Network setup and network configuration

It is a network device (1) with a first control device (2) and one of the first control means (2) the associated first switch means (4), a second control means (3) and a second control means (3) associated with the second switch means (5) suggested. This results in two independent channels of control and switch means (2, 3, 4, 5) which each have a first and second communication interface (9, 12) can be coupled to a communication network (6). In this case, the switch means (4, 5) (7 9, 10, 12) each comprise at least two ports and are communicatively coupled together. Due to the decoupling of the two channels with separate switch means (4, 5) improved reliability is ensured. Further, a network device (101) having a corresponding plurality of network devices (100, 200, 300) are proposed.