In a method for configuring the network address for a node in a IP wireless network a network address is selected out of an available range of network addresses. At least one address resolution request (ARP) is sent over the network. A response to the ARP requests is awaited during a pre-defined timeout. In case no response is received from the network, the selected address is used to configure the node of the network.According to the invention, this ZeroConf process is adapted to a network topology and link layer technology. Thereby, a plurality of pre-defined network topologies are used and the parameters of the ZeroConf process are adapted according to the decided network topology.