Modular control device of an industrial automation system, and method for configuring the modular control device

A modular control device of an industrial automation system, comprising:

• a central processor unit for processing control programs;
• and
• at least one communication module, the central processor unit and the at least one communication module each comprising an integrated router and being interconnected to one another via a backplane bus system, first routers having an expanded router function for a connection to a superordinate communication network, and second routers having a restricted router function for a connection to a subordinate field-level subnetwork;
• wherein router configuration units of the first routers are configured to detect router functions which are respectively available via router configuration units of other routers and assigned priority values of respective routers;
• wherein the router configuration units of the first routers are configured to respectively check whether other first routers are present, based on detected router functions of other routers;
• wherein the router configuration units of the first routers are configured to respectively check, based on priority values, which first router is assigned a highest priority value when the other first routers are present;
• wherein the routers are configured such that the first router with the highest priority value is configured as a superordinate router for the connection to the superordinate communication network, and such that all other routers are respectively configured as subordinate routers for the connection to the subordinate field-level subnetwork and assume a name service and subnetwork address configuration which is predefined by the superordinate router.