Abstract: The present invention provides a method for automatic identification of the clock frequency of a system clock (15) for the configuration of a peripheral device (12), having the following steps: generation of a secondary clock (16) at a predetermined clock frequency; application of the system clock (15) and of the secondary clock (16) to a host (10); application of the system clock (15) and of the secondary clock (16) to the peripheral device (12); determination of the clock frequency of the system clock (15) in the peripheral device (12) by means of the secondary clock (16); and configuration of the peripheral device (12) using the determined system clock (15).