Method for configuring communication devices in an industrial automation system, in which - a first DHCPv6 configuration server responds to first DHCPv6 configuration requests having an IA_NA option for providing a non-temporary IPv6 address or having an IA_TA option for providing a temporary IPv6 address by providing a respective IPv6 address configuration to a communication device to be configured, - a second DHCPv6 configuration server responds to second DHCPv6 configuration requests with an IA-PD option for a prefix delegation by enabling at least one respective IPv6 prefix disseminable by means of router notification messages for a communication device to be configured that has a router function, characterized in that - a configuration data distribution unit associated with the industrial automation system, on receiving a first DHCPv6 configuration request having an IA_NA or IA_TA option from a first communication device in the industrial automation system, stores an association between the first communication device and the first DHCPv6 configuration server for a prescribable validity period and takes the stored association as a basis for forwarding, during the validity period, all of the DHCPv6 configuration requests from the first communication device to the first DHCPv6 configuration server, - the configuration data distribution unit, on receiving a second DHCPv6 configuration request having an IA_PD option from a second communication device, associated with the industrial automation system, having a router function, stores an association between the second communication device and the second DHCPv6 configuration server for a prescribable validity period and takes the stored association as a basis for forwarding, during the validity period, all of the DHCPv6 configuration requests from the second communication device to the second DHCPv6 configuration server. - a first DHCPv6 configuration server responds to first DHCPv6 configuration requests having an IA_NA option for providing a non-temporary IPv6 address or having an IA_TA option for providing a temporary IPv6 address by providing a respective IPv6 address configuration to a communication device to be configured, - a second DHCPv6 configuration server responds to second DHCPv6 configuration requests with an IA-PD option for a prefix delegation by enabling at least one respective IPv6 prefix disseminable by means of router notification messages for a communication device to be configured that has a router function, - a configuration data distribution unit associated with the industrial automation system, on receiving a first DHCPv6 configuration request having an IA_NA or IA_TA option from a first communication device in the industrial automation system, stores an association between the first communication device and the first DHCPv6 configuration server for a prescribable validity period and takes the stored association as a basis for forwarding, during the validity period, all of the DHCPv6 configuration requests from the first communication device to the first DHCPv6 configuration server, - the configuration data distribution unit, on receiving a second DHCPv6 configuration request having an IA_PD option from a second communication device, associated with the industrial automation system, having a router function, stores an association between the second communication device and the second DHCPv6 configuration server for a prescribable validity period and takes the stored association as a basis for forwarding, during the validity period, all of the DHCPv6 configuration requests from the second communication device to the second DHCPv6 configuration server.