Method for automatically configuring a system comprising at least one first network interface, which can be connected to a first external network, and a second network interface, which can be connected to a second external network, said network interfaces being able to be physical and/or virtual network interfaces, in which - startup of the system and/or ongoing operation by an operating system of the system involve(s) monitoring being performed to ascertain what physical and/or virtual network interfaces (2, 3, 4, 5) the system has, - if a physical or virtual network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) is detected for the first time on startup of the system, and/or a physical or virtual network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) appears or disappears during operation of the system, this is communicated to an autoconfiguration module of the system together with information about the type and role of the affected network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) and the type of the external network (6, 7, 8, 9) connected or needing to be connected to said network interface, - if a network interface changes or appears, the autoconfiguration module uses a template file (12, 13, 14) to produce for at least one of the affected network interfaces (2, 3, 4, 5) a configuration description that comprises a first partial configuration description for at least one communication container (21, 22, 25), which comprises at least one application by means of which network functions can be provided, and a second partial configuration description for network functions for connecting the at least one communication container (21, 22, 25) to the at least one affected network interface (2, 3, 4, 5), and - the second partial configuration description is executed by a network controller module, and the first partial configuration description is executed by a container controller module, in order to configure the system in accordance with said partial configuration description, wherein the at least one communication container (21, 22, 25) is generated, started and connected to the affected network interface and to the internal network of the system (2, 3, 4, 5), so that continuous connectivity is produced between said first and second external networks as quickly as possible, wherein the detection of a physical or virtual network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) for the first time on startup of the system, and/or the appearance and/or disappearance of a physical or virtual network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) during operation of the system, is communicated to the autoconfiguration module by virtue of an operating system that runs on the system reporting an applicable event to the autoconfiguration module. - startup of the system and/or ongoing operation by an operating system of the system involve(s) monitoring being performed to ascertain what physical and/or virtual network interfaces (2, 3, 4, 5) the system has, - if a physical or virtual network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) is detected for the first time on startup of the system, and/or a physical or virtual network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) appears or disappears during operation of the system, this is communicated to an autoconfiguration module of the system together with information about the type and role of the affected network interface (2, 3, 4, 5) and the type of the external network (6, 7, 8, 9) connected or needing to be connected to said network interface, - if a network interface changes or appears, the autoconfiguration module uses a template file (12, 13, 14) to produce for at least one of the affected network interfaces (2, 3, 4, 5) a configuration description that comprises a first partial configuration description for at least one communication container (21, 22, 25), which comprises at least one application by means of which network functions can be provided, and a second partial configuration description for network functions for connecting the at least one communication container (21, 22, 25) to the at least one affected network interface (2, 3, 4, 5), and - the second partial configuration description is executed by a network controller module, and the first partial configuration description is executed by a container controller module, in order to configure the system in accordance with said partial configuration description, wherein the at least one communication container (21, 22, 25) is generated, started and connected to the affected network interface and to the internal network of the system (2, 3, 4, 5), so that continuous connectivity is produced between said first and second external networks as quickly as possible,