A set-up for operating a process installation. The set-up includes a control station and at least one field device which determines or monitors at least one process variable. Each field device has a program memory in which a boot-loader software is persistently implemented. The boot-loader software enables communication of the field device with the control station. A transmission link is provided, via which the control station and the field device, or field devices communicate with one another during operation. Each field device transmits to the control station upon booting of the field device via the transmission link device-specific information. The control station transmits to the field device after receipt of the device-specific information, application- and/or device-specific, measurement/control/evaluation software, which is matched to a particular application of the field device and which the field device stores in a data memory associated with it. The field device based on application- and/or device-specific, measurement/control/evaluation software available to it during operation, makes available information concerning the process variable.