,
 		.print		= file_print,
-		.open		= file_open,
-		.close		= file_close,
+		.start		= file_start,
+		.stop		= file_stop,
 		.read		= file_read,
 		.write		= file_write,
 	}
diff --git a/lib/nodes/fpga.c b/lib/nodes/fpga.c
index 7928e99c8..6d931b36f 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/fpga.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/fpga.c
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ int fpga_get_type(struct fpga_ip *c)
 		return -1;
 }
 
-int fpga_open(struct node *n)
+int fpga_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ int fpga_open(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int fpga_close(struct node *n)
+int fpga_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -303,8 +303,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.vectorize	= 1,
 		.parse		= fpga_parse,
 		.print		= fpga_print,
-		.open		= fpga_open,
-		.close		= fpga_close,
+		.start		= fpga_start,
+		.stop		= fpga_stop,
 		.read		= fpga_read,
 		.write		= fpga_write,
 		.init		= fpga_init,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/ngsi.c b/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
index e411d6736..a994a21d2 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ int ngsi_destroy(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int ngsi_open(struct node *n)
+int ngsi_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct ngsi *i = n->_vd;
 	int ret;
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ int ngsi_open(struct node *n)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int ngsi_close(struct node *n)
+int ngsi_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct ngsi *i = n->_vd;
 	int ret;
@@ -563,8 +563,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.size		= sizeof(struct ngsi),
 		.parse		= ngsi_parse,
 		.print		= ngsi_print,
-		.open		= ngsi_open,
-		.close		= ngsi_close,
+		.start		= ngsi_start,
+		.stop		= ngsi_stop,
 		.read		= ngsi_read,
 		.write		= ngsi_write,
 		.init		= ngsi_init,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/opal.c b/lib/nodes/opal.c
index 3d39b29e6..a99c9c555 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/opal.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/opal.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ char * opal_print(struct node *n)
 		o->send_id, o->recv_id, o->reply);
 }
 
-int opal_open(struct node *n)
+int opal_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct opal *o = n->_vd;
 
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ int opal_open(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int opal_close(struct node *n)
+int opal_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -285,8 +285,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.size		= sizeof(struct opal),
 		.parse		= opal_parse,
 		.print		= opal_print,
-		.open		= opal_open,
-		.close		= opal_close,
+		.start		= opal_start,
+		.stop		= opal_stop,
 		.read		= opal_read,
 		.write		= opal_write,
 		.init		= opal_init,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/socket.c b/lib/nodes/socket.c
index baf688970..57bbcb219 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/socket.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/socket.c
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ char * socket_print(struct node *n)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-int socket_open(struct node *n)
+int socket_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct socket *s = n->_vd;
 	struct sockaddr_in *sin = (struct sockaddr_in *) &s->local;
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ int socket_reverse(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int socket_close(struct node *n)
+int socket_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct socket *s = n->_vd;
 
@@ -680,8 +680,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.reverse	= socket_reverse,
 		.parse		= socket_parse,
 		.print		= socket_print,
-		.open		= socket_open,
-		.close		= socket_close,
+		.start		= socket_start,
+		.stop		= socket_stop,
 		.read		= socket_read,
 		.write		= socket_write,
 		.init		= socket_init,
diff --git a/lib/nodes/websocket.c b/lib/nodes/websocket.c
index 8fededa50..cabe6eb61 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/websocket.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/websocket.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ int websocket_protocol_cb(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reason, voi
 	}
 }
 
-int websocket_open(struct node *n)
+int websocket_start(struct node *n)
 {
 	int ret;
 	struct websocket *w = n->_vd;
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ int websocket_open(struct node *n)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int websocket_close(struct node *n)
+int websocket_stop(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct websocket *w = n->_vd;
 	
@@ -415,8 +415,8 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.node		= {
 		.vectorize	= 0, /* unlimited */
 		.size		= sizeof(struct websocket),
-		.open		= websocket_open,
-		.close		= websocket_close,
+		.start		= websocket_start,
+		.stop		= websocket_stop,
 		.destroy	= websocket_destroy,
 		.read		= websocket_read,
 		.write		= websocket_write,