Improved network authentication process (NAP) allows omission of difficult-to-remember credentials, such as domain names/contexts, when users log on to a device via a local user interface (UI). Embodiments receive some authentication credentials, such as username and password, and obtain and parse reply data containing additional authentication credentials, such as domain name or context associated with the user, from a network directory server. The process sends now-complete authentication credentials to the authentication server, and authentication results are returned to the authentication service, which trickles the information to the local UI used to enter credentials.