diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/create.go b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/create.go
index 875c9945f8..c406d6db9d 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/create.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/create.go
@@ -148,15 +148,15 @@ func CreateSandbox(ctx context.Context, vci vc.VC, ociSpec specs.Spec, runtimeCo
 	defer func() {
 		// cleanup netns if kata creates it
 		ns := sandboxConfig.NetworkConfig
-		if err != nil && ns.NetNsCreated {
-			if ex := cleanupNetNS(ns.NetNSPath); ex != nil {
-				kataUtilsLogger.WithField("path", ns.NetNSPath).WithError(ex).Warn("failed to cleanup netns")
+		if err != nil && ns.NetworkCreated {
+			if ex := cleanupNetNS(ns.NetworkID); ex != nil {
+				kataUtilsLogger.WithField("id", ns.NetworkID).WithError(ex).Warn("failed to cleanup network")
 			}
 		}
 	}()
 
 	// Run pre-start OCI hooks.
-	err = EnterNetNS(sandboxConfig.NetworkConfig.NetNSPath, func() error {
+	err = EnterNetNS(sandboxConfig.NetworkConfig.NetworkID, func() error {
 		return PreStartHooks(ctx, ociSpec, containerID, bundlePath)
 	})
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network.go b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network.go
index 0580bd8e9f..d0cb4d66f4 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network.go
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ const procMountInfoFile = "/proc/self/mountinfo"
 // EnterNetNS is free from any call to a go routine, and it calls
 // into runtime.LockOSThread(), meaning it won't be executed in a
 // different thread than the one expected by the caller.
-func EnterNetNS(netNSPath string, cb func() error) error {
-	if netNSPath == "" {
+func EnterNetNS(networkID string, cb func() error) error {
+	if networkID == "" {
 		return cb()
 	}
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func EnterNetNS(netNSPath string, cb func() error) error {
 	}
 	defer currentNS.Close()
 
-	targetNS, err := ns.GetNS(netNSPath)
+	targetNS, err := ns.GetNS(networkID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func EnterNetNS(netNSPath string, cb func() error) error {
 
 // SetupNetworkNamespace create a network namespace
 func SetupNetworkNamespace(config *vc.NetworkConfig) error {
-	if config.DisableNewNetNs {
+	if config.DisableNewNetwork {
 		kataUtilsLogger.Info("DisableNewNetNs is on, shim and hypervisor are running in the host netns")
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func SetupNetworkNamespace(config *vc.NetworkConfig) error {
 	var err error
 	var n ns.NetNS
 
-	if config.NetNSPath == "" {
+	if config.NetworkID == "" {
 		if rootless.IsRootless() {
 			n, err = rootless.NewNS()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -76,14 +76,14 @@ func SetupNetworkNamespace(config *vc.NetworkConfig) error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		config.NetNSPath = n.Path()
-		config.NetNsCreated = true
+		config.NetworkID = n.Path()
+		config.NetworkCreated = true
 		kataUtilsLogger.WithField("netns", n.Path()).Info("create netns")
 
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	isHostNs, err := hostNetworkingRequested(config.NetNSPath)
+	isHostNs, err := hostNetworkingRequested(config.NetworkID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network_test.go b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network_test.go
index 8fa514d6eb..e601fda7fe 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/network_test.go
@@ -114,14 +114,14 @@ func TestSetupNetworkNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Network namespace same as the host
 	config := &vc.NetworkConfig{
-		NetNSPath: "/proc/self/ns/net",
+		NetworkID: "/proc/self/ns/net",
 	}
 	err := SetupNetworkNamespace(config)
 	assert.Error(err)
 
 	// Non-existent netns path
 	config = &vc.NetworkConfig{
-		NetNSPath: "/proc/123456789/ns/net",
+		NetworkID: "/proc/123456789/ns/net",
 	}
 	err = SetupNetworkNamespace(config)
 	assert.Error(err)
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func TestSetupNetworkNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 	n, err := testutils.NewNS()
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	config = &vc.NetworkConfig{
-		NetNSPath: n.Path(),
+		NetworkID: n.Path(),
 	}
 	err = SetupNetworkNamespace(config)
 	assert.NoError(err)
@@ -140,16 +140,16 @@ func TestSetupNetworkNamespace(t *testing.T) {
 	config = &vc.NetworkConfig{}
 	err = SetupNetworkNamespace(config)
 	assert.NoError(err)
-	n, err = ns.GetNS(config.NetNSPath)
+	n, err = ns.GetNS(config.NetworkID)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	assert.NotNil(n)
-	assert.True(config.NetNsCreated)
+	assert.True(config.NetworkCreated)
 	n.Close()
-	unix.Unmount(config.NetNSPath, unix.MNT_DETACH)
-	os.RemoveAll(config.NetNSPath)
+	unix.Unmount(config.NetworkID, unix.MNT_DETACH)
+	os.RemoveAll(config.NetworkID)
 
 	// Config with DisableNewNetNs
-	config = &vc.NetworkConfig{DisableNewNetNs: true}
+	config = &vc.NetworkConfig{DisableNewNetwork: true}
 	err = SetupNetworkNamespace(config)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 }
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go
index 63c052caf7..a7b3860ef7 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go
@@ -318,11 +318,11 @@ func networkConfig(ocispec specs.Spec, config RuntimeConfig) (vc.NetworkConfig,
 		}
 
 		if n.Path != "" {
-			netConf.NetNSPath = n.Path
+			netConf.NetworkID = n.Path
 		}
 	}
 	netConf.InterworkingModel = config.InterNetworkModel
-	netConf.DisableNewNetNs = config.DisableNewNetNs
+	netConf.DisableNewNetwork = config.DisableNewNetNs
 
 	return netConf, nil
 }
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ func addRuntimeConfigOverrides(ocispec specs.Spec, sbConfig *vc.SandboxConfig, r
 	}
 
 	if err := newAnnotationConfiguration(ocispec, vcAnnotations.DisableNewNetNs).setBool(func(disableNewNetNs bool) {
-		sbConfig.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetNs = disableNewNetNs
+		sbConfig.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetwork = disableNewNetNs
 	}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
index ea8128ed27..8f8e19799b 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ func TestAddRuntimeAnnotations(t *testing.T) {
 	addAnnotations(ocispec, &config, runtimeConfig)
 	assert.Equal(config.DisableGuestSeccomp, true)
 	assert.Equal(config.SandboxCgroupOnly, true)
-	assert.Equal(config.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetNs, true)
+	assert.Equal(config.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetwork, true)
 	assert.Equal(config.NetworkConfig.InterworkingModel, vc.NetXConnectMacVtapModel)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/documentation/api/1.0/api.md b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/documentation/api/1.0/api.md
index 1f49cfa0fd..a2e1a55ff1 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/documentation/api/1.0/api.md
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/documentation/api/1.0/api.md
@@ -355,10 +355,10 @@ type HypervisorConfig struct {
 ```Go
 // NetworkConfig is the network configuration related to a network.
 type NetworkConfig struct {
-	NetNSPath         string
-	NetNsCreated      bool
-	DisableNewNetNs   bool
+	NetworkID         string
 	InterworkingModel NetInterworkingModel
+	NetworkCreated    bool
+	DisableNewNetwork bool
 }
 ```
 ###### `NetInterworkingModel`
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/fc.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/fc.go
index 0b8b1afb18..338a96463a 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/fc.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/fc.go
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ func (fc *firecracker) CreateVM(ctx context.Context, id string, network *Network
 	fc.setPaths(&fc.config)
 
 	// So we need to repopulate this at StartVM where it is valid
-	fc.netNSPath = network.NetNS()
+	fc.netNSPath = network.NetworkID()
 
 	// Till we create lower privileged kata user run as root
 	// https://github.com/kata-containers/runtime/issues/1869
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network.go
index f8aa094081..a7ba9c6601 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network.go
@@ -177,10 +177,10 @@ type NetworkInterfacePair struct {
 
 // NetworkConfig is the network configuration related to a network.
 type NetworkConfig struct {
-	NetNSPath         string
+	NetworkID         string
 	InterworkingModel NetInterworkingModel
-	NetNsCreated      bool
-	DisableNewNetNs   bool
+	NetworkCreated    bool
+	DisableNewNetwork bool
 }
 
 func networkLogger() *logrus.Entry {
@@ -213,9 +213,9 @@ func NewNetwork(configs ...*NetworkConfig) (*Network, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &Network{
-		config.NetNSPath,
+		config.NetworkID,
 		config.InterworkingModel,
-		config.NetNsCreated,
+		config.NetworkCreated,
 		[]Endpoint{},
 		0,
 	}, nil
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@ func NewNetwork(configs ...*NetworkConfig) (*Network, error) {
 
 func LoadNetwork(netInfo persistapi.NetworkInfo) *Network {
 	network := &Network{
-		netNSPath:    netInfo.NetNsPath,
-		netNSCreated: netInfo.NetNsCreated,
+		netNSPath:    netInfo.NetworkID,
+		netNSCreated: netInfo.NetworkCreated,
 	}
 
 	for _, e := range netInfo.Endpoints {
@@ -558,11 +558,11 @@ func (n *Network) Remove(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // Network getters
-func (n *Network) NetNS() string {
+func (n *Network) NetworkID() string {
 	return n.netNSPath
 }
 
-func (n *Network) NetNSCreated() bool {
+func (n *Network) NetworkCreated() bool {
 	return n.netNSCreated
 }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network_test.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network_test.go
index 2872ae98f6..ac0476f334 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/network_test.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func TestGenerateInterfacesAndRoutes(t *testing.T) {
 
 	endpoints := []Endpoint{ep0}
 
-	nns, err := NewNetwork(&NetworkConfig{NetNSPath: "foobar", NetNsCreated: true})
+	nns, err := NewNetwork(&NetworkConfig{NetworkID: "foobar", NetworkCreated: true})
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 	nns.eps = endpoints
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist.go
index bbc2535a13..bc20af21fa 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist.go
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ func (s *Sandbox) dumpAgent(ss *persistapi.SandboxState) {
 
 func (s *Sandbox) dumpNetwork(ss *persistapi.SandboxState) {
 	ss.Network = persistapi.NetworkInfo{
-		NetNsPath:    s.network.NetNS(),
-		NetNsCreated: s.network.NetNSCreated(),
+		NetworkID:      s.network.NetworkID(),
+		NetworkCreated: s.network.NetworkCreated(),
 	}
 	for _, e := range s.network.Endpoints() {
 		ss.Network.Endpoints = append(ss.Network.Endpoints, e.save())
@@ -177,9 +177,9 @@ func (s *Sandbox) dumpConfig(ss *persistapi.SandboxState) {
 	ss.Config = persistapi.SandboxConfig{
 		HypervisorType: string(sconfig.HypervisorType),
 		NetworkConfig: persistapi.NetworkConfig{
-			NetNSPath:         sconfig.NetworkConfig.NetNSPath,
-			NetNsCreated:      sconfig.NetworkConfig.NetNsCreated,
-			DisableNewNetNs:   sconfig.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetNs,
+			NetworkID:         sconfig.NetworkConfig.NetworkID,
+			NetworkCreated:    sconfig.NetworkConfig.NetworkCreated,
+			DisableNewNetwork: sconfig.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetwork,
 			InterworkingModel: int(sconfig.NetworkConfig.InterworkingModel),
 		},
 
@@ -416,9 +416,9 @@ func loadSandboxConfig(id string) (*SandboxConfig, error) {
 		ID:             id,
 		HypervisorType: HypervisorType(savedConf.HypervisorType),
 		NetworkConfig: NetworkConfig{
-			NetNSPath:         savedConf.NetworkConfig.NetNSPath,
-			NetNsCreated:      savedConf.NetworkConfig.NetNsCreated,
-			DisableNewNetNs:   savedConf.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetNs,
+			NetworkID:         savedConf.NetworkConfig.NetworkID,
+			NetworkCreated:    savedConf.NetworkConfig.NetworkCreated,
+			DisableNewNetwork: savedConf.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetwork,
 			InterworkingModel: NetInterworkingModel(savedConf.NetworkConfig.InterworkingModel),
 		},
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/config.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/config.go
index 30da53372a..0af8a09227 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/config.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/config.go
@@ -223,9 +223,9 @@ type ShimConfig struct {
 
 // NetworkConfig is the network configuration related to a network.
 type NetworkConfig struct {
-	NetNSPath         string
-	NetNsCreated      bool
-	DisableNewNetNs   bool
+	NetworkID         string
+	NetworkCreated    bool
+	DisableNewNetwork bool
 	InterworkingModel int
 }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/network.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/network.go
index 51c3aac622..a642fa5784 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/network.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/persist/api/network.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ type NetworkEndpoint struct {
 
 // NetworkInfo contains network information of sandbox
 type NetworkInfo struct {
-	NetNsPath    string
-	Endpoints    []NetworkEndpoint
-	NetNsCreated bool
+	NetworkID      string
+	Endpoints      []NetworkEndpoint
+	NetworkCreated bool
 }
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
index 3a21337f94..20d815cea7 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ func (s *Sandbox) GetAnnotations() map[string]string {
 
 // GetNetNs returns the network namespace of the current sandbox.
 func (s *Sandbox) GetNetNs() string {
-	return s.network.NetNS()
+	return s.network.NetworkID()
 }
 
 // GetHypervisorPid returns the hypervisor's pid.
@@ -797,8 +797,8 @@ func (s *Sandbox) Delete(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (s *Sandbox) createNetwork(ctx context.Context) error {
-	if s.config.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetNs ||
-		s.config.NetworkConfig.NetNSPath == "" {
+	if s.config.NetworkConfig.DisableNewNetwork ||
+		s.config.NetworkConfig.NetworkID == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox_test.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox_test.go
index c741caf7bc..ca02210cdd 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/sandbox_test.go
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@ func TestGetNetNs(t *testing.T) {
 	s := Sandbox{}
 
 	expected := "/foo/bar/ns/net"
-	network, err := NewNetwork(&NetworkConfig{NetNSPath: expected})
+	network, err := NewNetwork(&NetworkConfig{NetworkID: expected})
 	assert.Nil(t, err)
 
 	s.network = network