Method for automatically configuring an in particular industrial automation device, comprising the following steps a) an automation device that is suitable for functioning as a node of a cluster and for executing at least one automation task is provided, b) a device management unit monitors whether an automation identifier is allocated to the automation device, c) when the device management unit has identified such allocation, it asks a central cluster management unit whether a description object (10, 11) already exists in a cluster state database associated with the cluster and containing description objects (10, 11) for nodes of the cluster, which description object stores the automation identifier allocated to the automation device, characterized in that d) in the event that such a description object already exists for a node identifier allocated to the automation device, this description object is considered to be a description object of the automation device, and in the event that such a description object (10, 11) exists for a node identifier other than the one allocated to the automation device and is declared as inactive and in the event that no such description object (10, 11) yet exists, the device management unit generates a description object (10, 11) in the cluster state database for the node identifier allocated to the automation device, which description object stores the automation identifier allocated to the automation device, or stores the automation identifier allocated to the automation device in a description object (10, 11) that already exists for a node identifier allocated to the automation device in the cluster state database or initiates the storage or the generation. a) an automation device that is suitable for functioning as a node of a cluster and for executing at least one automation task is provided, b) a device management unit monitors whether an automation identifier is allocated to the automation device, c) when the device management unit has identified such allocation, it asks a central cluster management unit whether a description object (10, 11) already exists in a cluster state database associated with the cluster and containing description objects (10, 11) for nodes of the cluster, which description object stores the automation identifier allocated to the automation device, characterized in that d) in the event that such a description object already exists for a node identifier allocated to the automation device, this description object is considered to be a description object of the automation device, and in the event that such a description object (10, 11) exists for a node identifier other than the one allocated to the automation device and is declared as inactive and in the event that no such description object (10, 11) yet exists, the device management unit generates a description object (10, 11) in the cluster state database for the node identifier allocated to the automation device, which description object stores the automation identifier allocated to the automation device, or stores the automation identifier allocated to the automation device in a description object (10, 11) that already exists for a node identifier allocated to the automation device in the cluster state database or initiates the storage or the generation.