Commissioning machines with virtual components in isolated operation without IP address assignment

A method for a computer network having a plurality of ports connected in one-to-one correspondence to respective production machines, with each of the connected production machines communicating via the computer network with a virtual user interface assigned to a respective production machine and with a higher-ranking facility, wherein the virtual user interfaces and the higher-ranking facility are arranged outside the production machines, the method comprising:

• monitoring designated ports of the computer network to which at least one existing production machine is connected, in order to detect whether a further production machine in addition to the existing production machine is connected to the computer network,
• automatically activating a commissioning service, whenever a connection of the further production machine to any one of the designated ports is detected, wherein, as a result of the activation, the commissioning service automatically at least
• assigns a virtual user interface to the further production machine,
• re-initializes within the computer network a virtual computer network which enables isolated communication between the further production machine and the assigned virtual user interface independent of the computer network, and
• connects the further production machine to the assigned virtual user interface via the re-initialized virtual computer network, thereby isolating the further production machine from other communications taking place via the computer network,
• maintaining the isolated communication between the further production machine and the assigned virtual user interface until a release command is specified by an operator,
• activating, in response to the specified release command, an integration service which, as a result of the activation, automatically
• re-initializes at least one virtual router,
• connects the re-initialized virtual router via the re-initialized virtual computer network with the further production machine, and
• configures the re-initialized virtual router so as to enable communication between the further production machine and the higher-ranking facility via the re-initialized virtual router.