An automation system with a plurality of communicatively connected automation devices is disclosed. One of the connected automations devices serves as a domain controller and holds centrally in a memory data required for operation for the automation system and the automation devices. Hitherto frequently occurring multiple storage of such data is eliminated, the data is available at a central location for access by all the automation devices, and the domain controller, as a central data server, ensures consistency of the data administered and provided by it, which also permits access optimizations, such as e.g. device-, access- or structure-dependent temporary storage strategies.