diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/container/container_reference_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/container/container_reference_manager.go
index 0cb3097b0f..1f44389c7f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/container/container_reference_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/container/container_reference_manager.go
@@ -28,32 +28,31 @@ import (
 // for the caller.
 type RefManager struct {
 	sync.RWMutex
-	// TODO(yifan): To use strong type.
-	containerIDToRef map[string]*api.ObjectReference
+	containerIDToRef map[ContainerID]*api.ObjectReference
 }
 
 // NewRefManager creates and returns a container reference manager
 // with empty contents.
 func NewRefManager() *RefManager {
-	return &RefManager{containerIDToRef: make(map[string]*api.ObjectReference)}
+	return &RefManager{containerIDToRef: make(map[ContainerID]*api.ObjectReference)}
 }
 
 // SetRef stores a reference to a pod's container, associating it with the given container ID.
-func (c *RefManager) SetRef(id string, ref *api.ObjectReference) {
+func (c *RefManager) SetRef(id ContainerID, ref *api.ObjectReference) {
 	c.Lock()
 	defer c.Unlock()
 	c.containerIDToRef[id] = ref
 }
 
 // ClearRef forgets the given container id and its associated container reference.
-func (c *RefManager) ClearRef(id string) {
+func (c *RefManager) ClearRef(id ContainerID) {
 	c.Lock()
 	defer c.Unlock()
 	delete(c.containerIDToRef, id)
 }
 
 // GetRef returns the container reference of the given ID, or (nil, false) if none is stored.
-func (c *RefManager) GetRef(id string) (ref *api.ObjectReference, ok bool) {
+func (c *RefManager) GetRef(id ContainerID) (ref *api.ObjectReference, ok bool) {
 	c.RLock()
 	defer c.RUnlock()
 	ref, ok = c.containerIDToRef[id]
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/container/fake_runtime.go b/pkg/kubelet/container/fake_runtime.go
index 201ce21b60..620e73abbb 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/container/fake_runtime.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/container/fake_runtime.go
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ func (f *FakeRuntime) GetPodStatus(*api.Pod) (*api.PodStatus, error) {
 	return &status, f.Err
 }
 
-func (f *FakeRuntime) ExecInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (f *FakeRuntime) ExecInContainer(containerID ContainerID, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
 
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func (f *FakeRuntime) ExecInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string, stdin io
 	return f.Err
 }
 
-func (f *FakeRuntime) AttachContainer(containerID string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (f *FakeRuntime) AttachContainer(containerID ContainerID, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func (f *FakeRuntime) AttachContainer(containerID string, stdin io.Reader, stdou
 	return f.Err
 }
 
-func (f *FakeRuntime) RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (f *FakeRuntime) RunInContainer(containerID ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
 
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func (f *FakeRuntime) RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte,
 	return []byte{}, f.Err
 }
 
-func (f *FakeRuntime) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID string, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) (err error) {
+func (f *FakeRuntime) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID ContainerID, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) (err error) {
 	f.Lock()
 	defer f.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go b/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go
index 0bd2140f6a..23251d0380 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/container/helpers.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package container
 
 import (
 	"hash/adler32"
-	"strings"
 
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util"
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 // HandlerRunner runs a lifecycle handler for a container.
 type HandlerRunner interface {
-	Run(containerID string, pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container, handler *api.Handler) error
+	Run(containerID ContainerID, pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container, handler *api.Handler) error
 }
 
 // RunContainerOptionsGenerator generates the options that necessary for
@@ -38,17 +37,6 @@ type RunContainerOptionsGenerator interface {
 	GenerateRunContainerOptions(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container) (*RunContainerOptions, error)
 }
 
-// Trims runtime prefix from ID or image name (e.g.: docker://busybox -> busybox).
-func TrimRuntimePrefix(fullString string) string {
-	const prefixSeparator = "://"
-
-	idx := strings.Index(fullString, prefixSeparator)
-	if idx < 0 {
-		return fullString
-	}
-	return fullString[idx+len(prefixSeparator):]
-}
-
 // ShouldContainerBeRestarted checks whether a container needs to be restarted.
 // TODO(yifan): Think about how to refactor this.
 func ShouldContainerBeRestarted(container *api.Container, pod *api.Pod, podStatus *api.PodStatus) bool {
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/container/runtime.go b/pkg/kubelet/container/runtime.go
index e26a54d856..e69f955bae 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/container/runtime.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/container/runtime.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util"
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ type Runtime interface {
 	// default, it returns a snapshot of the container log. Set 'follow' to true to
 	// stream the log. Set 'follow' to false and specify the number of lines (e.g.
 	// "100" or "all") to tail the log.
-	GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID string, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) (err error)
+	GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID ContainerID, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) (err error)
 	// ContainerCommandRunner encapsulates the command runner interfaces for testability.
 	ContainerCommandRunner
 	// ContainerAttach encapsulates the attaching to containers for testability
@@ -87,20 +88,18 @@ type Runtime interface {
 }
 
 type ContainerAttacher interface {
-	AttachContainer(id string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) (err error)
+	AttachContainer(id ContainerID, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) (err error)
 }
 
 // CommandRunner encapsulates the command runner interfaces for testability.
 type ContainerCommandRunner interface {
 	// TODO(vmarmol): Merge RunInContainer and ExecInContainer.
 	// Runs the command in the container of the specified pod using nsinit.
-	// TODO(yifan): Use strong type for containerID.
-	RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error)
+	RunInContainer(containerID ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error)
 	// Runs the command in the container of the specified pod using nsenter.
 	// Attaches the processes stdin, stdout, and stderr. Optionally uses a
 	// tty.
-	// TODO(yifan): Use strong type for containerID.
-	ExecInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error
+	ExecInContainer(containerID ContainerID, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error
 	// Forward the specified port from the specified pod to the stream.
 	PortForward(pod *Pod, port uint16, stream io.ReadWriteCloser) error
 }
@@ -139,6 +138,15 @@ func BuildContainerID(typ, ID string) ContainerID {
 	return ContainerID{Type: typ, ID: ID}
 }
 
+// Convenience method for creating a ContainerID from an ID string.
+func ParseContainerID(containerID string) ContainerID {
+	var id ContainerID
+	if err := id.ParseString(containerID); err != nil {
+		glog.Error(err)
+	}
+	return id
+}
+
 func (c *ContainerID) ParseString(data string) error {
 	// Trim the quotes and split the type and ID.
 	parts := strings.Split(strings.Trim(data, "\""), "://")
@@ -153,6 +161,10 @@ func (c *ContainerID) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", c.Type, c.ID)
 }
 
+func (c *ContainerID) IsEmpty() bool {
+	return *c == ContainerID{}
+}
+
 func (c *ContainerID) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	return []byte(fmt.Sprintf("%q", c.String())), nil
 }
@@ -166,7 +178,7 @@ func (c *ContainerID) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 type Container struct {
 	// The ID of the container, used by the container runtime to identify
 	// a container.
-	ID types.UID
+	ID ContainerID
 	// The name of the container, which should be the same as specified by
 	// api.Container.
 	Name string
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert.go b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert.go
index 584682cc01..b41ce6e8d7 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	docker "github.com/fsouza/go-dockerclient"
 	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/types"
+	kubeletTypes "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/types"
 )
 
 // This file contains helper functions to convert docker API types to runtime
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func toRuntimeContainer(c *docker.APIContainers) (*kubecontainer.Container, erro
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	return &kubecontainer.Container{
-		ID:      types.UID(c.ID),
+		ID:      kubeletTypes.DockerID(c.ID).ContainerID(),
 		Name:    dockerName.ContainerName,
 		Image:   c.Image,
 		Hash:    hash,
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert_test.go
index 1fee5aff02..acc99f660f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/convert_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 	docker "github.com/fsouza/go-dockerclient"
 	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/types"
 )
 
 func TestToRuntimeContainer(t *testing.T) {
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ func TestToRuntimeContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		Names:   []string{"/k8s_bar.5678_foo_ns_1234_42"},
 	}
 	expected := &kubecontainer.Container{
-		ID:      types.UID("ab2cdf"),
+		ID:      kubecontainer.ContainerID{"docker", "ab2cdf"},
 		Name:    "bar",
 		Image:   "bar_image",
 		Hash:    0x5678,
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/docker_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/docker_test.go
index 6674c11b64..ee7bc86d93 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/docker_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/docker_test.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/credentialprovider"
 	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/network"
+	kubeletTypes "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/types"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util"
 )
@@ -171,10 +172,10 @@ func TestExecSupportNotExists(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDockerContainerCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	runner := &DockerManager{}
-	containerID := "1234"
+	containerID := kubeletTypes.DockerID("1234").ContainerID()
 	command := []string{"ls"}
 	cmd, _ := runner.getRunInContainerCommand(containerID, command)
-	if cmd.Dir != "/var/lib/docker/execdriver/native/"+containerID {
+	if cmd.Dir != "/var/lib/docker/execdriver/native/"+containerID.ID {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected command CWD: %s", cmd.Dir)
 	}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(cmd.Args, []string{"/usr/sbin/nsinit", "exec", "ls"}) {
@@ -517,7 +518,7 @@ type containersByID []*kubecontainer.Container
 
 func (b containersByID) Len() int           { return len(b) }
 func (b containersByID) Swap(i, j int)      { b[i], b[j] = b[j], b[i] }
-func (b containersByID) Less(i, j int) bool { return b[i].ID < b[j].ID }
+func (b containersByID) Less(i, j int) bool { return b[i].ID.ID < b[j].ID.ID }
 
 func TestFindContainersByPod(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
@@ -560,12 +561,12 @@ func TestFindContainersByPod(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: "ns",
 					Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 						{
-							ID:   "foobar",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("foobar").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "foobar",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
 						{
-							ID:   "baz",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("baz").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "baz",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
@@ -577,7 +578,7 @@ func TestFindContainersByPod(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: "ns",
 					Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 						{
-							ID:   "barbar",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("barbar").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "barbar",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
@@ -618,17 +619,17 @@ func TestFindContainersByPod(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: "ns",
 					Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 						{
-							ID:   "foobar",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("foobar").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "foobar",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
 						{
-							ID:   "barfoo",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("barfoo").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "barfoo",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
 						{
-							ID:   "baz",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("baz").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "baz",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
@@ -640,7 +641,7 @@ func TestFindContainersByPod(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: "ns",
 					Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 						{
-							ID:   "barbar",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("barbar").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "barbar",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
@@ -652,7 +653,7 @@ func TestFindContainersByPod(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: "ns",
 					Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 						{
-							ID:   "bazbaz",
+							ID:   kubeletTypes.DockerID("bazbaz").ContainerID(),
 							Name: "bazbaz",
 							Hash: 0x1234,
 						},
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager.go
index a1ac804f12..318a1d7a6c 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager.go
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ func (sc *reasonInfoCache) Get(uid types.UID, name string) (reasonInfo, bool) {
 // stream the log. Set 'follow' to false and specify the number of lines (e.g.
 // "100" or "all") to tail the log.
 // TODO: Make 'RawTerminal' option  flagable.
-func (dm *DockerManager) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID string, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) (err error) {
+func (dm *DockerManager) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) (err error) {
 	var since int64
 	if logOptions.SinceSeconds != nil {
 		t := unversioned.Now().Add(-time.Duration(*logOptions.SinceSeconds) * time.Second)
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID string, logO
 		since = logOptions.SinceTime.Unix()
 	}
 	opts := docker.LogsOptions{
-		Container:    containerID,
+		Container:    containerID.ID,
 		Stdout:       true,
 		Stderr:       true,
 		OutputStream: stdout,
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainer(
 	netMode string,
 	ipcMode string,
 	utsMode string,
-	pidMode string) (string, error) {
+	pidMode string) (kubecontainer.ContainerID, error) {
 
 	dockerName := KubeletContainerName{
 		PodFullName:   kubecontainer.GetPodFullName(pod),
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainer(
 		if ref != nil {
 			dm.recorder.Eventf(ref, "Failed", "Failed to create docker container with error: %v", err)
 		}
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 
 	if ref != nil {
@@ -786,12 +786,12 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainer(
 			dm.recorder.Eventf(ref, "Failed",
 				"Failed to start with docker id %v with error: %v", util.ShortenString(dockerContainer.ID, 12), err)
 		}
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 	if ref != nil {
 		dm.recorder.Eventf(ref, "Started", "Started with docker id %v", util.ShortenString(dockerContainer.ID, 12))
 	}
-	return dockerContainer.ID, nil
+	return kubeletTypes.DockerID(dockerContainer.ID).ContainerID(), nil
 }
 
 func setEntrypointAndCommand(container *api.Container, opts *kubecontainer.RunContainerOptions, dockerOpts *docker.CreateContainerOptions) {
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) podInfraContainerChanged(pod *api.Pod, podInfraContaine
 	networkMode := ""
 	var ports []api.ContainerPort
 
-	dockerPodInfraContainer, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(string(podInfraContainer.ID))
+	dockerPodInfraContainer, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(podInfraContainer.ID.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
@@ -1019,14 +1019,14 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) nativeExecSupportExists() (bool, error) {
 	return false, err
 }
 
-func (dm *DockerManager) getRunInContainerCommand(containerID string, cmd []string) (*exec.Cmd, error) {
+func (dm *DockerManager) getRunInContainerCommand(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) (*exec.Cmd, error) {
 	args := append([]string{"exec"}, cmd...)
 	command := exec.Command("/usr/sbin/nsinit", args...)
-	command.Dir = fmt.Sprintf("/var/lib/docker/execdriver/native/%s", containerID)
+	command.Dir = fmt.Sprintf("/var/lib/docker/execdriver/native/%s", containerID.ID)
 	return command, nil
 }
 
-func (dm *DockerManager) runInContainerUsingNsinit(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (dm *DockerManager) runInContainerUsingNsinit(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	c, err := dm.getRunInContainerCommand(containerID, cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -1035,8 +1035,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runInContainerUsingNsinit(containerID string, cmd []str
 }
 
 // RunInContainer uses nsinit to run the command inside the container identified by containerID
-// TODO(yifan): Use strong type for containerID.
-func (dm *DockerManager) RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (dm *DockerManager) RunInContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	// If native exec support does not exist in the local docker daemon use nsinit.
 	useNativeExec, err := dm.nativeExecSupportExists()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1048,7 +1047,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byt
 	}
 	glog.V(2).Infof("Using docker native exec to run cmd %+v inside container %s", cmd, containerID)
 	createOpts := docker.CreateExecOptions{
-		Container:    containerID,
+		Container:    containerID.ID,
 		Cmd:          cmd,
 		AttachStdin:  false,
 		AttachStdout: true,
@@ -1114,15 +1113,12 @@ func (d *dockerExitError) ExitStatus() int {
 }
 
 // ExecInContainer runs the command inside the container identified by containerID.
-//
-// TODO:
-//  - use strong type for containerId
-func (dm *DockerManager) ExecInContainer(containerId string, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (dm *DockerManager) ExecInContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	if dm.execHandler == nil {
 		return errors.New("unable to exec without an exec handler")
 	}
 
-	container, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(containerId)
+	container, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(containerID.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1133,9 +1129,9 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) ExecInContainer(containerId string, cmd []string, stdin
 	return dm.execHandler.ExecInContainer(dm.client, container, cmd, stdin, stdout, stderr, tty)
 }
 
-func (dm *DockerManager) AttachContainer(containerId string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (dm *DockerManager) AttachContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	opts := docker.AttachToContainerOptions{
-		Container:    containerId,
+		Container:    containerID.ID,
 		InputStream:  stdin,
 		OutputStream: stdout,
 		ErrorStream:  stderr,
@@ -1166,7 +1162,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) PortForward(pod *kubecontainer.Pod, port uint16, stream
 	if podInfraContainer == nil {
 		return noPodInfraContainerError(pod.Name, pod.Namespace)
 	}
-	container, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(string(podInfraContainer.ID))
+	container, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(podInfraContainer.ID.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -1283,7 +1279,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) KillPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod) err
 	}
 	wg.Wait()
 	if networkContainer != nil {
-		if err := dm.networkPlugin.TearDownPod(runningPod.Namespace, runningPod.Name, kubeletTypes.DockerID(networkContainer.ID)); err != nil {
+		if err := dm.networkPlugin.TearDownPod(runningPod.Namespace, runningPod.Name, kubeletTypes.DockerID(networkContainer.ID.ID)); err != nil {
 			glog.Errorf("Failed tearing down the infra container: %v", err)
 			errs <- err
 		}
@@ -1305,9 +1301,9 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) KillPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod) err
 
 // KillContainerInPod kills a container in the pod. It must be passed either a container ID or a container and pod,
 // and will attempt to lookup the other information if missing.
-func (dm *DockerManager) KillContainerInPod(containerID types.UID, container *api.Container, pod *api.Pod) error {
+func (dm *DockerManager) KillContainerInPod(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, container *api.Container, pod *api.Pod) error {
 	switch {
-	case len(containerID) == 0:
+	case containerID.IsEmpty():
 		// Locate the container.
 		pods, err := dm.GetPods(false)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -1322,7 +1318,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) KillContainerInPod(containerID types.UID, container *ap
 
 	case container == nil || pod == nil:
 		// Read information about the container from labels
-		inspect, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(string(containerID))
+		inspect, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(containerID.ID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -1342,8 +1338,8 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) KillContainerInPod(containerID types.UID, container *ap
 
 // killContainer accepts a containerID and an optional container or pod containing shutdown policies. Invoke
 // KillContainerInPod if information must be retrieved first.
-func (dm *DockerManager) killContainer(containerID types.UID, container *api.Container, pod *api.Pod) error {
-	ID := string(containerID)
+func (dm *DockerManager) killContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, container *api.Container, pod *api.Pod) error {
+	ID := containerID.ID
 	name := ID
 	if container != nil {
 		name = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", name, container.Name)
@@ -1370,7 +1366,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) killContainer(containerID types.UID, container *api.Con
 		go func() {
 			defer close(done)
 			defer util.HandleCrash()
-			if err := dm.runner.Run(ID, pod, container, container.Lifecycle.PreStop); err != nil {
+			if err := dm.runner.Run(containerID, pod, container, container.Lifecycle.PreStop); err != nil {
 				glog.Errorf("preStop hook for container %q failed: %v", name, err)
 			}
 		}()
@@ -1397,13 +1393,13 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) killContainer(containerID types.UID, container *api.Con
 	} else {
 		glog.V(2).Infof("Container %q termination failed after %s: %v", name, unversioned.Now().Sub(start.Time), err)
 	}
-	ref, ok := dm.containerRefManager.GetRef(ID)
+	ref, ok := dm.containerRefManager.GetRef(containerID)
 	if !ok {
 		glog.Warningf("No ref for pod '%q'", name)
 	} else {
 		// TODO: pass reason down here, and state, or move this call up the stack.
 		dm.recorder.Eventf(ref, "Killing", "Killing with docker id %v", util.ShortenString(ID, 12))
-		dm.containerRefManager.ClearRef(ID)
+		dm.containerRefManager.ClearRef(containerID)
 	}
 	return err
 }
@@ -1451,7 +1447,7 @@ func containerAndPodFromLabels(inspect *docker.Container) (pod *api.Pod, contain
 }
 
 // Run a single container from a pod. Returns the docker container ID
-func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container, netMode, ipcMode, pidMode string) (kubeletTypes.DockerID, error) {
+func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container, netMode, ipcMode, pidMode string) (kubecontainer.ContainerID, error) {
 	start := time.Now()
 	defer func() {
 		metrics.ContainerManagerLatency.WithLabelValues("runContainerInPod").Observe(metrics.SinceInMicroseconds(start))
@@ -1464,7 +1460,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Containe
 
 	opts, err := dm.generator.GenerateRunContainerOptions(pod, container)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 
 	utsMode := ""
@@ -1473,7 +1469,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Containe
 	}
 	id, err := dm.runContainer(pod, container, opts, ref, netMode, ipcMode, utsMode, pidMode)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 
 	// Remember this reference so we can report events about this container
@@ -1484,8 +1480,8 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Containe
 	if container.Lifecycle != nil && container.Lifecycle.PostStart != nil {
 		handlerErr := dm.runner.Run(id, pod, container, container.Lifecycle.PostStart)
 		if handlerErr != nil {
-			dm.KillContainerInPod(types.UID(id), container, pod)
-			return kubeletTypes.DockerID(""), fmt.Errorf("failed to call event handler: %v", handlerErr)
+			dm.KillContainerInPod(id, container, pod)
+			return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to call event handler: %v", handlerErr)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1494,20 +1490,20 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Containe
 	// capture these symbolic filenames which can be used for search terms in Elasticsearch or for
 	// labels for Cloud Logging.
 	podFullName := kubecontainer.GetPodFullName(pod)
-	containerLogFile := path.Join(dm.dockerRoot, "containers", id, fmt.Sprintf("%s-json.log", id))
-	symlinkFile := LogSymlink(dm.containerLogsDir, podFullName, container.Name, id)
+	containerLogFile := path.Join(dm.dockerRoot, "containers", id.ID, fmt.Sprintf("%s-json.log", id.ID))
+	symlinkFile := LogSymlink(dm.containerLogsDir, podFullName, container.Name, id.ID)
 	if err = dm.os.Symlink(containerLogFile, symlinkFile); err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("Failed to create symbolic link to the log file of pod %q container %q: %v", podFullName, container.Name, err)
 	}
 
 	// Container information is used in adjusting OOM scores and adding ndots.
-	containerInfo, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(string(id))
+	containerInfo, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(id.ID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 	// Ensure the PID actually exists, else we'll move ourselves.
 	if containerInfo.State.Pid == 0 {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get init PID for Docker container %q", string(id))
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to get init PID for Docker container %q", id)
 	}
 
 	// Set OOM score of the container based on the priority of the container.
@@ -1522,10 +1518,10 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Containe
 	}
 	cgroupName, err := dm.procFs.GetFullContainerName(containerInfo.State.Pid)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 	if err = dm.oomAdjuster.ApplyOOMScoreAdjContainer(cgroupName, oomScoreAdj, 5); err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, err
 	}
 
 	// currently, Docker does not have a flag by which the ndots option can be passed.
@@ -1538,7 +1534,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) runContainerInPod(pod *api.Pod, container *api.Containe
 		err = addNDotsOption(containerInfo.ResolvConfPath)
 	}
 
-	return kubeletTypes.DockerID(id), err
+	return id, err
 }
 
 func addNDotsOption(resolvFilePath string) error {
@@ -1612,7 +1608,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) createPodInfraContainer(pod *api.Pod) (kubeletTypes.Doc
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	return id, nil
+	return kubeletTypes.DockerID(id.ID), nil
 }
 
 // TODO(vmarmol): This will soon be made non-public when its only use is internal.
@@ -1668,7 +1664,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) computePodContainerChanges(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kub
 	} else {
 		glog.V(4).Infof("Pod infra container looks good, keep it %q", podFullName)
 		createPodInfraContainer = false
-		podInfraContainerID = kubeletTypes.DockerID(podInfraContainer.ID)
+		podInfraContainerID = kubeletTypes.DockerID(podInfraContainer.ID.ID)
 		containersToKeep[podInfraContainerID] = -1
 	}
 
@@ -1687,7 +1683,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) computePodContainerChanges(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kub
 			continue
 		}
 
-		containerID := kubeletTypes.DockerID(c.ID)
+		containerID := kubeletTypes.DockerID(c.ID.ID)
 		hash := c.Hash
 		glog.V(3).Infof("pod %q container %q exists as %v", podFullName, container.Name, containerID)
 
@@ -1712,7 +1708,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) computePodContainerChanges(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kub
 			continue
 		}
 
-		result, err := dm.prober.ProbeLiveness(pod, podStatus, container, string(c.ID), c.Created)
+		result, err := dm.prober.ProbeLiveness(pod, podStatus, container, c.ID, c.Created)
 		if err != nil {
 			// TODO(vmarmol): examine this logic.
 			glog.V(2).Infof("probe no-error: %q", container.Name)
@@ -1789,7 +1785,7 @@ func (dm *DockerManager) SyncPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod, pod
 	} else {
 		// Otherwise kill any containers in this pod which are not specified as ones to keep.
 		for _, container := range runningPod.Containers {
-			_, keep := containerChanges.ContainersToKeep[kubeletTypes.DockerID(container.ID)]
+			_, keep := containerChanges.ContainersToKeep[kubeletTypes.DockerID(container.ID.ID)]
 			if !keep {
 				glog.V(3).Infof("Killing unwanted container %+v", container)
 				// attempt to find the appropriate container policy
@@ -2001,8 +1997,8 @@ func getIPCMode(pod *api.Pod) string {
 }
 
 // GetNetNs returns the network namespace path for the given container
-func (dm *DockerManager) GetNetNs(containerID string) (string, error) {
-	inspectResult, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(string(containerID))
+func (dm *DockerManager) GetNetNs(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID) (string, error) {
+	inspectResult, err := dm.client.InspectContainer(containerID.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("Error inspecting container: '%v'", err)
 		return "", err
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager_test.go
index 79d129f1e5..632ad2c730 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockertools/manager_test.go
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ func apiContainerToContainer(c docker.APIContainers) kubecontainer.Container {
 		return kubecontainer.Container{}
 	}
 	return kubecontainer.Container{
-		ID:   types.UID(c.ID),
+		ID:   kubecontainer.ContainerID{"docker", c.ID},
 		Name: dockerName.ContainerName,
 		Hash: hash,
 	}
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ func dockerContainersToPod(containers DockerContainers) kubecontainer.Pod {
 			continue
 		}
 		pod.Containers = append(pod.Containers, &kubecontainer.Container{
-			ID:    types.UID(c.ID),
+			ID:    kubecontainer.ContainerID{"docker", c.ID},
 			Name:  dockerName.ContainerName,
 			Hash:  hash,
 			Image: c.Image,
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ func TestKillContainerInPod(t *testing.T) {
 	containerToSpare := &containers[1]
 	fakeDocker.ContainerList = containers
 
-	if err := manager.KillContainerInPod("", &pod.Spec.Containers[0], pod); err != nil {
+	if err := manager.KillContainerInPod(kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, &pod.Spec.Containers[0], pod); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	// Assert the container has been stopped.
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ func TestKillContainerInPodWithPreStop(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	if err := manager.KillContainerInPod("", &pod.Spec.Containers[0], pod); err != nil {
+	if err := manager.KillContainerInPod(kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, &pod.Spec.Containers[0], pod); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	// Assert the container has been stopped.
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ func TestKillContainerInPodWithError(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeDocker.ContainerList = containers
 	fakeDocker.Errors["stop"] = fmt.Errorf("sample error")
 
-	if err := manager.KillContainerInPod("", &pod.Spec.Containers[0], pod); err == nil {
+	if err := manager.KillContainerInPod(kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, &pod.Spec.Containers[0], pod); err == nil {
 		t.Errorf("expected error, found nil")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/image_manager_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/image_manager_test.go
index f32a10505e..f843edb31f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/image_manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/image_manager_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/record"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/cadvisor"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/types"
 )
 
 var zero time.Time
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ func makeImage(id int, size int64) container.Image {
 // Make a container with the specified ID. It will use the image with the same ID.
 func makeContainer(id int) *container.Container {
 	return &container.Container{
-		ID:    types.UID(fmt.Sprintf("container-%d", id)),
+		ID:    container.ContainerID{"test", fmt.Sprintf("container-%d", id)},
 		Image: imageName(id),
 	}
 }
@@ -322,7 +321,7 @@ func TestFreeSpaceImagesAlsoDoesLookupByRepoTags(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			Containers: []*container.Container{
 				{
-					ID:    "c5678",
+					ID:    container.ContainerID{"test", "c5678"},
 					Image: "salad",
 				},
 			},
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
index 8c974a382e..44061a2e51 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
@@ -2073,25 +2073,25 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) validatePodPhase(podStatus *api.PodStatus) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("pod is not in 'Running', 'Succeeded' or 'Failed' state - State: %q", podStatus.Phase)
 }
 
-func (kl *Kubelet) validateContainerStatus(podStatus *api.PodStatus, containerName string, previous bool) (containerID string, err error) {
+func (kl *Kubelet) validateContainerStatus(podStatus *api.PodStatus, containerName string, previous bool) (containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, err error) {
 	var cID string
 
 	cStatus, found := api.GetContainerStatus(podStatus.ContainerStatuses, containerName)
 	if !found {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("container %q not found", containerName)
+		return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, fmt.Errorf("container %q not found", containerName)
 	}
 	if previous {
 		if cStatus.LastTerminationState.Terminated == nil {
-			return "", fmt.Errorf("previous terminated container %q not found", containerName)
+			return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, fmt.Errorf("previous terminated container %q not found", containerName)
 		}
 		cID = cStatus.LastTerminationState.Terminated.ContainerID
 	} else {
 		if cStatus.State.Waiting != nil {
-			return "", fmt.Errorf("container %q is in waiting state.", containerName)
+			return kubecontainer.ContainerID{}, fmt.Errorf("container %q is in waiting state.", containerName)
 		}
 		cID = cStatus.ContainerID
 	}
-	return kubecontainer.TrimRuntimePrefix(cID), nil
+	return kubecontainer.ParseContainerID(cID), nil
 }
 
 // GetKubeletContainerLogs returns logs from the container
@@ -2673,7 +2673,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) RunInContainer(podFullName string, podUID types.UID, containe
 	if container == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("container not found (%q)", containerName)
 	}
-	return kl.runner.RunInContainer(string(container.ID), cmd)
+	return kl.runner.RunInContainer(container.ID, cmd)
 }
 
 // ExecInContainer executes a command in a container, connecting the supplied
@@ -2688,7 +2688,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) ExecInContainer(podFullName string, podUID types.UID, contain
 	if container == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("container not found (%q)", containerName)
 	}
-	return kl.runner.ExecInContainer(string(container.ID), cmd, stdin, stdout, stderr, tty)
+	return kl.runner.ExecInContainer(container.ID, cmd, stdin, stdout, stderr, tty)
 }
 
 func (kl *Kubelet) AttachContainer(podFullName string, podUID types.UID, containerName string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
@@ -2701,7 +2701,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) AttachContainer(podFullName string, podUID types.UID, contain
 	if container == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("container not found (%q)", containerName)
 	}
-	return kl.containerRuntime.AttachContainer(string(container.ID), stdin, stdout, stderr, tty)
+	return kl.containerRuntime.AttachContainer(container.ID, stdin, stdout, stderr, tty)
 }
 
 // PortForward connects to the pod's port and copies data between the port
@@ -2749,7 +2749,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) GetContainerInfo(podFullName string, podUID types.UID, contai
 		return nil, ErrContainerNotFound
 	}
 
-	ci, err := kl.cadvisor.DockerContainer(string(container.ID), req)
+	ci, err := kl.cadvisor.DockerContainer(container.ID.ID, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -2800,10 +2800,10 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) GetRuntime() kubecontainer.Runtime {
 // Proxy prober calls through the Kubelet to break the circular dependency between the runtime &
 // prober.
 // TODO: Remove this hack once the runtime no longer depends on the prober.
-func (kl *Kubelet) ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string, createdAt int64) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (kl *Kubelet) ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, createdAt int64) (probe.Result, error) {
 	return kl.prober.ProbeLiveness(pod, status, container, containerID, createdAt)
 }
-func (kl *Kubelet) ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (kl *Kubelet) ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID) (probe.Result, error) {
 	return kl.prober.ProbeReadiness(pod, status, container, containerID)
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
index 1687d1677e..aa23371753 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_test.go
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ func TestGetContainerInfo(t *testing.T) {
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{
 					Name: "foo",
-					ID:   types.UID(containerID),
+					ID:   kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", containerID},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ func TestGetContainerInfoWhenCadvisorFailed(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: "ns",
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{Name: "foo",
-					ID: types.UID(containerID),
+					ID: kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", containerID},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ func TestGetContainerInfoWithNoMatchingContainers(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: "ns",
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{Name: "bar",
-					ID: types.UID("fakeID"),
+					ID: kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "fakeID"},
 				},
 			}},
 	}
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ func TestGetContainerInfoWithNoMatchingContainers(t *testing.T) {
 
 type fakeContainerCommandRunner struct {
 	Cmd    []string
-	ID     string
+	ID     kubecontainer.ContainerID
 	PodID  types.UID
 	E      error
 	Stdin  io.Reader
@@ -783,13 +783,13 @@ type fakeContainerCommandRunner struct {
 	Stream io.ReadWriteCloser
 }
 
-func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) RunInContainer(id string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) RunInContainer(id kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	f.Cmd = cmd
 	f.ID = id
 	return []byte{}, f.E
 }
 
-func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) ExecInContainer(id string, cmd []string, in io.Reader, out, err io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) ExecInContainer(id kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string, in io.Reader, out, err io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	f.Cmd = cmd
 	f.ID = id
 	f.Stdin = in
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ func TestRunInContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeCommandRunner := fakeContainerCommandRunner{}
 	kubelet.runner = &fakeCommandRunner
 
-	containerID := "abc1234"
+	containerID := kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "abc1234"}
 	fakeRuntime.PodList = []*kubecontainer.Pod{
 		{
 			ID:        "12345678",
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ func TestRunInContainer(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: "nsFoo",
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{Name: "containerFoo",
-					ID: types.UID(containerID),
+					ID: containerID,
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -1865,7 +1865,7 @@ func TestExecInContainerNoSuchPod(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("unexpected non-error")
 	}
-	if fakeCommandRunner.ID != "" {
+	if !fakeCommandRunner.ID.IsEmpty() {
 		t.Fatal("unexpected invocation of runner.ExecInContainer")
 	}
 }
@@ -1887,7 +1887,7 @@ func TestExecInContainerNoSuchContainer(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: podNamespace,
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{Name: "bar",
-					ID: "barID"},
+					ID: kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "barID"}},
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -1909,7 +1909,7 @@ func TestExecInContainerNoSuchContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("unexpected non-error")
 	}
-	if fakeCommandRunner.ID != "" {
+	if !fakeCommandRunner.ID.IsEmpty() {
 		t.Fatal("unexpected invocation of runner.ExecInContainer")
 	}
 }
@@ -1950,7 +1950,7 @@ func TestExecInContainer(t *testing.T) {
 			Namespace: podNamespace,
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{Name: containerID,
-					ID: types.UID(containerID),
+					ID: kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", containerID},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -1973,7 +1973,7 @@ func TestExecInContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %s", err)
 	}
-	if e, a := containerID, fakeCommandRunner.ID; e != a {
+	if e, a := containerID, fakeCommandRunner.ID.ID; e != a {
 		t.Fatalf("container name: expected %q, got %q", e, a)
 	}
 	if e, a := command, fakeCommandRunner.Cmd; !reflect.DeepEqual(e, a) {
@@ -2014,7 +2014,7 @@ func TestPortForwardNoSuchPod(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("unexpected non-error")
 	}
-	if fakeCommandRunner.ID != "" {
+	if !fakeCommandRunner.ID.IsEmpty() {
 		t.Fatal("unexpected invocation of runner.PortForward")
 	}
 }
@@ -2035,7 +2035,7 @@ func TestPortForward(t *testing.T) {
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{
 					Name: "foo",
-					ID:   "containerFoo",
+					ID:   kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "containerFoo"},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -2847,7 +2847,7 @@ func TestGetContainerInfoForMirrorPods(t *testing.T) {
 			Containers: []*kubecontainer.Container{
 				{
 					Name: "foo",
-					ID:   types.UID(containerID),
+					ID:   kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", containerID},
 				},
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers.go b/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers.go
index b8bcae6adb..0f5e510bae 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers.go
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@ func NewHandlerRunner(httpGetter kubeletTypes.HttpGetter, commandRunner kubecont
 	}
 }
 
-// TODO(yifan): Use a strong type for containerID.
-func (hr *HandlerRunner) Run(containerID string, pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container, handler *api.Handler) error {
+func (hr *HandlerRunner) Run(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, pod *api.Pod, container *api.Container, handler *api.Handler) error {
 	switch {
 	case handler.Exec != nil:
 		_, err := hr.commandRunner.RunInContainer(containerID, handler.Exec.Command)
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers_test.go
index 12c3fa2984..3efe9e9898 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/lifecycle/handlers_test.go
@@ -74,16 +74,16 @@ func TestResolvePortStringUnknown(t *testing.T) {
 
 type fakeContainerCommandRunner struct {
 	Cmd []string
-	ID  string
+	ID  kubecontainer.ContainerID
 }
 
-func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) RunInContainer(id string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) RunInContainer(id kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	f.Cmd = cmd
 	f.ID = id
 	return []byte{}, nil
 }
 
-func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) ExecInContainer(id string, cmd []string, in io.Reader, out, err io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (f *fakeContainerCommandRunner) ExecInContainer(id kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string, in io.Reader, out, err io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func TestRunHandlerExec(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeCommandRunner := fakeContainerCommandRunner{}
 	handlerRunner := NewHandlerRunner(&fakeHTTP{}, &fakeCommandRunner, nil)
 
-	containerID := "abc1234"
+	containerID := kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "abc1234"}
 	containerName := "containerFoo"
 
 	container := api.Container{
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestRunHandlerHttp(t *testing.T) {
 	fakeHttp := fakeHTTP{}
 	handlerRunner := NewHandlerRunner(&fakeHttp, &fakeContainerCommandRunner{}, nil)
 
-	containerID := "abc1234"
+	containerID := kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "abc1234"}
 	containerName := "containerFoo"
 
 	container := api.Container{
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func TestRunHandlerHttp(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestRunHandlerNil(t *testing.T) {
 	handlerRunner := NewHandlerRunner(&fakeHTTP{}, &fakeContainerCommandRunner{}, nil)
-	containerID := "abc1234"
+	containerID := kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "abc1234"}
 	podName := "podFoo"
 	podNamespace := "nsFoo"
 	containerName := "containerFoo"
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/network/cni/cni.go b/pkg/kubelet/network/cni/cni.go
index 19f4b8f93a..f328d57ef1 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/network/cni/cni.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/network/cni/cni.go
@@ -18,15 +18,17 @@ package cni
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/appc/cni/libcni"
-	cniTypes "github.com/appc/cni/pkg/types"
-	"github.com/golang/glog"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/dockertools"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/network"
-	kubeletTypes "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/types"
 	"net"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/appc/cni/libcni"
+	cniTypes "github.com/appc/cni/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/golang/glog"
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/dockertools"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/network"
+	kubeletTypes "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/types"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -105,12 +107,12 @@ func (plugin *cniNetworkPlugin) SetUpPod(namespace string, name string, id kubel
 	if !ok {
 		return fmt.Errorf("CNI execution called on non-docker runtime")
 	}
-	netns, err := runtime.GetNetNs(string(id))
+	netns, err := runtime.GetNetNs(id.ContainerID())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	_, err = plugin.defaultNetwork.addToNetwork(name, namespace, string(id), netns)
+	_, err = plugin.defaultNetwork.addToNetwork(name, namespace, id.ContainerID(), netns)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("Error while adding to cni network: %s", err)
 		return err
@@ -124,12 +126,12 @@ func (plugin *cniNetworkPlugin) TearDownPod(namespace string, name string, id ku
 	if !ok {
 		return fmt.Errorf("CNI execution called on non-docker runtime")
 	}
-	netns, err := runtime.GetNetNs(string(id))
+	netns, err := runtime.GetNetNs(id.ContainerID())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return plugin.defaultNetwork.deleteFromNetwork(name, namespace, string(id), netns)
+	return plugin.defaultNetwork.deleteFromNetwork(name, namespace, id.ContainerID(), netns)
 }
 
 // TODO: Use the addToNetwork function to obtain the IP of the Pod. That will assume idempotent ADD call to the plugin.
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ func (plugin *cniNetworkPlugin) Status(namespace string, name string, id kubelet
 	return &network.PodNetworkStatus{IP: ip}, nil
 }
 
-func (network *cniNetwork) addToNetwork(podName string, podNamespace string, podInfraContainerID string, podNetnsPath string) (*cniTypes.Result, error) {
+func (network *cniNetwork) addToNetwork(podName string, podNamespace string, podInfraContainerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, podNetnsPath string) (*cniTypes.Result, error) {
 	rt, err := buildCNIRuntimeConf(podName, podNamespace, podInfraContainerID, podNetnsPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("Error adding network: %v", err)
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ func (network *cniNetwork) addToNetwork(podName string, podNamespace string, pod
 	return res, nil
 }
 
-func (network *cniNetwork) deleteFromNetwork(podName string, podNamespace string, podInfraContainerID string, podNetnsPath string) error {
+func (network *cniNetwork) deleteFromNetwork(podName string, podNamespace string, podInfraContainerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, podNetnsPath string) error {
 	rt, err := buildCNIRuntimeConf(podName, podNamespace, podInfraContainerID, podNetnsPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.Errorf("Error deleting network: %v", err)
@@ -185,18 +187,18 @@ func (network *cniNetwork) deleteFromNetwork(podName string, podNamespace string
 	return nil
 }
 
-func buildCNIRuntimeConf(podName string, podNs string, podInfraContainerID string, podNetnsPath string) (*libcni.RuntimeConf, error) {
+func buildCNIRuntimeConf(podName string, podNs string, podInfraContainerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, podNetnsPath string) (*libcni.RuntimeConf, error) {
 	glog.V(4).Infof("Got netns path %v", podNetnsPath)
 	glog.V(4).Infof("Using netns path %v", podNs)
 
 	rt := &libcni.RuntimeConf{
-		ContainerID: podInfraContainerID,
+		ContainerID: podInfraContainerID.ID,
 		NetNS:       podNetnsPath,
 		IfName:      DefaultInterfaceName,
 		Args: [][2]string{
 			{"K8S_POD_NAMESPACE", podNs},
 			{"K8S_POD_NAME", podName},
-			{"K8S_POD_INFRA_CONTAINER_ID", podInfraContainerID},
+			{"K8S_POD_INFRA_CONTAINER_ID", podInfraContainerID.ID},
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/fake_prober.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/fake_prober.go
index 3fbb46e822..fd18dbd05d 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/fake_prober.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/fake_prober.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package prober
 
 import (
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/probe"
 )
 
@@ -29,14 +30,14 @@ type FakeProber struct {
 	Error     error
 }
 
-func (f FakeProber) ProbeLiveness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ string, _ int64) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (f FakeProber) ProbeLiveness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ kubecontainer.ContainerID, _ int64) (probe.Result, error) {
 	if c.LivenessProbe == nil {
 		return probe.Success, nil
 	}
 	return f.Liveness, f.Error
 }
 
-func (f FakeProber) ProbeReadiness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ string) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (f FakeProber) ProbeReadiness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ kubecontainer.ContainerID) (probe.Result, error) {
 	if c.ReadinessProbe == nil {
 		return probe.Success, nil
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager.go
index 340a5a51fd..84c87b4dc2 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager.go
@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@ func (m *manager) UpdatePodStatus(podUID types.UID, podStatus *api.PodStatus) {
 		var ready bool
 		if c.State.Running == nil {
 			ready = false
-		} else if result, ok := m.readinessCache.getReadiness(kubecontainer.TrimRuntimePrefix(c.ContainerID)); ok {
+		} else if result, ok := m.readinessCache.getReadiness(
+			kubecontainer.ParseContainerID(c.ContainerID)); ok {
 			ready = result
 		} else {
 			// The check whether there is a probe which hasn't run yet.
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager_test.go
index baada0dc2f..a3771eb5d6 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/manager_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/unversioned/testclient"
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/status"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/probe"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/wait"
@@ -151,35 +152,35 @@ func TestUpdatePodStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	const podUID = "pod_uid"
 	unprobed := api.ContainerStatus{
 		Name:        "unprobed_container",
-		ContainerID: "unprobed_container_id",
+		ContainerID: "test://unprobed_container_id",
 		State: api.ContainerState{
 			Running: &api.ContainerStateRunning{},
 		},
 	}
 	probedReady := api.ContainerStatus{
 		Name:        "probed_container_ready",
-		ContainerID: "probed_container_ready_id",
+		ContainerID: "test://probed_container_ready_id",
 		State: api.ContainerState{
 			Running: &api.ContainerStateRunning{},
 		},
 	}
 	probedPending := api.ContainerStatus{
 		Name:        "probed_container_pending",
-		ContainerID: "probed_container_pending_id",
+		ContainerID: "test://probed_container_pending_id",
 		State: api.ContainerState{
 			Running: &api.ContainerStateRunning{},
 		},
 	}
 	probedUnready := api.ContainerStatus{
 		Name:        "probed_container_unready",
-		ContainerID: "probed_container_unready_id",
+		ContainerID: "test://probed_container_unready_id",
 		State: api.ContainerState{
 			Running: &api.ContainerStateRunning{},
 		},
 	}
 	terminated := api.ContainerStatus{
 		Name:        "terminated_container",
-		ContainerID: "terminated_container_id",
+		ContainerID: "test://terminated_container_id",
 		State: api.ContainerState{
 			Terminated: &api.ContainerStateTerminated{},
 		},
@@ -199,9 +200,10 @@ func TestUpdatePodStatus(t *testing.T) {
 		containerPath{podUID, probedUnready.Name}: {},
 		containerPath{podUID, terminated.Name}:    {},
 	}
-	m.readinessCache.setReadiness(probedReady.ContainerID, true)
-	m.readinessCache.setReadiness(probedUnready.ContainerID, false)
-	m.readinessCache.setReadiness(terminated.ContainerID, true)
+
+	m.readinessCache.setReadiness(kubecontainer.ParseContainerID(probedReady.ContainerID), true)
+	m.readinessCache.setReadiness(kubecontainer.ParseContainerID(probedUnready.ContainerID), false)
+	m.readinessCache.setReadiness(kubecontainer.ParseContainerID(terminated.ContainerID), true)
 
 	m.UpdatePodStatus(podUID, &podStatus)
 
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go
index 14c6cf09ab..befdcc18b0 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ const maxProbeRetries = 3
 
 // Prober checks the healthiness of a container.
 type Prober interface {
-	ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string, createdAt int64) (probe.Result, error)
-	ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string) (probe.Result, error)
+	ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, createdAt int64) (probe.Result, error)
+	ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID) (probe.Result, error)
 }
 
 // Prober helps to check the liveness/readiness of a container.
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func New(
 
 // ProbeLiveness probes the liveness of a container.
 // If the initalDelay since container creation on liveness probe has not passed the probe will return probe.Success.
-func (pb *prober) ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string, createdAt int64) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (pb *prober) ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, createdAt int64) (probe.Result, error) {
 	var live probe.Result
 	var output string
 	var err error
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func (pb *prober) ProbeLiveness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container ap
 }
 
 // ProbeReadiness probes and sets the readiness of a container.
-func (pb *prober) ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (pb *prober) ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID) (probe.Result, error) {
 	var ready probe.Result
 	var output string
 	var err error
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func (pb *prober) ProbeReadiness(pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container a
 
 // runProbeWithRetries tries to probe the container in a finite loop, it returns the last result
 // if it never succeeds.
-func (pb *prober) runProbeWithRetries(p *api.Probe, pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string, retries int) (probe.Result, string, error) {
+func (pb *prober) runProbeWithRetries(p *api.Probe, pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, retries int) (probe.Result, string, error) {
 	var err error
 	var result probe.Result
 	var output string
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func (pb *prober) runProbeWithRetries(p *api.Probe, pod *api.Pod, status api.Pod
 	return result, output, err
 }
 
-func (pb *prober) runProbe(p *api.Probe, pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID string) (probe.Result, string, error) {
+func (pb *prober) runProbe(p *api.Probe, pod *api.Pod, status api.PodStatus, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID) (probe.Result, string, error) {
 	timeout := time.Duration(p.TimeoutSeconds) * time.Second
 	if p.Exec != nil {
 		glog.V(4).Infof("Exec-Probe Pod: %v, Container: %v, Command: %v", pod, container, p.Exec.Command)
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ type execInContainer struct {
 	run func() ([]byte, error)
 }
 
-func (p *prober) newExecInContainer(pod *api.Pod, container api.Container, containerID string, cmd []string) exec.Cmd {
+func (p *prober) newExecInContainer(pod *api.Pod, container api.Container, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) exec.Cmd {
 	return execInContainer{func() ([]byte, error) {
 		return p.runner.RunInContainer(containerID, cmd)
 	}}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober_test.go
index 9742ecfde5..ebf62c59eb 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober_test.go
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ func TestProbeContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		refManager: kubecontainer.NewRefManager(),
 		recorder:   &record.FakeRecorder{},
 	}
-	containerID := "foobar"
+	containerID := kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "foobar"}
 	createdAt := time.Now().Unix()
 
 	tests := []struct {
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/readiness_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/readiness_manager.go
index 6e703fe5da..665032b644 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/readiness_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/readiness_manager.go
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package prober
 
-import "sync"
+import (
+	"sync"
+
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
+)
 
 // readinessManager maintains the readiness information(probe results) of
 // containers over time to allow for implementation of health thresholds.
@@ -24,20 +28,19 @@ import "sync"
 type readinessManager struct {
 	// guards states
 	sync.RWMutex
-	// TODO(yifan): To use strong type.
-	states map[string]bool
+	states map[kubecontainer.ContainerID]bool
 }
 
 // newReadinessManager creates ane returns a readiness manager with empty
 // contents.
 func newReadinessManager() *readinessManager {
-	return &readinessManager{states: make(map[string]bool)}
+	return &readinessManager{states: make(map[kubecontainer.ContainerID]bool)}
 }
 
 // getReadiness returns the readiness value for the container with the given ID.
 // If the readiness value is found, returns it.
 // If the readiness is not found, returns false.
-func (r *readinessManager) getReadiness(id string) (ready bool, found bool) {
+func (r *readinessManager) getReadiness(id kubecontainer.ContainerID) (ready bool, found bool) {
 	r.RLock()
 	defer r.RUnlock()
 	state, found := r.states[id]
@@ -45,14 +48,14 @@ func (r *readinessManager) getReadiness(id string) (ready bool, found bool) {
 }
 
 // setReadiness sets the readiness value for the container with the given ID.
-func (r *readinessManager) setReadiness(id string, value bool) {
+func (r *readinessManager) setReadiness(id kubecontainer.ContainerID, value bool) {
 	r.Lock()
 	defer r.Unlock()
 	r.states[id] = value
 }
 
 // removeReadiness clears the readiness value for the container with the given ID.
-func (r *readinessManager) removeReadiness(id string) {
+func (r *readinessManager) removeReadiness(id kubecontainer.ContainerID) {
 	r.Lock()
 	defer r.Unlock()
 	delete(r.states, id)
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go
index c3d526aa04..20ca15aef2 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 	kubeutil "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/util"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/probe"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util"
 )
 
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ type worker struct {
 	spec *api.Probe
 
 	// The last known container ID for this worker.
-	containerID types.UID
+	containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID
 }
 
 // Creates and starts a new probe worker.
@@ -75,8 +74,8 @@ func run(m *manager, w *worker) {
 	defer func() {
 		// Clean up.
 		probeTicker.Stop()
-		if w.containerID != "" {
-			m.readinessCache.removeReadiness(string(w.containerID))
+		if !w.containerID.IsEmpty() {
+			m.readinessCache.removeReadiness(w.containerID)
 		}
 
 		m.removeReadinessProbe(w.pod.UID, w.container.Name)
@@ -121,17 +120,17 @@ func doProbe(m *manager, w *worker) (keepGoing bool) {
 		return true // Wait for more information.
 	}
 
-	if w.containerID != types.UID(c.ContainerID) {
-		if w.containerID != "" {
-			m.readinessCache.removeReadiness(string(w.containerID))
+	if w.containerID.String() != c.ContainerID {
+		if !w.containerID.IsEmpty() {
+			m.readinessCache.removeReadiness(w.containerID)
 		}
-		w.containerID = types.UID(kubecontainer.TrimRuntimePrefix(c.ContainerID))
+		w.containerID = kubecontainer.ParseContainerID(c.ContainerID)
 	}
 
 	if c.State.Running == nil {
 		glog.V(3).Infof("Non-running container probed: %v - %v",
 			kubeutil.FormatPodName(w.pod), w.container.Name)
-		m.readinessCache.setReadiness(string(w.containerID), false)
+		m.readinessCache.setReadiness(w.containerID, false)
 		// Abort if the container will not be restarted.
 		return c.State.Terminated == nil ||
 			w.pod.Spec.RestartPolicy != api.RestartPolicyNever
@@ -139,14 +138,14 @@ func doProbe(m *manager, w *worker) (keepGoing bool) {
 
 	if int64(time.Since(c.State.Running.StartedAt.Time).Seconds()) < w.spec.InitialDelaySeconds {
 		// Readiness defaults to false during the initial delay.
-		m.readinessCache.setReadiness(string(w.containerID), false)
+		m.readinessCache.setReadiness(w.containerID, false)
 		return true
 	}
 
 	// TODO: Move error handling out of prober.
-	result, _ := m.prober.ProbeReadiness(w.pod, status, w.container, string(w.containerID))
+	result, _ := m.prober.ProbeReadiness(w.pod, status, w.container, w.containerID)
 	if result != probe.Unknown {
-		m.readinessCache.setReadiness(string(w.containerID), result != probe.Failure)
+		m.readinessCache.setReadiness(w.containerID, result != probe.Failure)
 	}
 
 	return true
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker_test.go
index fc17575531..1d2408ab1f 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker_test.go
@@ -22,15 +22,17 @@ import (
 
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/unversioned"
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/probe"
 )
 
 const (
-	containerID   = "cOnTaInEr_Id"
 	containerName = "cOnTaInEr_NaMe"
 	podUID        = "pOd_UiD"
 )
 
+var containerID = kubecontainer.ContainerID{"test", "cOnTaInEr_Id"}
+
 func TestDoProbe(t *testing.T) {
 	m := newTestManager()
 
@@ -204,7 +206,7 @@ func newTestWorker(probeSpec api.Probe) *worker {
 func getRunningStatus() api.PodStatus {
 	containerStatus := api.ContainerStatus{
 		Name:        containerName,
-		ContainerID: containerID,
+		ContainerID: containerID.String(),
 	}
 	containerStatus.State.Running = &api.ContainerStateRunning{unversioned.Now()}
 	podStatus := api.PodStatus{
@@ -231,10 +233,10 @@ func getTestPod(probeSpec api.Probe) api.Pod {
 
 type CrashingProber struct{}
 
-func (f CrashingProber) ProbeLiveness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ string, _ int64) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (f CrashingProber) ProbeLiveness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ kubecontainer.ContainerID, _ int64) (probe.Result, error) {
 	panic("Intentional ProbeLiveness crash.")
 }
 
-func (f CrashingProber) ProbeReadiness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ string) (probe.Result, error) {
+func (f CrashingProber) ProbeReadiness(_ *api.Pod, _ api.PodStatus, c api.Container, _ kubecontainer.ContainerID) (probe.Result, error) {
 	panic("Intentional ProbeReadiness crash.")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/container_id.go b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/container_id.go
index aa35361dda..25a3584c53 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/container_id.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/container_id.go
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ package rkt
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 )
 
 // containerID defines the ID of rkt containers, it will
@@ -29,17 +31,22 @@ type containerID struct {
 	appName string // Name of the app in that pod.
 }
 
+const RktType = "rkt"
+
 // buildContainerID constructs the containers's ID using containerID,
 // which consists of the pod uuid and the container name.
 // The result can be used to uniquely identify a container.
-func buildContainerID(c *containerID) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", c.uuid, c.appName)
+func buildContainerID(c *containerID) kubecontainer.ContainerID {
+	return kubecontainer.ContainerID{
+		Type: RktType,
+		ID:   fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", c.uuid, c.appName),
+	}
 }
 
 // parseContainerID parses the containerID into pod uuid and the container name. The
 // results can be used to get more information of the container.
-func parseContainerID(id string) (*containerID, error) {
-	tuples := strings.Split(id, ":")
+func parseContainerID(id kubecontainer.ContainerID) (*containerID, error) {
+	tuples := strings.Split(id.ID, ":")
 	if len(tuples) != 2 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("rkt: cannot parse container ID for: %v", id)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/pod_info.go b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/pod_info.go
index 368d126811..7c52ce7730 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/pod_info.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/pod_info.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func makeContainerStatus(container *kubecontainer.Container, podInfo *podInfo) a
 	var status api.ContainerStatus
 	status.Name = container.Name
 	status.Image = container.Image
-	status.ContainerID = string(container.ID)
+	status.ContainerID = container.ID.String()
 	// TODO(yifan): Add image ID info.
 
 	switch podInfo.state {
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt.go b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt.go
index 36c5b6b8e0..7d21f29835 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/rkt/rkt.go
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ func apiPodToruntimePod(uuid string, pod *api.Pod) *kubecontainer.Pod {
 	for i := range pod.Spec.Containers {
 		c := &pod.Spec.Containers[i]
 		p.Containers = append(p.Containers, &kubecontainer.Container{
-			ID:      types.UID(buildContainerID(&containerID{uuid, c.Name})),
+			ID:      buildContainerID(&containerID{uuid, c.Name}),
 			Name:    c.Name,
 			Image:   c.Image,
 			Hash:    kubecontainer.HashContainer(c),
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) preparePod(pod *api.Pod, pullSecrets []api.Secret) (string, *k
 func (r *Runtime) generateEvents(runtimePod *kubecontainer.Pod, reason string, failure error) {
 	// Set up container references.
 	for _, c := range runtimePod.Containers {
-		containerID := string(c.ID)
+		containerID := c.ID
 		id, err := parseContainerID(containerID)
 		if err != nil {
 			glog.Warningf("Invalid container ID %q", containerID)
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) RunPod(pod *api.Pod, pullSecrets []api.Secret) error {
 			r.recorder.Eventf(ref, "Failed", "Failed to create rkt container with error: %v", prepareErr)
 			continue
 		}
-		containerID := string(runtimePod.Containers[i].ID)
+		containerID := runtimePod.Containers[i].ID
 		r.containerRefManager.SetRef(containerID, ref)
 	}
 
@@ -802,8 +802,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) KillPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod) error {
 	serviceName := makePodServiceFileName(runningPod.ID)
 	r.generateEvents(&runningPod, "Killing", nil)
 	for _, c := range runningPod.Containers {
-		id := string(c.ID)
-		r.containerRefManager.ClearRef(id)
+		r.containerRefManager.ClearRef(c.ID)
 	}
 
 	// Since all service file have 'KillMode=mixed', the processes in
@@ -989,7 +988,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) SyncPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod, podStatus
 	podFullName := kubeletUtil.FormatPodName(pod)
 
 	// Add references to all containers.
-	unidentifiedContainers := make(map[types.UID]*kubecontainer.Container)
+	unidentifiedContainers := make(map[kubecontainer.ContainerID]*kubecontainer.Container)
 	for _, c := range runningPod.Containers {
 		unidentifiedContainers[c.ID] = c
 	}
@@ -1020,7 +1019,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) SyncPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod, podStatus
 			break
 		}
 
-		result, err := r.prober.ProbeLiveness(pod, podStatus, container, string(c.ID), c.Created)
+		result, err := r.prober.ProbeLiveness(pod, podStatus, container, c.ID, c.Created)
 		// TODO(vmarmol): examine this logic.
 		if err == nil && result != probe.Success {
 			glog.Infof("Pod %q container %q is unhealthy (probe result: %v), it will be killed and re-created.", podFullName, container.Name, result)
@@ -1062,7 +1061,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) SyncPod(pod *api.Pod, runningPod kubecontainer.Pod, podStatus
 // See https://github.com/coreos/rkt/blob/master/Documentation/commands.md#logging for more details.
 //
 // TODO(yifan): If the rkt is using lkvm as the stage1 image, then this function will fail.
-func (r *Runtime) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID string, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) error {
+func (r *Runtime) GetContainerLogs(pod *api.Pod, containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, logOptions *api.PodLogOptions, stdout, stderr io.Writer) error {
 	id, err := parseContainerID(containerID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1098,7 +1097,7 @@ func (r *Runtime) GarbageCollect() error {
 // Note: In rkt, the container ID is in the form of "UUID:appName", where
 // appName is the container name.
 // TODO(yifan): If the rkt is using lkvm as the stage1 image, then this function will fail.
-func (r *Runtime) RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
+func (r *Runtime) RunInContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string) ([]byte, error) {
 	glog.V(4).Infof("Rkt running in container.")
 
 	id, err := parseContainerID(containerID)
@@ -1112,14 +1111,14 @@ func (r *Runtime) RunInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string) ([]byte, erro
 	return []byte(strings.Join(result, "\n")), err
 }
 
-func (r *Runtime) AttachContainer(containerID string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (r *Runtime) AttachContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("unimplemented")
 }
 
 // Note: In rkt, the container ID is in the form of "UUID:appName", where UUID is
 // the rkt UUID, and appName is the container name.
 // TODO(yifan): If the rkt is using lkvm as the stage1 image, then this function will fail.
-func (r *Runtime) ExecInContainer(containerID string, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
+func (r *Runtime) ExecInContainer(containerID kubecontainer.ContainerID, cmd []string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.WriteCloser, tty bool) error {
 	glog.V(4).Infof("Rkt execing in container.")
 
 	id, err := parseContainerID(containerID)
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/types/types.go b/pkg/kubelet/types/types.go
index 23e494eef4..ad1fb75b06 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/types/types.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/types/types.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api"
+	kubecontainer "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container"
 )
 
 // TODO: Reconcile custom types in kubelet/types and this subpackage
@@ -28,6 +29,13 @@ import (
 // DockerID is an ID of docker container. It is a type to make it clear when we're working with docker container Ids
 type DockerID string
 
+func (id DockerID) ContainerID() kubecontainer.ContainerID {
+	return kubecontainer.ContainerID{
+		Type: "docker",
+		ID:   string(id),
+	}
+}
+
 type HttpGetter interface {
 	Get(url string) (*http.Response, error)
 }