the apparatus offers the functionality to assign device names and or other device identifications as provided according to the target topology 40 and the device list 20 to the devices a to e of the actual topology 300 so called device naming so that during the subsequent operation of the plant and the network a unique identification of the devices is ensured wherein the devices u201c to be named u201d of the actual topology are first identified by the apparatus 200 or the controller s based on the neighbor devices connected in each case to said devices to be named and optionally based on the respective device nature and or device type in the case of an error thus for example if a device in the actual topology cannot be identified corresponding diagnosis information is available which then effects a corresponding reaction fig3 b and 3 c show an example for the configuration of the devices of a plant using the embodiment variant of the invention according to fig3 a after a device of a first type fig3 b has been replaced by a device of the second type fig3 c a machine or plant can comprise a multiplicity of devices which are connected to.