A reference signal sequence configuration method includes: selecting, by a network device and from candidate IDs, an ID used for generating a reference signal initialization sequence for a terminal, where the candidate IDs include at least two IDs, and the selected ID does not include a scrambling ID; and generating a reference signal initialization sequence for the terminal according to the selected ID. An implementation manner of the present invention further provides a network device. In the reference signal sequence configuration method and the network device, a reference signal initialization sequence is generated according to the selected ID, thereby providing a manner of generating a reference signal initialization sequence different from the manner in the prior art.