A mechanism with static and dynamic elements for resolving host names into numeric addresses. The Internet Name Server Protocol accesses an Internet Name Server which provides dynamic name-to-number translation (this process is specified in IEN 116). The Domain Name Protocol accesses a Domain name Server which provides dynamic name-to- number translation (this process is specified in RFCs 1033 and 1034). A static local host table can also be accessed for name- to-number translation.