In the inventive configuration of a communication relationship, a data packet includes the respective address information of the communication unit is generated by at least one remote communication device or by at least one communication unit that is assigned to the device and is transmitted to a central communication device via a communication network. The central communication device selects an assigned communication unit and generates a data packet, which includes the respective address information of the selected communication unit, the data packet being transmitted to the remote communication device. The communication relationship between the addressed communication units is configured with the aid of the transmitted or exchanged address information via the communications network. The inventive method can be advantageously used during the initialization of a communications network, e.g. a booting of the system, as no communication with a management system (central or remote) is possible during this period.