An information processing apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus via a network is provided with a management unit, an obtaining unit, a discrimination unit, and a changing unit. The management unit manages fixed information and variable information of the external apparatus. The obtaining means obtains the fixed information and the variable information from the external apparatus via the network. The discrimination unit discriminates whether the obtained fixed information coincides with the managed fixed information, and discriminates whether the obtained variable information coincides with the managed variable information. If it is discriminated that the obtained fixed information coincides with the managed fixed information, but the obtained variable information does not coincide with the managed variable information, then the changing unit changes a setting of a control program for controlling the external information processing apparatus.