diff --git a/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_accessing_control.rs b/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_accessing_control.rs
index a7cc27d..f4404f3 100644
--- a/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_accessing_control.rs
+++ b/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_accessing_control.rs
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ impl Workload for RestartWorkload {
 
     async fn start(&self, ctx: &RunContext) -> Result<(), DynError> {
         if let Some(control) = ctx.node_control() {
-            // Restart the first node (index 0) if supported.
-            control.restart_node(0).await?;
+            // Restart the first node by name if supported.
+            control.restart_node("node-0").await?;
         }
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_trait.rs b/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_trait.rs
index 98976ca..6064b80 100644
--- a/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_trait.rs
+++ b/examples/doc-snippets/src/node_control_trait.rs
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@ use testing_framework_core::scenario::DynError;
 
 #[async_trait]
 pub trait NodeControlHandle: Send + Sync {
-    async fn restart_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError>;
+    async fn restart_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError>;
 }
diff --git a/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/control.rs b/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/control.rs
index 6ad88d6..682937d 100644
--- a/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/control.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/core/src/scenario/control.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
 /// Deployer-agnostic control surface for runtime node operations.
 #[async_trait]
 pub trait NodeControlHandle: Send + Sync {
-    async fn restart_node(&self, _index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+    async fn restart_node(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
         Err("restart_node not supported by this deployer".into())
     }
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pub trait NodeControlHandle: Send + Sync {
         Err("start_node_with not supported by this deployer".into())
     }
 
-    async fn stop_node(&self, _index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+    async fn stop_node(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
         Err("stop_node not supported by this deployer".into())
     }
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ pub trait NodeControlHandle: Send + Sync {
         None
     }
 
-    fn node_pid(&self, _index: usize) -> Option<u32> {
+    fn node_pid(&self, _name: &str) -> Option<u32> {
         None
     }
 }
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/compose/src/docker/control.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/compose/src/docker/control.rs
index 4a27e02..24d924f 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/compose/src/docker/control.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/compose/src/docker/control.rs
@@ -45,13 +45,9 @@ pub struct ComposeNodeControl {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl NodeControlHandle for ComposeNodeControl {
-    async fn restart_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
-        restart_compose_service(
-            &self.compose_file,
-            &self.project_name,
-            &format!("node-{index}"),
-        )
-        .await
-        .map_err(|err| format!("node restart failed: {err}").into())
+    async fn restart_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+        restart_compose_service(&self.compose_file, &self.project_name, name)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| format!("node restart failed: {err}").into())
     }
 }
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/manual/mod.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/manual/mod.rs
index 63df702..51a75bf 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/manual/mod.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/manual/mod.rs
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ impl LocalManualCluster {
     }
 
     #[must_use]
-    pub fn node_pid(&self, index: usize) -> Option<u32> {
-        self.nodes.node_pid(index)
+    pub fn node_pid(&self, name: &str) -> Option<u32> {
+        self.nodes.node_pid(name)
     }
 
     pub async fn start_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<StartedNode, ManualClusterError> {
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ impl LocalManualCluster {
         self.nodes.stop_all();
     }
 
-    pub async fn restart_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), ManualClusterError> {
-        Ok(self.nodes.restart_node(index).await?)
+    pub async fn restart_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), ManualClusterError> {
+        Ok(self.nodes.restart_node(name).await?)
     }
 
-    pub async fn stop_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), ManualClusterError> {
-        Ok(self.nodes.stop_node(index).await?)
+    pub async fn stop_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), ManualClusterError> {
+        Ok(self.nodes.stop_node(name).await?)
     }
 
     pub async fn wait_network_ready(&self) -> Result<(), ReadinessError> {
@@ -107,15 +107,15 @@ impl Drop for LocalManualCluster {
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl NodeControlHandle for LocalManualCluster {
-    async fn restart_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+    async fn restart_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
         self.nodes
-            .restart_node(index)
+            .restart_node(name)
             .await
             .map_err(|err| err.into())
     }
 
-    async fn stop_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
-        self.nodes.stop_node(index).await.map_err(|err| err.into())
+    async fn stop_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+        self.nodes.stop_node(name).await.map_err(|err| err.into())
     }
 
     async fn start_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<StartedNode, DynError> {
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ impl NodeControlHandle for LocalManualCluster {
         self.node_client(name)
     }
 
-    fn node_pid(&self, index: usize) -> Option<u32> {
-        self.node_pid(index)
+    fn node_pid(&self, name: &str) -> Option<u32> {
+        self.node_pid(name)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs
index 9193a4b..3bb5ca9 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/mod.rs
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ pub enum LocalNodeManagerError {
     PortAllocation { message: String },
     #[error("node config patch failed: {message}")]
     ConfigPatch { message: String },
-    #[error("node index {index} is out of bounds")]
-    NodeIndex { index: usize },
+    #[error("node name '{name}' is unknown")]
+    NodeName { name: String },
     #[error("failed to restart node: {source}")]
     Restart {
         #[source]
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
             peer_ports: seed.peer_ports.clone(),
             peer_ports_by_name: seed.peer_ports_by_name.clone(),
             clients_by_name: HashMap::new(),
+            indices_by_name: HashMap::new(),
             nodes: Vec::new(),
         };
 
@@ -169,12 +170,13 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
     }
 
     #[must_use]
-    pub fn node_pid(&self, index: usize) -> Option<u32> {
+    pub fn node_pid(&self, name: &str) -> Option<u32> {
         let mut state = self
             .state
             .lock()
             .unwrap_or_else(|poisoned| poisoned.into_inner());
 
+        let index = *state.indices_by_name.get(name)?;
         let node = state.nodes.get_mut(index)?;
         if node.is_running() {
             Some(node.pid())
@@ -195,6 +197,7 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
             .peer_ports_by_name
             .clone_from(&self.seed.peer_ports_by_name);
         state.clients_by_name.clear();
+        state.indices_by_name.clear();
         state.node_count = self.seed.node_count;
         self.node_clients.clear();
     }
@@ -211,6 +214,7 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
         state.peer_ports.clear();
         state.peer_ports_by_name.clear();
         state.clients_by_name.clear();
+        state.indices_by_name.clear();
         state.node_count = 0;
 
         for (idx, node) in nodes.into_iter().enumerate() {
@@ -290,6 +294,8 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
             let index = state.node_count;
             let label = if name.trim().is_empty() {
                 Self::default_label(index)
+            } else if name.starts_with("node-") {
+                name.to_string()
             } else {
                 format!("node-{name}")
             };
@@ -334,18 +340,27 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
         })
     }
 
-    pub async fn restart_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), LocalNodeManagerError> {
-        let mut node = {
+    pub async fn restart_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), LocalNodeManagerError> {
+        let (index, mut node) = {
             let mut state = self
                 .state
                 .lock()
                 .unwrap_or_else(|poisoned| poisoned.into_inner());
 
+            let Some(index) = state.indices_by_name.get(name).copied() else {
+                return Err(LocalNodeManagerError::NodeName {
+                    name: name.to_string(),
+                });
+            };
+
             if index >= state.nodes.len() {
-                return Err(LocalNodeManagerError::NodeIndex { index });
+                return Err(LocalNodeManagerError::NodeName {
+                    name: name.to_string(),
+                });
             }
 
-            state.nodes.remove(index)
+            let node = state.nodes.remove(index);
+            (index, node)
         };
 
         node.restart()
@@ -366,18 +381,27 @@ impl LocalNodeManager {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub async fn stop_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), LocalNodeManagerError> {
-        let mut node = {
+    pub async fn stop_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), LocalNodeManagerError> {
+        let (index, mut node) = {
             let mut state = self
                 .state
                 .lock()
                 .unwrap_or_else(|poisoned| poisoned.into_inner());
 
+            let Some(index) = state.indices_by_name.get(name).copied() else {
+                return Err(LocalNodeManagerError::NodeName {
+                    name: name.to_string(),
+                });
+            };
+
             if index >= state.nodes.len() {
-                return Err(LocalNodeManagerError::NodeIndex { index });
+                return Err(LocalNodeManagerError::NodeName {
+                    name: name.to_string(),
+                });
             }
 
-            state.nodes.remove(index)
+            let node = state.nodes.remove(index);
+            (index, node)
         };
 
         node.stop().await;
@@ -446,12 +470,12 @@ fn apply_patch_if_needed(
 
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl NodeControlHandle for LocalNodeManager {
-    async fn restart_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
-        self.restart_node(index).await.map_err(|err| err.into())
+    async fn restart_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+        self.restart_node(name).await.map_err(|err| err.into())
     }
 
-    async fn stop_node(&self, index: usize) -> Result<(), DynError> {
-        self.stop_node(index).await.map_err(|err| err.into())
+    async fn stop_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<(), DynError> {
+        self.stop_node(name).await.map_err(|err| err.into())
     }
 
     async fn start_node(&self, name: &str) -> Result<StartedNode, DynError> {
@@ -474,7 +498,7 @@ impl NodeControlHandle for LocalNodeManager {
         self.node_client(name)
     }
 
-    fn node_pid(&self, index: usize) -> Option<u32> {
-        self.node_pid(index)
+    fn node_pid(&self, name: &str) -> Option<u32> {
+        self.node_pid(name)
     }
 }
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs
index bcacad4..81fa525 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/src/node_control/state.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ pub(crate) struct LocalNodeManagerState {
     pub(crate) peer_ports: Vec<u16>,
     pub(crate) peer_ports_by_name: HashMap<String, u16>,
     pub(crate) clients_by_name: HashMap<String, ApiClient>,
+    pub(crate) indices_by_name: HashMap<String, usize>,
     pub(crate) nodes: Vec<Node>,
 }
 
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ impl LocalNodeManagerState {
         node: Node,
     ) {
         self.register_common(node_name, network_port, client);
+        let index = self.nodes.len();
+        self.indices_by_name.insert(node_name.to_string(), index);
         self.node_count += 1;
         self.nodes.push(node);
     }
diff --git a/testing-framework/deployers/local/tests/restart.rs b/testing-framework/deployers/local/tests/restart.rs
index 98a19b6..a16ee50 100644
--- a/testing-framework/deployers/local/tests/restart.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/deployers/local/tests/restart.rs
@@ -22,16 +22,17 @@ async fn local_restart_node() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + S
 
     let control = context.node_control().ok_or("node control not available")?;
 
-    let old_pid = control.node_pid(0).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
+    let node_name = "node-0";
+    let old_pid = control.node_pid(node_name).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
 
-    control.restart_node(0).await?;
+    control.restart_node(node_name).await?;
 
-    let new_pid = control.node_pid(0).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
+    let new_pid = control.node_pid(node_name).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
     assert_ne!(old_pid, new_pid, "expected a new process after restart");
 
-    control.stop_node(0).await?;
+    control.stop_node(node_name).await?;
     assert!(
-        control.node_pid(0).is_none(),
+        control.node_pid(node_name).is_none(),
         "expected node pid to be absent after stop"
     );
 
@@ -47,18 +48,18 @@ async fn manual_cluster_restart_node() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error +
     let deployer = LocalDeployer::default();
     let cluster = deployer.manual_cluster(TopologyConfig::with_node_numbers(1))?;
 
-    cluster.start_node("a").await?;
+    let node_name = cluster.start_node("a").await?.name;
 
-    let old_pid = cluster.node_pid(0).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
+    let old_pid = cluster.node_pid(&node_name).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
 
-    cluster.restart_node(0).await?;
+    cluster.restart_node(&node_name).await?;
 
-    let new_pid = cluster.node_pid(0).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
+    let new_pid = cluster.node_pid(&node_name).ok_or("missing node pid")?;
     assert_ne!(old_pid, new_pid, "expected a new process after restart");
 
-    cluster.stop_node(0).await?;
+    cluster.stop_node(&node_name).await?;
     assert!(
-        cluster.node_pid(0).is_none(),
+        cluster.node_pid(&node_name).is_none(),
         "expected node pid to be absent after stop"
     );
 
diff --git a/testing-framework/workflows/src/workloads/chaos.rs b/testing-framework/workflows/src/workloads/chaos.rs
index b964152..20c7afe 100644
--- a/testing-framework/workflows/src/workloads/chaos.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/workflows/src/workloads/chaos.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl RandomRestartWorkload {
         if self.include_nodes {
             if node_count > 1 {
                 for index in 0..node_count {
-                    targets.push(Target::Node(index));
+                    targets.push(Target::Node(format!("node-{index}")));
                 }
             } else if node_count == 1 {
                 info!("chaos restart skipping nodes: only one node configured");
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl RandomRestartWorkload {
         let ready = now.checked_sub(self.target_cooldown).unwrap_or(now);
         targets
             .iter()
-            .copied()
+            .cloned()
             .map(|target| (target, ready))
             .collect()
     }
@@ -111,16 +111,16 @@ impl RandomRestartWorkload {
 
             let available: Vec<Target> = targets
                 .iter()
-                .copied()
+                .cloned()
                 .filter(|target| cooldowns.get(target).is_none_or(|ready| *ready <= now))
                 .collect();
 
-            if let Some(choice) = available.choose(&mut thread_rng()).copied() {
+            if let Some(choice) = available.choose(&mut thread_rng()).cloned() {
                 tracing::debug!(?choice, "chaos restart picked target");
                 return Ok(choice);
             }
 
-            if let Some(choice) = targets.choose(&mut thread_rng()).copied() {
+            if let Some(choice) = targets.choose(&mut thread_rng()).cloned() {
                 return Ok(choice);
             }
             return Err("chaos restart workload has no eligible targets".into());
@@ -158,10 +158,10 @@ impl Workload for RandomRestartWorkload {
             let target = self.pick_target(&targets, &cooldowns).await?;
 
             match target {
-                Target::Node(index) => {
-                    tracing::info!(index, "chaos restarting node");
+                Target::Node(ref name) => {
+                    tracing::info!(name, "chaos restarting node");
                     handle
-                        .restart_node(index)
+                        .restart_node(name)
                         .await
                         .map_err(|err| format!("node restart failed: {err}"))?
                 }
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl Workload for RandomRestartWorkload {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Debug)]
+#[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Debug)]
 enum Target {
-    Node(usize),
+    Node(String),
 }