def get_node_and_attribute(attribute):
    """
    Split a name between its node and its attribute.
    
    Args:
        attribute (str): attribute name, node.attribute.
        
    Returns:
        list: [node_name, attribute]
    """
    
    split_attribute = attribute.split('.')
            
    if not split_attribute:
        return None, None
    
    node = split_attribute[0]
    
    attr = '.'.join(split_attribute[1:])
    
    return node, attr