In a network connected to a printer and a registration server, a network registration protocol for registering the printer on the network includes the steps of installing a secret unique identifier and public unique identifier in non-volatile memory in the printer and in a database of the registration server, before the printer is connected to the network; then, when the printer is connected to the network, authenticating the printer to the server by comparison of the secret unique identifiers installed in printer and server, using a secure transmission between the two over the network. Also a network registration signal for transmission over a network from a printer to a registration server to register the printer with the server, where the signal is transmitted at the first occasion the printer is connected to the network.