Switch and method for providing a name service within an industrial automation system that includes a plurality of cells that each have a plurality of automation devices and a cell switch, wherein router notification messages received by the cell switches are forwarded to a distributor unit of the cell switch and the distributor unit adds information concerning a name service host associated the cell, where the cell switches propagate the router notification messages supplemented by the distributor units thereof to the automation devices in the respective cells thereof, and where name resolution queries from the automation devices are transferred to the name service server associated with the cell via a name service functional unit.