A configuration data distributing unit stores an assignment of a first communication device to an address configuration server upon receiving an address configuration request from the first communication device of an industrial automation system, said assignment having a specifiable validity period, and forwards all configuration requests of the first communication device to the address configuration server during the validity period using the stored assignment. In contrast, the configuration data distributing unit stores an assignment of a second communication device to a prefix configuration server upon receiving a prefix delegation request of the second communication device with a router function, said assignment having a specifiable validity period, and forwards all configuration requests of the second communication device to the prefix configuration server during the validity period using the stored assignment.