diff --git a/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/config/Config.java b/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/config/Config.java
index dacef68..12f3114 100644
--- a/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/config/Config.java
+++ b/incubator/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/net/config/Config.java
@@ -23,41 +23,67 @@
 
 /**
  * Base abstraction of a configuration facade for a specific subject. Derived
- * classes should keep all state in the specified JSON tree.
+ * classes should keep all state in the specified JSON tree as that is the
+ * only state that will be distributed or persisted; this class is merely
+ * a facade for interacting with a particular facet of configuration on a
+ * given subject.
  *
  * @param <S> type of subject
  */
 @Beta
 public abstract class Config<S> {
 
-    protected ObjectMapper mapper;
+    protected S subject;
+    protected String key;
     protected ObjectNode node;
-    private S subject;
-    private ConfigApplyDelegate<S> delegate;
+    protected ObjectMapper mapper;
+    protected ConfigApplyDelegate delegate;
+
+    /**
+     * Initializes the configuration behaviour with necessary context.
+     *
+     * @param subject  configuration subject
+     * @param key      configuration key
+     * @param node     JSON object node where configuration data is stored
+     * @param mapper   JSON object mapper
+     * @param delegate delegate context
+     */
+    public void init(S subject, String key, ObjectNode node, ObjectMapper mapper,
+                     ConfigApplyDelegate delegate) {
+        this.subject = checkNotNull(subject);
+        this.key = key;
+        this.node = checkNotNull(node);
+        this.mapper = checkNotNull(mapper);
+        this.delegate = checkNotNull(delegate);
+    }
 
     /**
      * Returns the specific subject to which this configuration pertains.
      *
      * @return configuration subject
      */
-    S subject() {
+    public S subject() {
         return subject;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Initializes the configuration behaviour with necessary context.
+     * Returns the configuration key. This is primarily aimed for use in
+     * composite JSON trees in external representations and has no bearing on
+     * the internal behaviours.
      *
-     * @param subject  configuration subject
-     * @param node     JSON object node where configuration data is stored
-     * @param mapper   JSON object mapper
-     * @param delegate delegate context
+     * @return configuration key
      */
-    public void init(S subject, ObjectNode node, ObjectMapper mapper,
-                     ConfigApplyDelegate<S> delegate) {
-        this.subject = checkNotNull(subject);
-        this.node = checkNotNull(node);
-        this.mapper = checkNotNull(mapper);
-        this.delegate = checkNotNull(delegate);
+    public String key() {
+        return key;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the JSON node that contains the configuration data.
+     *
+     * @return JSON node backing the configuration
+     */
+    public ObjectNode node() {
+        return node;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -67,4 +93,142 @@
         delegate.onApply(this);
     }
 
+
+    // Miscellaneous helpers for interacting with JSON
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the specified property as a string.
+     *
+     * @param name         property name
+     * @param defaultValue default value if property not set
+     * @return property value or default value
+     */
+    protected String get(String name, String defaultValue) {
+        return node.path(name).asText(defaultValue);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the specified property as a string or clears it if null value given.
+     *
+     * @param name  property name
+     * @param value new value or null to clear the property
+     * @return self
+     */
+    protected Config<S> setOrClear(String name, String value) {
+        if (value != null) {
+            node.put(name, value);
+        } else {
+            node.remove(name);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the specified property as a boolean.
+     *
+     * @param name         property name
+     * @param defaultValue default value if property not set
+     * @return property value or default value
+     */
+    protected boolean get(String name, boolean defaultValue) {
+        return node.path(name).asBoolean(defaultValue);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the specified property as a boolean or clears it if null value given.
+     *
+     * @param name  property name
+     * @param value new value or null to clear the property
+     * @return self
+     */
+    protected Config<S> setOrClear(String name, Boolean value) {
+        if (value != null) {
+            node.put(name, value.booleanValue());
+        } else {
+            node.remove(name);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the specified property as a long.
+     *
+     * @param name         property name
+     * @param defaultValue default value if property not set
+     * @return property value or default value
+     */
+    protected long get(String name, long defaultValue) {
+        return node.path(name).asLong(defaultValue);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the specified property as a long or clears it if null value given.
+     *
+     * @param name  property name
+     * @param value new value or null to clear the property
+     * @return self
+     */
+    protected Config<S> setOrClear(String name, Long value) {
+        if (value != null) {
+            node.put(name, value.longValue());
+        } else {
+            node.remove(name);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the specified property as a double.
+     *
+     * @param name         property name
+     * @param defaultValue default value if property not set
+     * @return property value or default value
+     */
+    protected double get(String name, double defaultValue) {
+        return node.path(name).asDouble(defaultValue);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the specified property as a double or clears it if null value given.
+     *
+     * @param name  property name
+     * @param value new value or null to clear the property
+     * @return self
+     */
+    protected Config<S> setOrClear(String name, Double value) {
+        if (value != null) {
+            node.put(name, value.doubleValue());
+        } else {
+            node.remove(name);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the specified property as an enum.
+     *
+     * @param name         property name
+     * @param defaultValue default value if property not set
+     * @param enumClass    the enum class
+     * @return property value or default value
+     */
+    protected <E extends Enum<E>> E get(String name, E defaultValue, Class<E> enumClass) {
+        return Enum.valueOf(enumClass, node.path(name).asText(defaultValue.toString()));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the specified property as a double or clears it if null value given.
+     *
+     * @param name  property name
+     * @param value new value or null to clear the property
+     * @return self
+     */
+    protected <E extends Enum> Config<S> setOrClear(String name, E value) {
+        if (value != null) {
+            node.put(name, value.toString());
+        } else {
+            node.remove(name);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
 }