A monitoring apparatus and monitoring/notifying method for receiver and sender terminals of an e-mail transmission system having a receiver terminal can confirm a status of a receiver terminal, prior to a transmission. A monitoring server monitors status of receiver terminals, such as IFAX and PC units, which are connected to the same LAN. The IFAX and PC units notify the monitoring server of the current status information according to requests made by the monitoring server. The monitoring server notifies IFAX units of the sending side, if an abnormal condition of the IFAX of the receiving side is detected. Upon receiving the notification from the monitoring server via the internet, the IFAX units of the sending side inform senders of the abnormal condition, by illuminating an LED.