diff --git a/pkg/cluster/edit/diff.go b/pkg/cluster/edit/diff.go
index 38db54514f..a8028b9fba 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/edit/diff.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/edit/diff.go
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	validateTagName  = "validate"
-	validateTagValue = "editable"
+	validateTagName     = "validate"
+	validateTagEditable = "editable"
+	validateTagIgnore   = "ignore"
 )
 
 // ShowDiff write diff result into the Writer.
@@ -60,22 +61,29 @@ func ValidateSpecDiff(s1, s2 interface{}) error {
 	for _, c := range changelog {
 		if len(c.Path) > 0 {
 			// c.Path will be the tag value if TagName matched on the field
-			if c.Type == diff.UPDATE && c.Path[len(c.Path)-1] == validateTagValue {
+			if c.Type == diff.UPDATE && c.Path[len(c.Path)-1] == validateTagEditable {
 				// If the field is marked as editable, it is allowed to be modified no matter
 				// its parent level element is marked as editable or not
 				continue
 			}
+
 			pathEditable := true
+			pathIgnore := false
 			for _, p := range c.Path {
 				if _, err := strconv.Atoi(p); err == nil {
 					// ignore slice offset counts
 					continue
 				}
-				if p != validateTagValue {
+				if p == validateTagIgnore {
+					pathIgnore = true
+					continue
+				}
+				if p != validateTagEditable {
 					pathEditable = false
 				}
 			}
-			if pathEditable && (c.Type == diff.CREATE || c.Type == diff.DELETE) {
+			// if the path has any ignorable item, just ignore it
+			if pathIgnore || pathEditable && (c.Type == diff.CREATE || c.Type == diff.DELETE) {
 				// If *every* parent elements on the path are all marked as editable,
 				// AND the field itself is marked as editable, it is allowed to add or delete
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/edit/diff_test.go b/pkg/cluster/edit/diff_test.go
index 52b6b0a8b5..31304cbdf2 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/edit/diff_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/edit/diff_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestDiff(t *testing.T) {
 type sampleDataMeta struct {
 	IntSlice     []int                    `yaml:"ints,omitempty"`
 	StrSlice     []string                 `yaml:"strs,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	MapSlice     []map[string]interface{} `yaml:"maps,omitempty"`
+	MapSlice     []map[string]interface{} `yaml:"maps,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	StrElem      string                   `yaml:"stre" validate:"editable"`
 	StructSlice1 []sampleDataElem         `yaml:"slice1" validate:"editable"`
 	StructSlice2 []sampleDataElem         `yaml:"slice2,omitempty"`
@@ -428,3 +428,54 @@ slice2:
 	err = ValidateSpecDiff(d1, d2)
 	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
 }
+
+func (d *diffSuite) TestValidateSpecDiff6(c *C) {
+	var d1 sampleDataMeta
+	var d2 sampleDataMeta
+	var err error
+
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(`
+ints: [11, 12, 13]
+maps:
+  - key0: 0
+  - dot.key1: 1
+  - dotkey.subkey.1: "1"
+`), &d1)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+
+	// Modify key without dot in name, in ignorable slice
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(`
+ints: [11, 12, 13]
+maps:
+  - key0: 1
+  - dot.key1: 1
+  - dotkey.subkey.1: "1"
+`), &d2)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	err = ValidateSpecDiff(d1, d2)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+
+	// Modify key with one dot in name, in ignorable slice
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(`
+ints: [11, 12, 13]
+maps:
+  - key0: 0
+  - dot.key1: 11
+  - dotkey.subkey.1: "1"
+`), &d2)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	err = ValidateSpecDiff(d1, d2)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+
+	// Modify key with two dots and number in name, in ignorable slice
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(`
+ints: [11, 12, 13]
+maps:
+  - key0: 0
+  - dot.key1: 1
+  - dotkey.subkey.1: "12"
+`), &d2)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	err = ValidateSpecDiff(d1, d2)
+	c.Assert(err, IsNil)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/cdc.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/cdc.go
index 9ad66f82be..bb1138fa59 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/cdc.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/cdc.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ type CDCSpec struct {
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	Offline         bool                   `yaml:"offline,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/drainer.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/drainer.go
index 5d1e59d7cd..f7b284764e 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/drainer.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/drainer.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ type DrainerSpec struct {
 	CommitTS        int64                  `yaml:"commit_ts,omitempty"`
 	Offline         bool                   `yaml:"offline,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/pd.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/pd.go
index 2b6e993bd6..411378e29a 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/pd.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/pd.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ type PDSpec struct {
 	DataDir         string                 `yaml:"data_dir,omitempty"`
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/pump.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/pump.go
index 3762daa25c..95dd6049b5 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/pump.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/pump.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ type PumpSpec struct {
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	Offline         bool                   `yaml:"offline,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/spec.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/spec.go
index 0b655ac8da..ce6a4a22e7 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/spec.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/spec.go
@@ -78,21 +78,21 @@ type (
 
 	// ServerConfigs represents the server runtime configuration
 	ServerConfigs struct {
-		TiDB           map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tidb" validate:"editable"`
-		TiKV           map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tikv" validate:"editable"`
-		PD             map[string]interface{} `yaml:"pd" validate:"editable"`
-		TiFlash        map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tiflash" validate:"editable"`
-		TiFlashLearner map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tiflash-learner" validate:"editable"`
-		Pump           map[string]interface{} `yaml:"pump" validate:"editable"`
-		Drainer        map[string]interface{} `yaml:"drainer" validate:"editable"`
-		CDC            map[string]interface{} `yaml:"cdc" validate:"editable"`
+		TiDB           map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tidb"`
+		TiKV           map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tikv"`
+		PD             map[string]interface{} `yaml:"pd"`
+		TiFlash        map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tiflash"`
+		TiFlashLearner map[string]interface{} `yaml:"tiflash-learner"`
+		Pump           map[string]interface{} `yaml:"pump"`
+		Drainer        map[string]interface{} `yaml:"drainer"`
+		CDC            map[string]interface{} `yaml:"cdc"`
 	}
 
 	// Specification represents the specification of topology.yaml
 	Specification struct {
 		GlobalOptions    GlobalOptions       `yaml:"global,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 		MonitoredOptions MonitoredOptions    `yaml:"monitored,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-		ServerConfigs    ServerConfigs       `yaml:"server_configs,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+		ServerConfigs    ServerConfigs       `yaml:"server_configs,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 		TiDBServers      []TiDBSpec          `yaml:"tidb_servers"`
 		TiKVServers      []TiKVSpec          `yaml:"tikv_servers"`
 		TiFlashServers   []TiFlashSpec       `yaml:"tiflash_servers"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/tidb.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/tidb.go
index 339ffca5d2..4a5903b8ae 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/tidb.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/tidb.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ type TiDBSpec struct {
 	DeployDir       string                 `yaml:"deploy_dir,omitempty"`
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/tiflash.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/tiflash.go
index fa1e74f226..dc6ace100b 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/tiflash.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/tiflash.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ type TiFlashSpec struct {
 	TmpDir               string                 `yaml:"tmp_path,omitempty"`
 	Offline              bool                   `yaml:"offline,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode             string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config               map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config               map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	LearnerConfig        map[string]interface{} `yaml:"learner_config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	ResourceControl      meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch                 string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/cluster/spec/tikv.go b/pkg/cluster/spec/tikv.go
index bc4f6742a4..3e8dfb71de 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/spec/tikv.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/spec/tikv.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ type TiKVSpec struct {
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	Offline         bool                   `yaml:"offline,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl meta.ResourceControl   `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
diff --git a/pkg/dm/spec/topology_dm.go b/pkg/dm/spec/topology_dm.go
index b5b33eb22d..82352bd20a 100644
--- a/pkg/dm/spec/topology_dm.go
+++ b/pkg/dm/spec/topology_dm.go
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ type MasterSpec struct {
 	DataDir         string                 `yaml:"data_dir,omitempty"`
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl ResourceControl        `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ type WorkerSpec struct {
 	DataDir         string                 `yaml:"data_dir,omitempty"`
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl ResourceControl        `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ type PortalSpec struct {
 	LogDir          string                 `yaml:"log_dir,omitempty"`
 	Timeout         int                    `yaml:"timeout" default:"5"`
 	NumaNode        string                 `yaml:"numa_node,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
-	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
+	Config          map[string]interface{} `yaml:"config,omitempty" validate:"ignore"`
 	ResourceControl ResourceControl        `yaml:"resource_control,omitempty" validate:"editable"`
 	Arch            string                 `yaml:"arch,omitempty"`
 	OS              string                 `yaml:"os,omitempty"`