A host node connected to the Internet automatically generates an Internet interface addresses for itself, and automatically generates a request to an Internet domain name server to update the domain name server's database with the self-generated address. Preferably, the node employs a draft standard stateless address autoconfiguration protocol to create a link-local address, find a router, obtain a prefix from the router, and generate a global address from the prefix and the link-local address. Preferably, the node automatically determines the identity of its master domain name server, and transmits a request to update the master's database using a BIND 8 (or subsequent) protocol. Such a request may be encrypted for security and may include a self-generated identity key for further security.