Method for configuring a communication module of at least one RFID reader which is connected via the communication module to a communication network in which - the at least one RFID reader (201, 202) is connected to the communication module via a serial interface, - configuration information comprising at least communication network address information and device type information is stored in a configuration storage unit of the communication module, - the configuration information stored in the configuration storage unit of the communication module is conveyed by the serial interface to the at least one RFID reader (201, 202) and stored there in a predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221), - the configuration information stored in the predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded for configuration of the replacement communication module during a device start of a replacement communication module used instead of the communication module, characterized in that - the configuration information stored in the configuration storage unit or in the configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded during a device start of the communication module for its configuration in dependence on a successful validity check, - the configuration information stored in the predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded for configuration of the replacement communication module after a successful validity check during the device start of the replacement communication module, - during the validity check, it is checked at least whether the communication module and the replacement communication module have an identical or compatible device type, - during the validity check, it is additionally checked whether configuration information to be used for a commissioning of the replacement communication module is already stored in a configuration storage unit of the replacement communication module, - the configuration information stored in the predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded during the device start of the replacement communication module for its configuration only when the configuration storage unit of the replacement communication module does not comprise any configuration information to be used for the commissioning of the replacement communication module or only comprises older configuration information. - the at least one RFID reader (201, 202) is connected to the communication module via a serial interface, - configuration information comprising at least communication network address information and device type information is stored in a configuration storage unit of the communication module, - the configuration information stored in the configuration storage unit of the communication module is conveyed by the serial interface to the at least one RFID reader (201, 202) and stored there in a predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221), - the configuration information stored in the predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded for configuration of the replacement communication module during a device start of a replacement communication module used instead of the communication module, characterized in that - the configuration information stored in the configuration storage unit or in the configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded during a device start of the communication module for its configuration in dependence on a successful validity check, - the configuration information stored in the predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded for configuration of the replacement communication module after a successful validity check during the device start of the replacement communication module, - during the validity check, it is checked at least whether the communication module and the replacement communication module have an identical or compatible device type, - during the validity check, it is additionally checked whether configuration information to be used for a commissioning of the replacement communication module is already stored in a configuration storage unit of the replacement communication module, - the configuration information stored in the predetermined configuration storage area (211, 221) of the RFID reader (201, 202) is loaded during the device start of the replacement communication module for its configuration only when the configuration storage unit of the replacement communication module does not comprise any configuration information to be used for the commissioning of the replacement communication module or only comprises older configuration information.