A Node ID is not a required field with Consul’s data model. Therefore we cannot reliably expect all uses to have it. However the node name is required and must be unique so its equally as good of a key for the internal healthSnapshot node tracking.
Previously, public referred to gRPC services that are both exposed on
the dedicated gRPC port and have their definitions in the proto-public
directory (so were considered usable by 3rd parties). Whereas private
referred to services on the multiplexed server port that are only usable
by agents and other servers.
Now, we're splitting these definitions, such that external/internal
refers to the port and public/private refers to whether they can be used
by 3rd parties.
This is necessary because the peering replication API needs to be
exposed on the dedicated port, but is not (yet) suitable for use by 3rd
parties.
Matt Keeler