The present invention realizes configuration management, failure monitoring and
control of hardware resources in an open architecture computer on which a plurality
of OSs run. A management agent 2111 run on a partition 211 performs
communication with a management console 10, management of data on hardware
and software failure occurred in the partition 211, and communication with
a partitioning control unit 221. The partitioning control unit 221 utilizes
partition configuration information 2211 to manage and control hardware
allocated to each partition 211, and to intermediate communication between
the hardware 231 and the management agents 2111. A hardware data
collection unit 23111 manages configuration information of all the hardware
in the computer, and monitors status of and failures in the hardware.