A removable controller node for setting up an autonomous distributed lighting network which, during normal operation, does not require a central controller, said autonomous distributed lighting network comprising luminaires each comprising a luminaire node (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 280), sensor devices each being associated with a sensor node (310, 320, 330), and a communication network; wherein the removable controller node is configured to assign parameters to each luminaire node and each sensor node at set up via the communications network, said parameters including: - the assignation of sensor devices to the sensor nodes and, for each luminaire node, - an idle dimming profile, - an event dimming profile and - a sensor responsibility matrix, each said sensor responsibility matrix listing sensor devices for which the idle dimming profile of the luminaire of the corresponding luminaire node will be overridden with its event dimming profile when receiving from a sensor node a broadcast message including information on one or more sensor devices which have been activated by an event; wherein the controller node comprises a portable computer configured to utilize a specific program to implement the following within the lighting network: - detection and identification of all said luminaires and sensor devices in the lighting network; - assignation of unique identifiers for the luminaire nodes (L1, L2) and for the sensor nodes (S1, S2); and - programming the luminaire nodes in accordance with the sensor responsibility matrix and also in accordance with the event dimming profile that needs to be followed when receiving from a sensor node of said sensor nodes a broadcast message including information on one or more associated sensor devices which have been activated by an event; - wherein the controller node is configured, such that, once the lighting network is set up is, the controller node is disconnected and removed and the luminaire nodes and sensor nodes retain their assigned parameters. - the assignation of sensor devices to the sensor nodes and, - an idle dimming profile, - an event dimming profile and - a sensor responsibility matrix, each said sensor responsibility matrix listing sensor devices for which the idle dimming profile of the luminaire of the corresponding luminaire node will be overridden with its event dimming profile when receiving from a sensor node a broadcast message including information on one or more sensor devices which have been activated by an event; wherein the controller node comprises a portable computer configured to utilize a specific program to implement the following within the lighting network: - detection and identification of all said luminaires and sensor devices in the lighting network; - assignation of unique identifiers for the luminaire nodes (L1, L2) and for the sensor nodes (S1, S2); and - programming the luminaire nodes in accordance with the sensor responsibility matrix and also in accordance with the event dimming profile that needs to be followed when receiving from a sensor node of said sensor nodes a broadcast message including information on one or more associated sensor devices which have been activated by an event; - wherein the controller node is configured, such that, once the lighting network is set up is, the controller node is disconnected and removed and the luminaire nodes and sensor nodes retain their assigned parameters. - detection and identification of all said luminaires and sensor devices in the lighting network; - assignation of unique identifiers for the luminaire nodes (L1, L2) and for the sensor nodes (S1, S2); and - programming the luminaire nodes in accordance with the sensor responsibility matrix and also in accordance with the event dimming profile that needs to be followed when receiving from a sensor node of said sensor nodes a broadcast message including information on one or more associated sensor devices which have been activated by an event; - wherein the controller node is configured, such that, once the lighting network is set up is, the controller node is disconnected and removed and the luminaire nodes and sensor nodes retain their assigned parameters.