A method and system of setting up a data link between medical appliances (M1-M6) and a computer system (1) in which for each of the medical appliances (M1-M6) at least one communication protocol (P1-P6) is stored together with the communication parameters (K1a, K1b, K1c . . . -K6a, K6b, K6c . . . ) assigned to this communication protocol (P1-P6). The method comprises the following steps: setting communication parameters (K1a, K1b, K1c . . . -K6a, K6b, K6c . . . ) of a communication protocol (P1-P6); receiving data from a medical appliance (M1-M6); checking whether the data received from the medical appliance (M1-M6) correspond to sample data which are characteristic for the communication protocol (P1-P6); repetition of steps a. to c. with other communication parameters (K1a, K1b, K1c . . . -K6a, K6b, K6c . . . ) of the communication protocol (P1-P6) if the data received from the medical appliance (M1-M6) do not correspond to the sample data and setting up a data link between the medical appliance (M1-M6) and the computer system (1) using the communication protocol (P1-P6) if the data received from the medical appliance (M1-M6) correspond to the sample data. In this way a reliable data link is automatically produced between the medical appliances (M1-M6) and the computer system (1).