Abstract: A method of allocating computer addresses between units of an industrial installation connected to a local communications architecture and using the IP, TCP, and UDP protocols. The method provides the following steps: a unit broadcasts a request frame including a UDP port address specific to the unit, a UDP port address of an address allocation unit, and an address request; the allocation unit takes the request into account on recognizing its own port address; the allocation unit broadcasts a frame including its own IP address and the UDP port address of the requesting unit; the IP address of the allocation unit is taken into account by the requesting unit on recognizing its own port address; and the requesting unit determines its IP address by substituting its own hardware address for the hardware address of the allocation unit in its IP address.