An apparatus for automatically registering topology of individual components of a process installation in automation technology. The components include field devices ascertaining or influencing physical and/or chemical, process variables. A superordinated control unit is provided, which communicates with the field devices via a fieldbus protocol conventional in automation technology and via which the field devices can be serviced. A radio tag is associated with each field device. Stored on the radio tag is topology-relevant information of the corresponding field device. A radio tag reader is provided, which registers the topology-relevant information of the radio tags and forwards such to the superordinated control unit.