diff --git a/protos/voltha_protos/adapter.proto b/protos/voltha_protos/adapter.proto
index c0e83b2..5580784 100644
--- a/protos/voltha_protos/adapter.proto
+++ b/protos/voltha_protos/adapter.proto
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 // Adapter (software plugin)
 message Adapter {
 
-    // Unique name of adapter, matching the python package name under
-    // voltha/adapters.
+    // the adapter ID has to be unique,
+    // it will be generated as Type + CurrentReplica
     string id = 1 [(access) = READ_ONLY];
     string vendor = 2 [(access) = READ_ONLY];
     string version = 3 [(access) = READ_ONLY];
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
     int32 currentReplica = 6;
     int32 totalReplicas = 7;
     string endpoint = 8;
+    // all replicas of the same adapter will have the same type
+    // it is used to associate a device to an adapter
+    string type = 9;
+
 }
 
 message Adapters {