def generateName(nodeName: str, instId: int):
    """
    Create and return the name for a replica using its nodeName and
    instanceId.
     Ex: Alpha:1
    """

    if isinstance(nodeName, str):
        # Because sometimes it is bytes (why?)
        if ":" in nodeName:
            # Because in some cases (for requested messages) it
            # already has ':'. This should be fixed.
            return nodeName
    return "{}:{}".format(nodeName, instId)