1. A method performed by an application server for configuring an application element during deployment in a network ready to be accessed by a remote client application via a network protocol, wherein an application server processes a plurality of application components, comprising: receiving a deployment request for the application element, wherein the request includes configuration parameters that are specific for an instance of the application element; extracting the instance-specific configuration parameters from the request; automatically retrieving further configuration parameters associated with the application element from a datastore accessible to the application server; merging the instance-specific configuration parameters and the further configuration parameters; preparing a data object by inserting the merged configuration parameters; retrieving from a datastore configuration parameters of application instances that are currently deployed in the application server; inserting the configuration parameters into the data object; invoking a data mining based deviation detection algorithm passing the data object; receiving an output of the deviation detection algorithm; if at least one of the configuration parameters associated with the application element is marked as a deviation, issuing an indication to a user; otherwise creating an application element instance; and storing a description of the application element instance and the configuration parameters of the application element instance in the datastore.