diff --git a/client/fingerprint/cpu.go b/client/fingerprint/cpu.go
index 650d707833bb..1198cfb69b74 100644
--- a/client/fingerprint/cpu.go
+++ b/client/fingerprint/cpu.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func (f *CPUFingerprint) setNUMA(response *FingerprintResponse) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	nodes := f.top.Nodes()
+	nodes := f.top.GetNodes()
 	response.AddAttribute("numa.node.count", f.nodes(nodes.Size()))
 
 	nodes.ForEach(func(id hw.NodeID) error {
diff --git a/client/lib/idset/idset.go b/client/lib/idset/idset.go
index 2ab613c8fca1..2b99ce8966ed 100644
--- a/client/lib/idset/idset.go
+++ b/client/lib/idset/idset.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (s *Set[T]) Size() int {
 
 // Empty returns whether the set is empty.
 func (s *Set[T]) Empty() bool {
-	if s == nil {
+	if s == nil || s.items == nil {
 		return true
 	}
 	return s.items.Empty()
diff --git a/client/lib/numalib/detect_darwin.go b/client/lib/numalib/detect_darwin.go
index 4563ef53a884..10f72640dd70 100644
--- a/client/lib/numalib/detect_darwin.go
+++ b/client/lib/numalib/detect_darwin.go
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ type MacOS struct{}
 
 func (m *MacOS) ScanSystem(top *Topology) {
 	// all apple hardware is non-numa; just assume as much
-	top.NodeIDs = idset.Empty[hw.NodeID]()
-	top.NodeIDs.Insert(nodeID)
+	top.nodeIDs = idset.Empty[hw.NodeID]()
+	top.nodeIDs.Insert(nodeID)
 
 	// arch specific detection
 	switch m1cpu.IsAppleSilicon() {
diff --git a/client/lib/numalib/detect_generic.go b/client/lib/numalib/detect_generic.go
index 1a69c626020d..142ce3d8fcef 100644
--- a/client/lib/numalib/detect_generic.go
+++ b/client/lib/numalib/detect_generic.go
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ const (
 func scanGeneric(top *Topology) {
 	// hardware may or may not be NUMA, but for now we only
 	// detect such topology on linux systems
-	top.NodeIDs = idset.Empty[hw.NodeID]()
-	top.NodeIDs.Insert(genericNodeID)
+	top.nodeIDs = idset.Empty[hw.NodeID]()
+	top.nodeIDs.Insert(genericNodeID)
+	top.Nodes = top.nodeIDs.Slice()
 
 	// cores
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
diff --git a/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux.go b/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux.go
index 51dfaaf1e34c..0d6b6d582a82 100644
--- a/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux.go
+++ b/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux.go
@@ -67,22 +67,23 @@ func (*Sysfs) available() bool {
 func (*Sysfs) discoverOnline(st *Topology, readerFunc pathReaderFn) {
 	ids, err := getIDSet[hw.NodeID](nodeOnline, readerFunc)
 	if err == nil {
-		st.NodeIDs = ids
+		st.nodeIDs = ids
+		st.Nodes = st.nodeIDs.Slice()
 	}
 }
 
 func (*Sysfs) discoverCosts(st *Topology, readerFunc pathReaderFn) {
-	if st.NodeIDs.Empty() {
+	if st.nodeIDs.Empty() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	dimension := st.NodeIDs.Size()
-	st.Distances = make(SLIT, st.NodeIDs.Size())
+	dimension := st.nodeIDs.Size()
+	st.Distances = make(SLIT, st.nodeIDs.Size())
 	for i := 0; i < dimension; i++ {
 		st.Distances[i] = make([]Cost, dimension)
 	}
 
-	_ = st.NodeIDs.ForEach(func(id hw.NodeID) error {
+	_ = st.nodeIDs.ForEach(func(id hw.NodeID) error {
 		s, err := getString(distanceFile, readerFunc, id)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -104,20 +105,21 @@ func (*Sysfs) discoverCores(st *Topology, readerFunc pathReaderFn) {
 	st.Cores = make([]Core, onlineCores.Size())
 
 	switch {
-	case st.NodeIDs == nil:
+	case st.nodeIDs == nil:
 		// We did not find node data, no node to associate with
 		_ = onlineCores.ForEach(func(core hw.CoreID) error {
-			st.NodeIDs = idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0})
+			st.nodeIDs = idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0})
 			const node = 0
 			const socket = 0
 			cpuMax, _ := getNumeric[hw.KHz](cpuMaxFile, 64, readerFunc, core)
 			base, _ := getNumeric[hw.KHz](cpuBaseFile, 64, readerFunc, core)
 			st.insert(node, socket, core, Performance, cpuMax, base)
+			st.Nodes = st.nodeIDs.Slice()
 			return nil
 		})
 	default:
 		// We found node data, associate cores to nodes
-		_ = st.NodeIDs.ForEach(func(node hw.NodeID) error {
+		_ = st.nodeIDs.ForEach(func(node hw.NodeID) error {
 			s, err := readerFunc(fmt.Sprintf(cpulistFile, node))
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -231,7 +233,7 @@ func (s *Fallback) ScanSystem(top *Topology) {
 	broken := false
 
 	switch {
-	case top.NodeIDs.Empty():
+	case top.nodeIDs.Empty():
 		broken = true
 	case len(top.Distances) == 0:
 		broken = true
@@ -251,7 +253,8 @@ func (s *Fallback) ScanSystem(top *Topology) {
 
 	// we have a broken topology; reset it and fallback to the generic scanner
 	// basically treating this client like a windows / unsupported OS
-	top.NodeIDs = nil
+	top.nodeIDs = nil
+	top.Nodes = nil
 	top.Distances = nil
 	top.Cores = nil
 
diff --git a/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux_test.go b/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux_test.go
index 93851499f5c0..9354f5a70740 100644
--- a/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/lib/numalib/detect_linux_test.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func TestSysfs_discoverOnline(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			sy := &Sysfs{}
 			sy.discoverOnline(st, tt.readerFunc)
-			must.Eq(t, tt.expectedIDSet, st.NodeIDs)
+			must.Eq(t, tt.expectedIDSet, st.GetNodes())
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func TestSysfs_discoverCosts(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			sy := &Sysfs{}
-			st.NodeIDs = tt.nodeIDs
+			st.SetNodes(tt.nodeIDs)
 			sy.discoverCosts(st, tt.readerFunc)
 			must.Eq(t, tt.expectedDistances, st.Distances)
 		})
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ func TestSysfs_discoverCores(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// issue#19372
 		{"one node and bad sys data", oneNode, badSysData, &Topology{
-			NodeIDs: oneNode,
+			nodeIDs: oneNode,
+			Nodes:   oneNode.Slice(),
 			Cores: []Core{
 				{
 					SocketID:  0,
@@ -157,7 +158,8 @@ func TestSysfs_discoverCores(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		}},
 		{"two nodes and good sys data", twoNodes, goodSysData, &Topology{
-			NodeIDs: twoNodes,
+			nodeIDs: twoNodes,
+			Nodes:   twoNodes.Slice(),
 			Cores: []Core{
 				{
 					SocketID:  1,
@@ -197,7 +199,7 @@ func TestSysfs_discoverCores(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			sy := &Sysfs{}
-			st.NodeIDs = tt.nodeIDs
+			st.SetNodes(tt.nodeIDs)
 			sy.discoverCores(st, tt.readerFunc)
 			must.Eq(t, tt.expectedTopology, st)
 		})
diff --git a/client/lib/numalib/topology.go b/client/lib/numalib/topology.go
index d7efd7b09004..d8b272f508d5 100644
--- a/client/lib/numalib/topology.go
+++ b/client/lib/numalib/topology.go
@@ -54,7 +54,12 @@ type (
 // The JSON encoding is not used yet but my be part of the gRPC plumbing
 // in the future.
 type Topology struct {
-	NodeIDs   *idset.Set[hw.NodeID]
+	// COMPAT: idset.Set wasn't being serialized correctly but we can't change
+	// the encoding of a field once its shipped. Nodes is the wire
+	// representation
+	nodeIDs *idset.Set[hw.NodeID]
+	Nodes   []uint8
+
 	Distances SLIT
 	Cores     []Core
 
@@ -66,7 +71,25 @@ type Topology struct {
 // NewTopology is a constructor for the Topology object, only used in tests for
 // mocking.
 func NewTopology(nodeIDs *idset.Set[hw.NodeID], distances SLIT, cores []Core) *Topology {
-	return &Topology{NodeIDs: nodeIDs, Distances: distances, Cores: cores}
+	t := &Topology{
+		nodeIDs:   nodeIDs,
+		Distances: distances, Cores: cores}
+	t.SetNodes(nodeIDs)
+	return t
+}
+
+func (t *Topology) SetNodes(nodes *idset.Set[hw.NodeID]) {
+	t.nodeIDs = nodes
+	if !nodes.Empty() {
+		t.Nodes = nodes.Slice()
+	} else {
+		t.Nodes = []uint8{}
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *Topology) SetNodesFrom(nodes []uint8) {
+	t.nodeIDs = idset.From[hw.NodeID](nodes)
+	t.Nodes = nodes
 }
 
 // A Core represents one logical (vCPU) core on a processor. Basically the slice
@@ -139,12 +162,15 @@ func (st *Topology) SupportsNUMA() bool {
 	}
 }
 
-// Nodes returns the set of NUMA Node IDs.
-func (st *Topology) Nodes() *idset.Set[hw.NodeID] {
+// GetNodes returns the set of NUMA Node IDs.
+func (st *Topology) GetNodes() *idset.Set[hw.NodeID] {
 	if !st.SupportsNUMA() {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return st.NodeIDs
+	if st.nodeIDs.Empty() {
+		st.nodeIDs = idset.From[hw.NodeID](st.Nodes)
+	}
+	return st.nodeIDs
 }
 
 // NodeCores returns the set of Core IDs for the given NUMA Node ID.
diff --git a/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go b/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go
index 174be55836ad..e975fa9b5fd9 100644
--- a/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/nomad/job_endpoint_test.go
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ func TestJobEndpoint_Register_NonOverlapping(t *testing.T) {
 	node := mock.Node()
 	node.NodeResources.Processors = structs.NodeProcessorResources{
 		Topology: &numalib.Topology{
-			NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 			Distances: numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10}},
 			Cores: []numalib.Core{{
 				ID:        0,
@@ -142,6 +141,7 @@ func TestJobEndpoint_Register_NonOverlapping(t *testing.T) {
 			}},
 		},
 	}
+	node.NodeResources.Processors.Topology.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 	node.NodeResources.Compatibility()
 	must.NoError(t, state.UpsertNode(structs.MsgTypeTestSetup, 1, node))
 
diff --git a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_generic.go b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_generic.go
index 42be70120b25..429cab2b7d3b 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_generic.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_generic.go
@@ -31,10 +31,7 @@ func topologyFromLegacyGeneric(old LegacyNodeCpuResources) *numalib.Topology {
 
 	withheld := (frequency * hw.MHz(coreCount)) - hw.MHz(old.CpuShares)
 
-	return &numalib.Topology{
-		// legacy: assume one node with id 0
-		NodeIDs: idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
-
+	t := &numalib.Topology{
 		// legacy: with one node the distance matrix is 1-D
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{{10}},
 
@@ -47,4 +44,8 @@ func topologyFromLegacyGeneric(old LegacyNodeCpuResources) *numalib.Topology {
 		// legacy: set since we can compute the value
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: withheld,
 	}
+
+	// legacy: assume one node with id 0
+	t.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
+	return t
 }
diff --git a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go
index e1d0ae3c7538..26d8b195bab6 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go
@@ -71,10 +71,7 @@ func topologyFromLegacyLinux(old LegacyNodeCpuResources) *numalib.Topology {
 
 	withheld := (frequency * hw.MHz(old.TotalCpuCores)) - hw.MHz(old.CpuShares)
 
-	return &numalib.Topology{
-		// legacy: assume one node with id 0
-		NodeIDs: idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
-
+	t := &numalib.Topology{
 		// legacy: with one node the distance matrix is 1-D
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{{10}},
 
@@ -87,4 +84,8 @@ func topologyFromLegacyLinux(old LegacyNodeCpuResources) *numalib.Topology {
 		// legacy: set since we can compute the value
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: withheld,
 	}
+
+	// legacy: assume one node with id 0
+	t.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
+	return t
 }
diff --git a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux_test.go b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux_test.go
index da4fbd100b53..22a03697d7de 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux_test.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ func TestNUMA_topologyFromLegacy_plain(t *testing.T) {
 	result := topologyFromLegacy(old)
 
 	exp := &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{{10}},
 		Cores: []numalib.Core{
 			makeLegacyCore(0),
@@ -40,12 +39,13 @@ func TestNUMA_topologyFromLegacy_plain(t *testing.T) {
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   12800,
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: 0,
 	}
+	exp.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 
 	// only compares total compute
 	must.Equal(t, exp, result)
 
 	// check underlying fields
-	must.Eq(t, exp.NodeIDs, result.NodeIDs)
+	must.Eq(t, exp.GetNodes(), result.GetNodes())
 	must.Eq(t, exp.Distances, result.Distances)
 	must.Eq(t, exp.Cores, result.Cores)
 	must.Eq(t, exp.OverrideTotalCompute, result.OverrideTotalCompute)
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ func TestNUMA_topologyFromLegacy_reservations(t *testing.T) {
 	result := topologyFromLegacy(old)
 
 	exp := &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{{10}},
 		Cores: []numalib.Core{
 			makeLegacyCore(1),
@@ -76,12 +75,13 @@ func TestNUMA_topologyFromLegacy_reservations(t *testing.T) {
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   9600,
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: 3200, // core 0 excluded
 	}
+	exp.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 
 	// only compares total compute
 	must.Equal(t, exp, result)
 
 	// check underlying fields
-	must.Eq(t, exp.NodeIDs, result.NodeIDs)
+	must.Eq(t, exp.GetNodes(), result.GetNodes())
 	must.Eq(t, exp.Distances, result.Distances)
 	must.Eq(t, exp.Cores, result.Cores)
 	must.Eq(t, exp.OverrideTotalCompute, result.OverrideTotalCompute)
diff --git a/nomad/structs/extensions.go b/nomad/structs/extensions.go
index 81db74635c71..9822156bf370 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/extensions.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/extensions.go
@@ -5,19 +5,52 @@ package structs
 
 import (
 	"reflect"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/lib/numalib"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/lib/numalib/hw"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper"
 )
 
 var (
 	// extendedTypes is a mapping of extended types to their extension function
 	// TODO: the duplicates could be simplified by looking up the base type in the case of a pointer type in ConvertExt
 	extendedTypes = map[reflect.Type]extendFunc{
-		reflect.TypeOf(Node{}):       nodeExt,
-		reflect.TypeOf(&Node{}):      nodeExt,
-		reflect.TypeOf(CSIVolume{}):  csiVolumeExt,
-		reflect.TypeOf(&CSIVolume{}): csiVolumeExt,
+		reflect.TypeOf(Node{}):              nodeExt,
+		reflect.TypeOf(&Node{}):             nodeExt,
+		reflect.TypeOf(CSIVolume{}):         csiVolumeExt,
+		reflect.TypeOf(&CSIVolume{}):        csiVolumeExt,
+		reflect.TypeOf(&numalib.Topology{}): numaTopoExt,
 	}
 )
 
+// numaTopoExt is used to JSON encode topology to correctly handle the private
+// idset.Set fields and so that NUMA NodeIDs are encoded as []int because
+// go-msgpack will further JSON encode []uint8 into a base64-encoded bytestring,
+// rather than an array
+func numaTopoExt(v interface{}) interface{} {
+	topo := v.(*numalib.Topology)
+
+	var nodes []int
+	if topo.GetNodes() != nil {
+		nodes = helper.ConvertSlice(
+			topo.GetNodes().Slice(), func(n uint8) int { return int(n) })
+	}
+
+	return &struct {
+		Nodes                  []int
+		Distances              numalib.SLIT
+		Cores                  []numalib.Core
+		OverrideTotalCompute   hw.MHz
+		OverrideWitholdCompute hw.MHz
+	}{
+		Nodes:                  nodes,
+		Distances:              topo.Distances,
+		Cores:                  topo.Cores,
+		OverrideTotalCompute:   topo.OverrideTotalCompute,
+		OverrideWitholdCompute: topo.OverrideWitholdCompute,
+	}
+}
+
 // nodeExt ensures the node is sanitized and adds the legacy field .Drain back to encoded Node objects
 func nodeExt(v interface{}) interface{} {
 	node := v.(*Node).Sanitize()
diff --git a/nomad/structs/funcs_test.go b/nomad/structs/funcs_test.go
index f132e92ef349..1944ed659d58 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/funcs_test.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/funcs_test.go
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ func node2k() *Node {
 		NodeResources: &NodeResources{
 			Processors: NodeProcessorResources{
 				Topology: &numalib.Topology{
-					NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 					Distances: numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10}},
 					Cores: []numalib.Core{{
 						ID:        0,
@@ -148,6 +147,7 @@ func node2k() *Node {
 			},
 		},
 	}
+	n.NodeResources.Processors.Topology.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 	n.NodeResources.Compatibility()
 	return n
 }
@@ -521,7 +521,6 @@ func TestScoreFitBinPack(t *testing.T) {
 	node.NodeResources = &NodeResources{
 		Processors: NodeProcessorResources{
 			Topology: &numalib.Topology{
-				NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 				Distances: numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10}},
 				Cores: []numalib.Core{{
 					ID:        0,
@@ -534,6 +533,7 @@ func TestScoreFitBinPack(t *testing.T) {
 			MemoryMB: 8192,
 		},
 	}
+	node.NodeResources.Processors.Topology.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 	node.NodeResources.Compatibility()
 	node.ReservedResources = &NodeReservedResources{
 		Cpu: NodeReservedCpuResources{
diff --git a/nomad/structs/structs_test.go b/nomad/structs/structs_test.go
index fd47c9609625..0c178b1cd66a 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/structs_test.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/structs_test.go
@@ -7235,7 +7235,7 @@ func TestNodeResources_Merge(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	topo2 := MockBasicTopology()
-	topo2.NodeIDs = idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1, 2})
+	topo2.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1, 2}))
 
 	res.Merge(&NodeResources{
 		Processors: NodeProcessorResources{topo2},
diff --git a/nomad/structs/testing.go b/nomad/structs/testing.go
index 68855c46f167..e7be6e1ad5d8 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/testing.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/testing.go
@@ -55,13 +55,14 @@ func MockBasicTopology() *numalib.Topology {
 			BaseSpeed: 3500,
 		}
 	}
-	return &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:                idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
+	t := &numalib.Topology{
 		Distances:              numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10}},
 		Cores:                  cores,
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   0,
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: 0,
 	}
+	t.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
+	return t
 }
 
 // MockWorkstationTopology returns a numalib.Topology that looks like a typical
@@ -82,11 +83,12 @@ func MockWorkstationTopology() *numalib.Topology {
 			BaseSpeed: 3_000,
 		}
 	}
-	return &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1}),
+	t := &numalib.Topology{
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10, 20}, {20, 10}},
 		Cores:     cores,
 	}
+	t.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1}))
+	return t
 }
 
 // MockR6aTopology returns a numalib.Topology that looks like an EC2 r6a.metal
@@ -133,11 +135,12 @@ func MockR6aTopology() *numalib.Topology {
 		[]numalib.Cost{32, 32, 12, 10},
 	}
 
-	return &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1, 2, 3}),
+	t := &numalib.Topology{
 		Distances: distances,
 		Cores:     cores,
 	}
+	t.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1, 2, 3}))
+	return t
 }
 
 func MockNode() *Node {
diff --git a/plugins/base/base.go b/plugins/base/base.go
index d1c888f37aa4..9e508d7c999c 100644
--- a/plugins/base/base.go
+++ b/plugins/base/base.go
@@ -118,13 +118,15 @@ func nomadTopologyFromProto(pb *proto.ClientTopology) *numalib.Topology {
 	if pb == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:                idset.FromFunc(pb.NodeIds, func(i uint32) hw.NodeID { return hw.NodeID(i) }),
+	t := &numalib.Topology{
 		Distances:              nomadTopologyDistancesFromProto(pb.Distances),
 		Cores:                  nomadTopologyCoresFromProto(pb.Cores),
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   hw.MHz(pb.OverrideTotalCompute),
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: hw.MHz(pb.OverrideWitholdCompute),
 	}
+	t.SetNodes(idset.FromFunc(pb.NodeIds, func(i uint32) hw.NodeID { return hw.NodeID(i) }))
+
+	return t
 }
 
 func nomadTopologyDistancesFromProto(pb *proto.ClientTopologySLIT) numalib.SLIT {
@@ -166,7 +168,7 @@ func nomadTopologyToProto(top *numalib.Topology) *proto.ClientTopology {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return &proto.ClientTopology{
-		NodeIds:                helper.ConvertSlice(top.NodeIDs.Slice(), func(id hw.NodeID) uint32 { return uint32(id) }),
+		NodeIds:                helper.ConvertSlice(top.GetNodes().Slice(), func(id hw.NodeID) uint32 { return uint32(id) }),
 		Distances:              nomadTopologyDistancesToProto(top.Distances),
 		Cores:                  nomadTopologyCoresToProto(top.Cores),
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   uint64(top.OverrideTotalCompute),
diff --git a/plugins/base/base_test.go b/plugins/base/base_test.go
index b9c448f962ca..f3b6d42d95f6 100644
--- a/plugins/base/base_test.go
+++ b/plugins/base/base_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 
 func Test_nomadTopologyToProto(t *testing.T) {
 	top := &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1}),
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{{10, 20}, {20, 10}},
 		Cores: []numalib.Core{
 			{
@@ -32,6 +31,7 @@ func Test_nomadTopologyToProto(t *testing.T) {
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   90_000,
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: 2000,
 	}
+	top.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1}))
 
 	pb := nomadTopologyToProto(top)
 	must.Eq(t, &proto.ClientTopology{
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ func Test_nomadTopologyFromProto(t *testing.T) {
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: 2000,
 	}
 	top := nomadTopologyFromProto(pb)
-	must.Eq(t, &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1}),
+	expect := &numalib.Topology{
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{{10, 20}, {20, 10}},
 		Cores: []numalib.Core{
 			{
@@ -97,7 +96,9 @@ func Test_nomadTopologyFromProto(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		OverrideTotalCompute:   90_000,
 		OverrideWitholdCompute: 2000,
-	}, top)
+	}
+	expect.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0, 1}))
+	must.Eq(t, expect, top)
 }
 
 func Test_nomadTopologyDistancesToProto(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/scheduler/context_test.go b/scheduler/context_test.go
index 07b13fa9a07f..5fe23e2a863f 100644
--- a/scheduler/context_test.go
+++ b/scheduler/context_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ func cpuResources(shares int) (structs.LegacyNodeCpuResources, structs.NodeProce
 	n := &structs.NodeResources{
 		Processors: structs.NodeProcessorResources{
 			Topology: &numalib.Topology{
-				NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 				Distances: numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10}},
 				Cores: []numalib.Core{{
 					SocketID:  0,
@@ -56,6 +55,7 @@ func cpuResources(shares int) (structs.LegacyNodeCpuResources, structs.NodeProce
 			},
 		},
 	}
+	n.Processors.Topology.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 
 	// polyfill the legacy struct
 	n.Compatibility()
diff --git a/scheduler/rank_test.go b/scheduler/rank_test.go
index 6a810fdc79ba..c63018a5e3e4 100644
--- a/scheduler/rank_test.go
+++ b/scheduler/rank_test.go
@@ -1279,7 +1279,6 @@ func TestBinPackIterator_ReservedCores(t *testing.T) {
 	state, ctx := testContext(t)
 
 	topology := &numalib.Topology{
-		NodeIDs:   idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}),
 		Distances: numalib.SLIT{[]numalib.Cost{10}},
 		Cores: []numalib.Core{{
 			ID:        0,
@@ -1291,6 +1290,7 @@ func TestBinPackIterator_ReservedCores(t *testing.T) {
 			BaseSpeed: 1024,
 		}},
 	}
+	topology.SetNodes(idset.From[hw.NodeID]([]hw.NodeID{0}))
 	legacyCpuResources, processorResources := cpuResourcesFrom(topology)
 
 	nodes := []*RankedNode{