diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/datafeed/DatafeedState.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/datafeed/DatafeedState.java
index 796f7a766df..9fda5fb215a 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/datafeed/DatafeedState.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/datafeed/DatafeedState.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ConstructingObjectParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.tasks.Task;
+import org.elasticsearch.xpack.ml.action.StartDatafeedAction;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Locale;
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ public enum DatafeedState implements Task.Status {
 
     STARTED, STOPPED;
 
-    public static final String NAME = "DatafeedState";
+    public static final String NAME = StartDatafeedAction.NAME;
 
     private static final ConstructingObjectParser<DatafeedState, Void> PARSER =
             new ConstructingObjectParser<>(NAME, args -> fromString((String) args[0]));
diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/config/JobTaskStatus.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/config/JobTaskStatus.java
index 481a909468a..59415e2ead6 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/config/JobTaskStatus.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ml/job/config/JobTaskStatus.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ObjectParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentBuilder;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.XContentParser;
 import org.elasticsearch.tasks.Task;
+import org.elasticsearch.xpack.ml.action.OpenJobAction;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.PersistentTask;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ import static org.elasticsearch.common.xcontent.ConstructingObjectParser.constru
 
 public class JobTaskStatus implements Task.Status {
 
-    public static final String NAME = "JobState";
+    public static final String NAME = OpenJobAction.NAME;
 
     private static ParseField STATE = new ParseField("state");
     private static ParseField ALLOCATION_ID = new ParseField("allocation_id");
diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.java
index 40276b5609c..c42160d24fd 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.java
@@ -69,16 +69,21 @@ public final class PersistentTasksCustomMetaData extends AbstractNamedDiffable<M
     public static final ConstructingObjectParser<Assignment, Void> ASSIGNMENT_PARSER =
             new ConstructingObjectParser<>("assignment", objects -> new Assignment((String) objects[0], (String) objects[1]));
 
-    private static final NamedObjectParser<PersistentTaskParams, Void> PARAMS_PARSER =
-            (XContentParser p, Void c, String name) -> p.namedObject(PersistentTaskParams.class, name, null);
-    private static final NamedObjectParser<Status, Void> STATUS_PARSER =
-            (XContentParser p, Void c, String name) -> p.namedObject(Status.class, name, null);
+    private static final NamedObjectParser<TaskDescriptionBuilder<PersistentTaskParams>, Void> TASK_DESCRIPTION_PARSER;
 
     static {
         // Tasks parser initialization
         PERSISTENT_TASKS_PARSER.declareLong(Builder::setLastAllocationId, new ParseField("last_allocation_id"));
         PERSISTENT_TASKS_PARSER.declareObjectArray(Builder::setTasks, PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER, new ParseField("tasks"));
 
+        // Task description parser initialization
+        ObjectParser<TaskDescriptionBuilder<PersistentTaskParams>, String> parser = new ObjectParser<>("named");
+        parser.declareObject(TaskDescriptionBuilder::setParams,
+                (p, c) -> p.namedObject(PersistentTaskParams.class, c, null), new ParseField("params"));
+        parser.declareObject(TaskDescriptionBuilder::setStatus,
+                (p, c) -> p.namedObject(Status.class, c, null), new ParseField("status"));
+        TASK_DESCRIPTION_PARSER = (XContentParser p, Void c, String name) -> parser.parse(p, new TaskDescriptionBuilder<>(name), name);
+
         // Assignment parser
         ASSIGNMENT_PARSER.declareStringOrNull(constructorArg(), new ParseField("executor_node"));
         ASSIGNMENT_PARSER.declareStringOrNull(constructorArg(), new ParseField("explanation"));
@@ -87,28 +92,46 @@ public final class PersistentTasksCustomMetaData extends AbstractNamedDiffable<M
         PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareString(TaskBuilder::setId, new ParseField("id"));
         PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareString(TaskBuilder::setTaskName, new ParseField("name"));
         PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareLong(TaskBuilder::setAllocationId, new ParseField("allocation_id"));
-        PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareNamedObjects(
-                (TaskBuilder<PersistentTaskParams> taskBuilder, List<PersistentTaskParams> objects) -> {
-                    if (objects.size() != 1) {
-                        throw new IllegalArgumentException("only one params per task is allowed");
-                    }
-                    taskBuilder.setParams(objects.get(0));
-                }, PARAMS_PARSER, new ParseField("params"));
 
         PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareNamedObjects(
-                (TaskBuilder<PersistentTaskParams> taskBuilder, List<Status> objects) -> {
+                (TaskBuilder<PersistentTaskParams> taskBuilder, List<TaskDescriptionBuilder<PersistentTaskParams>> objects) -> {
                     if (objects.size() != 1) {
-                        throw new IllegalArgumentException("only one status per task is allowed");
+                        throw new IllegalArgumentException("only one task description per task is allowed");
                     }
-                    taskBuilder.setStatus(objects.get(0));
-                }, STATUS_PARSER, new ParseField("status"));
-
-
+                    TaskDescriptionBuilder<PersistentTaskParams> builder = objects.get(0);
+                    taskBuilder.setTaskName(builder.taskName);
+                    taskBuilder.setParams(builder.params);
+                    taskBuilder.setStatus(builder.status);
+                }, TASK_DESCRIPTION_PARSER, new ParseField("task"));
         PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareObject(TaskBuilder::setAssignment, ASSIGNMENT_PARSER, new ParseField("assignment"));
         PERSISTENT_TASK_PARSER.declareLong(TaskBuilder::setAllocationIdOnLastStatusUpdate,
                 new ParseField("allocation_id_on_last_status_update"));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Private builder used in XContent parser to build task-specific portion (params and status)
+     */
+    private static class TaskDescriptionBuilder<Params extends PersistentTaskParams> {
+        private final String taskName;
+        private Params params;
+        private Status status;
+
+        private TaskDescriptionBuilder(String taskName) {
+            this.taskName = taskName;
+        }
+
+        private TaskDescriptionBuilder setParams(Params params) {
+            this.params = params;
+            return this;
+        }
+
+        private TaskDescriptionBuilder setStatus(Status status) {
+            this.status = status;
+            return this;
+        }
+    }
+
+
     public Collection<PersistentTask<?>> tasks() {
         return this.tasks.values();
     }
@@ -266,6 +289,18 @@ public final class PersistentTasksCustomMetaData extends AbstractNamedDiffable<M
             this.status = status;
             this.assignment = assignment;
             this.allocationIdOnLastStatusUpdate = allocationIdOnLastStatusUpdate;
+            if (params != null) {
+                if (params.getWriteableName().equals(taskName) == false) {
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("params have to have the same writeable name as task. params: " +
+                            params.getWriteableName() + " task: " + taskName);
+                }
+            }
+            if (status != null) {
+                if (status.getWriteableName().equals(taskName) == false) {
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("status has to have the same writeable name as task. status: " +
+                            status.getWriteableName() + " task: " + taskName);
+                }
+            }
         }
 
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -371,21 +406,20 @@ public final class PersistentTasksCustomMetaData extends AbstractNamedDiffable<M
             builder.startObject();
             {
                 builder.field("id", id);
-                builder.field("name", taskName);
-                if (params != null) {
-                    builder.startObject("params");
+                builder.startObject("task");
+                {
+                    builder.startObject(taskName);
                     {
-                        builder.field(params.getWriteableName(), params, xParams);
-                    }
-                    builder.endObject();
-                }
-                if (status != null) {
-                    builder.startObject("status");
-                    {
-                        builder.field(status.getWriteableName(), status, xParams);
+                        if (params != null) {
+                            builder.field("params", params, xParams);
+                        }
+                        if (status != null) {
+                            builder.field("status", status, xParams);
+                        }
                     }
                     builder.endObject();
                 }
+                builder.endObject();
 
                 if (API_CONTEXT.equals(xParams.param(MetaData.CONTEXT_MODE_PARAM, API_CONTEXT))) {
                     // These are transient values that shouldn't be persisted to gateway cluster state or snapshot
diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/StartPersistentTaskAction.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/StartPersistentTaskAction.java
index 22b11a389a5..6052301ca51 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/StartPersistentTaskAction.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/StartPersistentTaskAction.java
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
         private String taskId;
 
         @Nullable
-        private String action;
+        private String taskName;
 
         private PersistentTaskParams params;
 
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
 
         }
 
-        public Request(String taskId, String action, PersistentTaskParams params) {
+        public Request(String taskId, String taskName, PersistentTaskParams params) {
             this.taskId = taskId;
-            this.action = action;
+            this.taskName = taskName;
             this.params = params;
         }
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
         public void readFrom(StreamInput in) throws IOException {
             super.readFrom(in);
             taskId = in.readString();
-            action = in.readString();
+            taskName = in.readString();
             params = in.readOptionalNamedWriteable(PersistentTaskParams.class);
         }
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
         public void writeTo(StreamOutput out) throws IOException {
             super.writeTo(out);
             out.writeString(taskId);
-            out.writeString(action);
+            out.writeString(taskName);
             out.writeOptionalNamedWriteable(params);
         }
 
@@ -97,9 +97,15 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
             if (this.taskId == null) {
                 validationException = addValidationError("task id must be specified", validationException);
             }
-            if (this.action == null) {
+            if (this.taskName == null) {
                 validationException = addValidationError("action must be specified", validationException);
             }
+            if (params != null) {
+                if (params.getWriteableName().equals(taskName) == false) {
+                    validationException = addValidationError("params have to have the same writeable name as task. params: " +
+                            params.getWriteableName() + " task: " + taskName, validationException);
+                }
+            }
             return validationException;
         }
 
@@ -108,21 +114,21 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
             if (this == o) return true;
             if (o == null || getClass() != o.getClass()) return false;
             Request request1 = (Request) o;
-            return Objects.equals(taskId, request1.taskId) && Objects.equals(action, request1.action) &&
+            return Objects.equals(taskId, request1.taskId) && Objects.equals(taskName, request1.taskName) &&
                     Objects.equals(params, request1.params);
         }
 
         @Override
         public int hashCode() {
-            return Objects.hash(taskId, action, params);
+            return Objects.hash(taskId, taskName, params);
         }
 
-        public String getAction() {
-            return action;
+        public String getTaskName() {
+            return taskName;
         }
 
-        public void setAction(String action) {
-            this.action = action;
+        public void setTaskName(String taskName) {
+            this.taskName = taskName;
         }
 
         public String getTaskId() {
@@ -157,7 +163,7 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
         }
 
         public RequestBuilder setAction(String action) {
-            request.setAction(action);
+            request.setTaskName(action);
             return this;
         }
 
@@ -206,7 +212,7 @@ public class StartPersistentTaskAction extends Action<StartPersistentTaskAction.
         @Override
         protected final void masterOperation(final Request request, ClusterState state,
                                              final ActionListener<PersistentTaskResponse> listener) {
-            persistentTasksClusterService.createPersistentTask(request.taskId, request.action, request.params,
+            persistentTasksClusterService.createPersistentTask(request.taskId, request.taskName, request.params,
                     new ActionListener<PersistentTask<?>>() {
 
                 @Override
diff --git a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.java b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.java
index 851b30441ac..401f158b841 100644
--- a/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.java
+++ b/plugin/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.java
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.action.Action;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.ActionListener;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.ActionRequestValidationException;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.ActionFilters;
-import org.elasticsearch.action.support.master.AcknowledgedResponse;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.master.MasterNodeOperationRequestBuilder;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.master.MasterNodeRequest;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.master.TransportMasterNodeAction;
@@ -25,13 +24,14 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.io.stream.StreamOutput;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.settings.Settings;
 import org.elasticsearch.tasks.Task;
 import org.elasticsearch.threadpool.ThreadPool;
-import org.elasticsearch.transport.TransportResponse.Empty;
 import org.elasticsearch.transport.TransportService;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.PersistentTask;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Objects;
 
+import static org.elasticsearch.action.ValidateActions.addValidationError;
+
 public class UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction extends Action<UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.Request,
         PersistentTaskResponse,
         UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.RequestBuilder> {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public class UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction extends Action<UpdatePersistentTas
 
         private String taskId;
 
-        private long allocationId;
+        private long allocationId = -1L;
 
         private Task.Status status;
 
@@ -101,7 +101,16 @@ public class UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction extends Action<UpdatePersistentTas
 
         @Override
         public ActionRequestValidationException validate() {
-            return null;
+            ActionRequestValidationException validationException = null;
+            if (this.taskId == null) {
+                validationException = addValidationError("task id must be specified", validationException);
+            }
+            if (this.allocationId == -1L) {
+                validationException = addValidationError("allocationId must be specified", validationException);
+            }
+            // We cannot really check if status has the same type as task because we don't have access
+            // to the task here. We will check it when we try to update the task
+            return validationException;
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests.java
index 857186549fc..460c56524bb 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import org.elasticsearch.test.VersionUtils;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.Assignment;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.PersistentTask;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestParams;
+import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestPersistentTasksExecutor;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
         addTestNodes(nodes, randomIntBetween(1, 10));
         int numberOfTasks = randomIntBetween(2, 40);
         for (int i = 0; i < numberOfTasks; i++) {
-            addTask(tasks, "should_assign", "assign_one", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
+            addTask(tasks, "assign_one", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
         }
 
         MetaData.Builder metaData = MetaData.builder(clusterState.metaData()).putCustom(PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.TYPE, tasks.build());
@@ -103,14 +104,14 @@ public class PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
             switch (randomInt(2)) {
                 case 0:
                     // add an unassigned task that should get assigned because it's assigned to a non-existing node or unassigned
-                    addTask(tasks, "should_assign", "assign_me", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
+                    addTask(tasks, "assign_me", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
                     break;
                 case 1:
                     // add a task assigned to non-existing node that should not get assigned
-                    addTask(tasks, "should_not_assign", "dont_assign_me", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
+                    addTask(tasks, "dont_assign_me", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
                     break;
                 case 2:
-                    addTask(tasks, "assign_one", "assign_one", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
+                    addTask(tasks, "assign_one", randomBoolean() ? null : "no_longer_exits");
                     break;
 
             }
@@ -129,8 +130,8 @@ public class PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
 
         for (PersistentTask<?> task : tasksInProgress.tasks()) {
             // explanation should correspond to the action name
-            switch (task.getTaskName()) {
-                case "should_assign":
+            switch (((TestParams) task.getParams()).getTestParam()) {
+                case "assign_me":
                     assertThat(task.getExecutorNode(), notNullValue());
                     assertThat(task.isAssigned(), equalTo(true));
                     if (clusterState.nodes().nodeExists(task.getExecutorNode()) == false) {
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
                             clusterState.nodes().nodeExists(task.getExecutorNode()), equalTo(true));
                     assertThat(task.getAssignment().getExplanation(), equalTo("test assignment"));
                     break;
-                case "should_not_assign":
+                case "dont_assign_me":
                     assertThat(task.getExecutorNode(), nullValue());
                     assertThat(task.isAssigned(), equalTo(false));
                     assertThat(task.getAssignment().getExplanation(), equalTo("no appropriate nodes found for the assignment"));
@@ -196,7 +197,9 @@ public class PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
     private Assignment assignOnlyOneTaskAtATime(ClusterState clusterState) {
         DiscoveryNodes nodes = clusterState.nodes();
         PersistentTasksCustomMetaData tasksInProgress = clusterState.getMetaData().custom(PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.TYPE);
-        if (tasksInProgress.findTasks("assign_one", task -> nodes.nodeExists(task.getExecutorNode())).isEmpty()) {
+        if (tasksInProgress.findTasks(TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, task ->
+                "assign_one".equals(((TestParams) task.getParams()).getTestParam()) &&
+                        nodes.nodeExists(task.getExecutorNode())).isEmpty()) {
             return randomNodeAssignment(clusterState.nodes());
         } else {
             return new Assignment(null, "only one task can be assigned at a time");
@@ -390,11 +393,12 @@ public class PersistentTasksClusterServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
                                                MetaData.Builder metaData, PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.Builder tasks,
                                                Assignment assignment, String param) {
         return clusterStateBuilder.metaData(metaData.putCustom(PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.TYPE,
-                tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), randomAlphaOfLength(10), new TestParams(param), assignment).build()));
+                tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, new TestParams(param), assignment).build()));
     }
 
-    private void addTask(PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.Builder tasks, String action, String param, String node) {
-        tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), action, new TestParams(param), new Assignment(node, "explanation: " + action));
+    private void addTask(PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.Builder tasks, String param, String node) {
+        tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, new TestParams(param),
+                new Assignment(node, "explanation: " + param));
     }
 
     private DiscoveryNode newNode(String nodeId) {
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaDataTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaDataTests.java
index 67de0f985e5..57a6a2e2812 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaDataTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksCustomMetaDataTests.java
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksCustomMetaDataTests extends AbstractDiffableSerializ
                 new Entry(MetaData.Custom.class, PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.TYPE, PersistentTasksCustomMetaData::new),
                 new Entry(NamedDiff.class, PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.TYPE, PersistentTasksCustomMetaData::readDiffFrom),
                 new Entry(PersistentTaskParams.class, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, TestParams::new),
-                new Entry(Task.Status.class, Status.NAME, Status::new)
+                new Entry(Task.Status.class, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, Status::new)
         ));
     }
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksCustomMetaDataTests extends AbstractDiffableSerializ
         return new NamedXContentRegistry(Arrays.asList(
                 new NamedXContentRegistry.Entry(PersistentTaskParams.class, new ParseField(TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME),
                         TestParams::fromXContent),
-                new NamedXContentRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, new ParseField(Status.NAME), Status::fromXContent)
+                new NamedXContentRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, new ParseField(TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME), Status::fromXContent)
         ));
     }
 
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorIT.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorIT.java
index 19fc3a80f30..146474f34dc 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorIT.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorIT.java
@@ -189,9 +189,9 @@ public class PersistentTasksExecutorIT extends ESIntegTestCase {
         assertThrows(future1, IllegalStateException.class, "timed out after 10ms");
 
         PlainActionFuture<PersistentTask<?>> failedUpdateFuture = new PlainActionFuture<>();
-        persistentTasksService.updateStatus(taskId, -1, new Status("should fail"), failedUpdateFuture);
+        persistentTasksService.updateStatus(taskId, -2, new Status("should fail"), failedUpdateFuture);
         assertThrows(failedUpdateFuture, ResourceNotFoundException.class, "the task with id " + taskId +
-                " and allocation id -1 doesn't exist");
+                " and allocation id -2 doesn't exist");
 
         // Wait for the task to disappear
         WaitForPersistentTaskStatusFuture<?> future2 = new WaitForPersistentTaskStatusFuture<>();
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorResponseTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorResponseTests.java
index c8c286b1db8..44273098612 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorResponseTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksExecutorResponseTests.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.UUIDs;
 import org.elasticsearch.common.io.stream.NamedWriteableRegistry;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.AbstractStreamableTestCase;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.PersistentTask;
+import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestPersistentTasksExecutor;
 
 import java.util.Collections;
 
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksExecutorResponseTests extends AbstractStreamableTest
     protected PersistentTaskResponse createTestInstance() {
         if (randomBoolean()) {
             return new PersistentTaskResponse(
-                    new PersistentTask<PersistentTaskParams>(UUIDs.base64UUID(), randomAsciiOfLength(10),
+                    new PersistentTask<PersistentTaskParams>(UUIDs.base64UUID(), TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME,
                             new TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestParams("test"),
                             randomLong(), PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.INITIAL_ASSIGNMENT));
         } else {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksExecutorResponseTests extends AbstractStreamableTest
     protected NamedWriteableRegistry getNamedWriteableRegistry() {
         return new NamedWriteableRegistry(Collections.singletonList(
                 new NamedWriteableRegistry.Entry(PersistentTaskParams.class,
-                        TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestParams::new)
+                        TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestParams::new)
         ));
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests.java
index 003b5decc3c..cd64e503032 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import org.elasticsearch.threadpool.ThreadPool;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.Assignment;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.PersistentTask;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestParams;
+import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestPersistentTasksExecutor;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
         PersistentTasksService persistentTasksService = mock(PersistentTasksService.class);
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") PersistentTasksExecutor<TestParams> action = mock(PersistentTasksExecutor.class);
         when(action.getExecutor()).thenReturn(ThreadPool.Names.SAME);
-        when(action.getTaskName()).thenReturn("test");
+        when(action.getTaskName()).thenReturn(TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME);
         int nonLocalNodesCount = randomInt(10);
         // need to account for 5 original tasks on each node and their relocations
         for (int i = 0; i < (nonLocalNodesCount + 1) * 10; i++) {
@@ -87,11 +88,11 @@ public class PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
         boolean added = false;
         if (nonLocalNodesCount > 0) {
             for (int i = 0; i < randomInt(5); i++) {
-                tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), "test_action", new TestParams("other_" + i),
+                tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, new TestParams("other_" + i),
                         new Assignment("other_node_" + randomInt(nonLocalNodesCount), "test assignment on other node"));
                 if (added == false && randomBoolean()) {
                     added = true;
-                    tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), "test", new TestParams("this_param"),
+                    tasks.addTask(UUIDs.base64UUID(), TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, new TestParams("this_param"),
                             new Assignment("this_node", "test assignment on this node"));
                 }
             }
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
 
             // Add task on some other node
             state = newClusterState;
-            newClusterState = addTask(state, "test", null, "some_other_node");
+            newClusterState = addTask(state, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, null, "some_other_node");
             coordinator.clusterChanged(new ClusterChangedEvent("test", newClusterState, state));
 
             // Make sure action wasn't called again
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
 
             // Start another task on this node
             state = newClusterState;
-            newClusterState = addTask(state, "test", new TestParams("this_param"), "this_node");
+            newClusterState = addTask(state, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, new TestParams("this_param"), "this_node");
             coordinator.clusterChanged(new ClusterChangedEvent("test", newClusterState, state));
 
             // Make sure action was called this time
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ public class PersistentTasksNodeServiceTests extends ESTestCase {
 
             // Add task on some other node
             state = newClusterState;
-            newClusterState = addTask(state, "test", null, "some_other_node");
+            newClusterState = addTask(state, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, null, "some_other_node");
             coordinator.clusterChanged(new ClusterChangedEvent("test", newClusterState, state));
 
             // Make sure action wasn't called again
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/TestPersistentTasksPlugin.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/TestPersistentTasksPlugin.java
index ddc37b3d5bc..5080eb5de2b 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/TestPersistentTasksPlugin.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/TestPersistentTasksPlugin.java
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public class TestPersistentTasksPlugin extends Plugin implements ActionPlugin {
                         PersistentTasksCustomMetaData::new),
                 new NamedWriteableRegistry.Entry(NamedDiff.class, PersistentTasksCustomMetaData.TYPE,
                         PersistentTasksCustomMetaData::readDiffFrom),
-                new NamedWriteableRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, Status.NAME, Status::new)
+                new NamedWriteableRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, Status::new)
         );
     }
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ public class TestPersistentTasksPlugin extends Plugin implements ActionPlugin {
                         PersistentTasksCustomMetaData::fromXContent),
                 new NamedXContentRegistry.Entry(PersistentTaskParams.class, new ParseField(TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME),
                         TestParams::fromXContent),
-                new NamedXContentRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, new ParseField(Status.NAME), Status::fromXContent)
+                new NamedXContentRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, new ParseField(TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME), Status::fromXContent)
         );
     }
 
@@ -211,7 +211,6 @@ public class TestPersistentTasksPlugin extends Plugin implements ActionPlugin {
     }
 
     public static class Status implements Task.Status {
-        public static final String NAME = "test";
 
         private final String phase;
 
@@ -232,7 +231,7 @@ public class TestPersistentTasksPlugin extends Plugin implements ActionPlugin {
 
         @Override
         public String getWriteableName() {
-            return NAME;
+            return TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME;
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskRequestTests.java b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskRequestTests.java
index f5c3a38886f..729e0833a0e 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskRequestTests.java
+++ b/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/persistent/UpdatePersistentTaskRequestTests.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import org.elasticsearch.common.io.stream.NamedWriteableRegistry;
 import org.elasticsearch.tasks.Task;
 import org.elasticsearch.test.AbstractStreamableTestCase;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.Status;
+import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.TestPersistentTasksPlugin.TestPersistentTasksExecutor;
 import org.elasticsearch.xpack.persistent.UpdatePersistentTaskStatusAction.Request;
 
 import java.util.Collections;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ public class UpdatePersistentTaskRequestTests extends AbstractStreamableTestCase
     @Override
     protected NamedWriteableRegistry getNamedWriteableRegistry() {
         return new NamedWriteableRegistry(Collections.singletonList(
-                new NamedWriteableRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, Status.NAME, Status::new)
+                new NamedWriteableRegistry.Entry(Task.Status.class, TestPersistentTasksExecutor.NAME, Status::new)
         ));
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugin/src/test/resources/rest-api-spec/test/ml/jobs_crud.yaml b/plugin/src/test/resources/rest-api-spec/test/ml/jobs_crud.yaml
index a857a516fd2..045d54ceead 100644
--- a/plugin/src/test/resources/rest-api-spec/test/ml/jobs_crud.yaml
+++ b/plugin/src/test/resources/rest-api-spec/test/ml/jobs_crud.yaml
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@
       cluster.state:
         metric: [ metadata ]
         filter_path: metadata.persistent_tasks
-  - match: {metadata.persistent_tasks.tasks.0.status.JobState.state: opened}
+  - match: {"metadata.persistent_tasks.tasks.0.task.cluster:admin/xpack/ml/job/open.status.state": opened}
 
   - do:
       xpack.ml.close_job:
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@
       cluster.state:
         metric: [ metadata ]
         filter_path: metadata.persistent_tasks
-  - match: {metadata.persistent_tasks.tasks.0.status.JobState.state: opened}
+  - match: {"metadata.persistent_tasks.tasks.0.task.cluster:admin/xpack/ml/job/open.status.state": opened}
 
   - do:
       xpack.ml.close_job: