diff --git a/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py b/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
index a54892c2..19ef40d0 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/grpc/server.py
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ class CoreGrpcServer(core_pb2_grpc.CoreApiServicer):
         options.image = node_proto.image
         options.services = node_proto.services
         if node_proto.server:
-            options.emulation_server = node_proto.server
+            options.server = node_proto.server
 
         position = node_proto.position
         options.set_position(position.x, position.y)
diff --git a/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py b/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py
index 153cd555..3f5f6475 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/tlv/corehandlers.py
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ class CoreHandler(socketserver.BaseRequestHandler):
         options.icon = message.get_tlv(NodeTlvs.ICON.value)
         options.canvas = message.get_tlv(NodeTlvs.CANVAS.value)
         options.opaque = message.get_tlv(NodeTlvs.OPAQUE.value)
-        options.emulation_server = message.get_tlv(NodeTlvs.EMULATION_SERVER.value)
+        options.server = message.get_tlv(NodeTlvs.EMULATION_SERVER.value)
 
         services = message.get_tlv(NodeTlvs.SERVICES.value)
         if services:
diff --git a/daemon/core/api/tlv/dataconversion.py b/daemon/core/api/tlv/dataconversion.py
index a8525a05..8e1c270d 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/tlv/dataconversion.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/tlv/dataconversion.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def convert_node(node_data):
             (NodeTlvs.IP6_ADDRESS, node_data.ip6_address),
             (NodeTlvs.MODEL, node_data.model),
             (NodeTlvs.EMULATION_ID, node_data.emulation_id),
-            (NodeTlvs.EMULATION_SERVER, node_data.emulation_server),
+            (NodeTlvs.EMULATION_SERVER, node_data.server),
             (NodeTlvs.SESSION, node_data.session),
             (NodeTlvs.X_POSITION, node_data.x_position),
             (NodeTlvs.Y_POSITION, node_data.y_position),
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/data.py b/daemon/core/emulator/data.py
index d5cb3f57..ba0dd457 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/data.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/data.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ NodeData = collections.namedtuple(
         "ip6_address",
         "model",
         "emulation_id",
-        "emulation_server",
+        "server",
         "session",
         "x_position",
         "y_position",
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py b/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
index 5a38c69c..e739800e 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class NodeOptions(object):
         self.lon = None
         self.alt = None
         self.emulation_id = None
-        self.emulation_server = None
+        self.server = None
         self.image = image
 
     def set_position(self, x, y):
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
index 71149e4b..118f695e 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
@@ -673,9 +673,9 @@ class Session(object):
             name = f"{node_class.__name__}{_id}"
 
         # verify distributed server
-        server = self.distributed.servers.get(options.emulation_server)
-        if options.emulation_server is not None and server is None:
-            raise CoreError(f"invalid distributed server: {options.emulation_server}")
+        server = self.distributed.servers.get(options.server)
+        if options.server is not None and server is None:
+            raise CoreError(f"invalid distributed server: {options.server}")
 
         # create node
         logging.info(
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ class Session(object):
             logging.debug("set node type: %s", node.type)
             self.services.add_services(node, node.type, options.services)
 
-        # boot nodes if created after runtime, CoreNodes, Physical, and RJ45 are all nodes
+        # boot nodes after runtime, CoreNodes, Physical, and RJ45 are all nodes
         is_boot_node = isinstance(node, CoreNodeBase) and not isinstance(node, Rj45Node)
         if self.state == EventTypes.RUNTIME_STATE.value and is_boot_node:
             self.write_nodes()
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
index 8b35410d..65ed5dc7 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
@@ -194,9 +194,9 @@ class NodeBase(object):
 
         x, y, _ = self.getposition()
         model = self.type
-        emulation_server = None
+        server = None
         if self.server is not None:
-            emulation_server = self.server.name
+            server = self.server.name
 
         services = self.services
         if services is not None:
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ class NodeBase(object):
             longitude=lon,
             altitude=alt,
             model=model,
-            emulation_server=emulation_server,
+            server=server,
             services=services,
         )
 
diff --git a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_emane.py b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_emane.py
index e2143886..6b61e505 100644
--- a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_emane.py
+++ b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_emane.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def main(args):
     node_one = session.add_node(options=options)
     emane_net = session.add_node(_type=NodeTypes.EMANE)
     session.emane.set_model(emane_net, EmaneIeee80211abgModel)
-    options.emulation_server = server_name
+    options.server = server_name
     node_two = session.add_node(options=options)
 
     # create node interfaces and link
diff --git a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_lxd.py b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_lxd.py
index 2cb69718..73d24b5a 100644
--- a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_lxd.py
+++ b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_lxd.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def main(args):
     # create local node, switch, and remote nodes
     options = NodeOptions(image="ubuntu:18.04")
     node_one = session.add_node(_type=NodeTypes.LXC, options=options)
-    options.emulation_server = server_name
+    options.server = server_name
     node_two = session.add_node(_type=NodeTypes.LXC, options=options)
 
     # create node interfaces and link
diff --git a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_ptp.py b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_ptp.py
index 35877be6..0138dab3 100644
--- a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_ptp.py
+++ b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_ptp.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def main(args):
     # create local node, switch, and remote nodes
     options = NodeOptions()
     node_one = session.add_node(options=options)
-    options.emulation_server = server_name
+    options.server = server_name
     node_two = session.add_node(options=options)
 
     # create node interfaces and link
diff --git a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_switch.py b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_switch.py
index c9f5e1a4..f659abd2 100644
--- a/daemon/examples/python/distributed_switch.py
+++ b/daemon/examples/python/distributed_switch.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def main(args):
     node_one = session.add_node()
     switch = session.add_node(_type=NodeTypes.SWITCH)
     options = NodeOptions()
-    options.emulation_server = server_name
+    options.server = server_name
     node_two = session.add_node(options=options)
 
     # create node interfaces and link
diff --git a/daemon/tests/distributed/test_distributed.py b/daemon/tests/distributed/test_distributed.py
index 7078d6ed..c3d74365 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/distributed/test_distributed.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/distributed/test_distributed.py
@@ -35,15 +35,13 @@ def set_emane_model(node_id, model):
     )
 
 
-def node_message(
-    _id, name, emulation_server=None, node_type=NodeTypes.DEFAULT, model=None
-):
+def node_message(_id, name, server=None, node_type=NodeTypes.DEFAULT, model=None):
     """
     Convenience method for creating a node TLV messages.
 
     :param int _id: node id
     :param str name: node name
-    :param str emulation_server: distributed server name, if desired
+    :param str server: distributed server name, if desired
     :param core.emulator.enumerations.NodeTypes node_type: node type
     :param str model: model for node
     :return: tlv message
@@ -53,7 +51,7 @@ def node_message(
         (NodeTlvs.NUMBER, _id),
         (NodeTlvs.TYPE, node_type.value),
         (NodeTlvs.NAME, name),
-        (NodeTlvs.EMULATION_SERVER, emulation_server),
+        (NodeTlvs.EMULATION_SERVER, server),
         (NodeTlvs.X_POSITION, 0),
         (NodeTlvs.Y_POSITION, 0),
     ]
@@ -182,7 +180,7 @@ class TestDistributed:
 
         # create distributed node and assign to distributed server
         message = node_message(
-            _id=2, name="n2", emulation_server=cored.distributed_server, model="host"
+            _id=2, name="n2", server=cored.distributed_server, model="host"
         )
         cored.request_handler.handle_message(message)
 
@@ -231,7 +229,7 @@ class TestDistributed:
 
         # create distributed node and assign to distributed server
         message = node_message(
-            _id=2, name="n2", emulation_server=cored.distributed_server, model="mdr"
+            _id=2, name="n2", server=cored.distributed_server, model="mdr"
         )
         cored.request_handler.handle_message(message)
 
@@ -281,7 +279,7 @@ class TestDistributed:
         message = node_message(
             _id=2,
             name="n2",
-            emulation_server=cored.distributed_server,
+            server=cored.distributed_server,
             node_type=NodeTypes.PHYSICAL,
             model="prouter",
         )
@@ -330,7 +328,7 @@ class TestDistributed:
         message = node_message(
             _id=2,
             name=distributed_address,
-            emulation_server=cored.distributed_server,
+            server=cored.distributed_server,
             node_type=NodeTypes.TUNNEL,
         )
         cored.request_handler.handle_message(message)