the present invention concerns a method for updating a database in which data about a software and / or hardware configuration of a device of a network is stored . according to the invention , the device receives a current inquiry , transmitted from the database , about the current software and / or hardware configuration of the device . then the device determines its current software and / or hardware configuration , verifies if its current software and / or hardware configuration has been modified since an earlier inquiry , transmitted from the database , and transmits data about its current software and / or hardware configuration to the database , if its software and / or hardware configuration was modified .