This invention relates to a method for automatically configuring an IP address to a network device. IP address automatic configuration is realized by a client arranged on the network device and a server arranged on a center server; the client and the server are connected through a network; the server receives a packet with device ID information sent by the client and automatically configures an IP address of the network device according to a device ID; and the client is configured according to the IP address in the packet returned by the server. The invention effectively avoids the trouble that the device network IP needs to be reconfigured when the device is installed, effectively reduces labour cost, decreases communication faults brought by human errors and improves constructing and managing efficiency.