import random


def split_device_list(devices, num_lists):
    """
    Split devices into num_lists distinct lists.

    :param devices: list of device names
    :type devices: list of str
    :param int num_lists: num of lists to return

    :rtype: list of list of str
    """
    num_devices = len(devices)
    indices = random.sample(range(1, num_devices), num_lists - 1)
    next_indices = indices[:]

    indices.append(0)
    indices.sort()

    next_indices.append(num_devices)
    next_indices.sort()

    return [devices[indices[n] : next_indices[n]] for n in range(len(indices))]