Patent Publication Number: US-2013246832-A1

Title: Information processing device, computer-readable recording medium having stored therein program for setting time of information processing device, monitor, and method for setting time of information processing device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2010/069698 filed on Nov. 5, 2010 and designated the U.S., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are an information processing device including a monitoring object device and a monitor that monitors the monitoring object device, a computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for setting a time of the information processing device, the monitor, and a method for setting time of the information processing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device  100  including a monitor (integrated monitor)  110  and a monitoring object device  150 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the monitor  110  regards at least one server  160 , a memory  170 , and at least one Input Output (I/O) unit  180  as an integrated monitoring object device  150 , and monitors the integrated monitoring object device  150 . The monitor  110  includes a base  120 , a console  130 , and a clock device  140 . 
     The base  120  monitors the monitoring object device  150  and the console  130 , and includes a controller  121 , a first time source  122 , a base monitor  123 , and a second time source  124 . 
     The controller  121  controls the monitoring object device  150 , and also controls reception of a time from the clock device  140 . An example of the controller  121  is a hypervisor that manages Operating System (OS). 
     The base monitor  123  monitors the base  120  itself and is exemplified by a service processor. 
     The first time source  122  provides a time to be used in an OS managed by the controller  121 , and the second time source  124  provides a time to be used by the base monitor  123 . This means that the controller  121  and the base monitor  123  have respective time sources. 
     The first time source  122  synchronizes the time of the first time source  122  itself with the time of the second time source  124  when the monitor  110  is started. 
     An example of the second time source  24  is a Time Of Day (TOD) clock. 
     Meanwhile, an example of the first time source  122  is a logical TOD clock. 
     The first time source  122  retains a time difference value between the time of the second time source  124  and the time used by the OS. The first time source  122  calculates the time of the OS managed by the controller  121  by adding the time of the second time source  124  and the time difference value and provides the calculated time to the OS managed by the controller  121 . This means that the time of the first time source  122  is calculated using the time difference value depending on the time of the second time source  124  and the time of the second time source  124 . 
     The console  130  controls the information processing device  100  via the user interface (not illustrated) such as a display, a keyboard, and/or a mouse. 
     The user can obtain monitoring information such as a system status and log data of the monitoring object device  150  via the console  130 . 
     The user can set the time of the first time source  122  to desired time from the console  130 . This means that the console  130  can set a time differential value that the first time source  122  retains to a time differential value between the desired time input by the user and the time of the second time source  124 . 
     The clock device  140  provides the information processing device  100  with a time. An example of the clock device  140  is a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server, which may be installed outside the information processing device  100  and which may be accessible through a communication network. 
     The monitoring object device  150  includes at least one server  160 , a memory  170 , and at least one I/O unit  180 , and is an object to be monitored by the monitor  110 . 
     The server  160  is at least one large-scale server that shares the memory  170 , which is a common memory device, and at least one I/O unit  180  is a device connected to an I/O interface of the server  160 . 
     The monitor  110  has a time synchronizing function to distribute a time to the entire system from the controller  121 . 
     The time synchronizing function has two functions of: a first function that causes the controller  121  serving as an NTP client to receive a time from the clock device  140  and distribute the received time to the entire system; and a second function that the controller  121  causes the first time source  122  to distribute a time to the monitoring object device  150  and the console  130 . 
     The first function causes the clock device  140  serving as an NTP server to synchronize the times of the first time source  122 , the second time source  124 , the console  130 , and the monitoring object device  150  with the time of the clock device  140 . 
     The second function disables the time synchronization by the clock device  140  serving as an NTP server and instead synchronizes the times of the monitoring object device  150  and the console  130  with the time of the first time source  122 . 
     Hereinafter, the second function is also referred to as a manual time synchronizing function. 
     The manual time synchronizing function makes the monitor  110  to set an arbitrary time input by the user from the console  130  to a time of the first time source  122  under the control of the controller  121 . 
     Distributing the time of the first time source  122  which time is changed by the controller  121  to the monitoring object device  150  and the console  130 , the manual time synchronizing function allows the user to verify the operation of the monitoring object device  150  at a desired time of testing. 
     One known technique is that the hypervisor can change a time and a clock speed of a logical time measuring mechanism of a logical central processing device when a virtual information processing device is both being activated and operating in the following procedure. Specifically, the hypervisor obtains time setting, a setting format, and parameter to change a clock speed that the console provides by activating a hypervisor assisting mechanism, and then stores the obtained time setting, setting format, and parameter to change a clock speed into an external storing device of the service processor and a time storing region of the hypervisor for each virtual information processing device. 
     Furthermore, another known technique is that the set time and the assigning format of a logical time that are once set to the logical time measuring mechanism are stored in an external storing device of the service processor, and a time is automatically set in the logical time measuring mechanism in obedience to the stored information, so that the times of inputs from the operator to set a time can be reduced. 
     PRIOR ART REFERENCE 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-15558 
         [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-258501 
       
    
     In the above information processing device  100 , the base monitor  123  that monitors the base  120  may refer to information of the OS managed by the controller  121 . For example, in order to check the state of the OS managed by the controller  121 , the user checks the log data of the OS managed by the controller  121  using the base monitor  123 . In this case, the time, such as a time stamp, that is to be set in the information of the OS managed by the controller  121  is set by the controller  121  on the basis of the time of the first time source  122  of the controller  121 . 
     As described above, after the console  130  changes the time of the first time source  122  of the controller  121  while the manual time synchronizing function is being executed in the monitor  110 , the time used in the OS managed by the controller  121  has a difference of a time differential value from the time of the second time source  124 . 
     For the above, the user obtains the time differential value from the controller  121  and then refers to the information of the OS managed by the controller  121  on the basis of the time obtained by adding the time differential value to the time of the second time source  124 . Thereby, the user can synchronize the time of the base monitor  123 , when the information of the OS managed by the controller  121  is to be referred, with the time of the OS managed by the controller  121 , so that the user can refer to the information of the OS managed by the controller  121  without being affected by a time gap caused by the time differential value. 
     However, the above procedure needs to obtain the time differential value and adds the obtained time differential value to the time of the second time source  124  each time the user is to refer to the information of the OS managed by the controller  121 , so that the procedures increase the load. 
     One solution to the above is that while the monitor  110  is executing the manual time synchronizing function, the user causes the console  130  to seta time in the second time source  124  of the base monitor  123  as well as the time of the first time source  122  of the controller  121 . 
     Specifically, the time of the first time source  122  of the controller  121  is calculated on the basis of a time differential value depending on the time of the second time source  124  of the base monitor  123  and the time of the second time source  124 . This means that the time of the second time source  124  is a reference to calculate the time of the first time source  122 . 
     Some specifications of the base  120  may restrict time setting in the second time source  124  while the controller  121  is being activated not to affect the time of the first time source  122 . 
     This means that some specifications of the base  120  may establish an exclusive relationship between time setting in the second time source  124  of the base monitor  123  and the state of the controller  121 . In other words, while the controller  121  is running, time setting into the second time source  124  may sometimes be prohibited. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the controller  121  setting a time in the second time source  124  of the base monitor  123  in the monitor  110  of  FIG. 9  when an exclusive relationship is established between time setting into the second time source  124  and the state of the controller  121 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when an exclusive relationship is established between time setting into the second time source  124  and the state of the controller  121 , the controller  121  being running is prevented from a setting a time in the second time source  124  of the base monitor  123 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a case where the console  130  is to set a time in the first and the second time sources  122  and  124  in the monitor  110  when an exclusive relationship is established between time setting into the second time source  124  and the state of the controller  121 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , when an exclusive relationship is established between time setting into the second time source  124  and the state of the controller  121 , the console  130  allows the controller  121  being running to set a time in the first time source  122 , but prevents the base monitor  123  from setting a time in the second time source  124 . 
       FIG. 12  is a sequence diagram denoting procedural steps of the manual time synchronizing function performed in the monitor  110  of  FIG. 9  when an exclusive relationship is established between time setting into the second time source  124  and the state of the controller  121 . 
     As denoted in  FIG. 12 , the console  130  carries out the following procedural steps S 101  to S 112  if aiming at setting a time both in the first time source  122  of the controller  121  and the second time source  124  of the base monitor  123 . 
     To begin with, the console  130  transmits, to the controller  121 , an instruction to set the time in the first time source  122  (step S 101 ). The instruction to set the time includes the arbitrary time input by the user. 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to set a time from the console  130 , the controller  121  sets a time designated by the instruction to set a time in the first time source  122  (step S 102 ). 
     Upon completion of time setting into the first time source  122 , the controller  121  transmits time setting completion notification to the console  130  (step S 103 ). 
     Upon receipt of the time setting completion notification from the controller  121  (step S 104 ), the console  130  transmits an instruction to restart to the controller  121  (step S 105 ) so that the time set in the first time source  122  is reflected in the controller  121 . 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to restart from the console  130 , the controller  121  restarts the  121  itself (step S 106 ). 
     Along the above steps S 101 -S 106 , the console  130  causes the controller  121  to set a time in the first time source  122 . 
     Next, the console  130  is to carry out following steps S 107 -S 112  corresponding to the above steps S 101 -S 106  in order to cause the base monitor  123  to set a time in the second time source  124 . 
     The console  130  transmits an instruction to set a time in the second time source  124  to the base monitor  123  (step S 107 ). 
     However, when an exclusive relationship is established between time setting in the second time source  124  and the state of the controller  121 , the console  130  fails in causing the base monitor  123  to set a time in the second time source  124  as described above. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , when the base monitor  123  is executing step S 108 , the controller  121  finishes the restarting the controller  121  itself in step S 106  and is in the running state. Accordingly, console  130  does not cause the base monitor  123  to set a time in the second time source  124 . 
     Consequently, steps S 108 -S 112  of  FIG. 12  are not carried out by the monitor  110  of  FIG. 9 . 
     As described above, the manual time synchronizing function of the conventional monitor  110  causes the console  130  to instruct the controller  121  to set a time in the first time source  122 . 
     However, when an above exclusive relationship is established due to the specification of the base  120 , the console  130  does not allow the base monitor  123  to change the time of the second time source  124 . 
     The above technique that the hypervisor can change a time and a clock speed of a logical time measuring mechanism of a logical central processing device when a virtual information processing device is both being activated and operating aims at setting a time of a logical TOD clock. Accordingly, this technique does not assume setting a time of a TOD clock or a case where a time setting in the TOD clock establishes an exclusive relationship with the state of the hypervisor. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments, an information processing device including a monitoring object device and a monitor that monitors the monitoring object device, the monitor includes: a console that controls the information processing device in accordance with instruction information input through a user interface; and a base that monitors the monitoring object device, the base including a first time source that supplies a first time of the entire part of the information processing device based on time information from an external entity of the information processing device, a second time source that has a second time different from the first time of the first time source, a controller that controls the first time source and the monitoring object device, and a base monitor that controls the second time source and monitors the base, the controller including a first time setter that sets the first time in the first time source in accordance with an instruction to set a time from the console, that sets the first time, which is set in the first time source, in the monitoring object device, and that, upon completion of the setting of the first time in the monitoring object device, transmits a notification of time setting completion to the console, and the console including a stopper that stops, when an exclusive relationship that the base monitor is prohibited from setting the second time in the second time source under a state where a controller is running is established, the controller after the console receives the notification of time setting completion from the controller, a second time setter that causes, after the controller is stopped, the base monitor to set the second time in the second time source, and a restarter that restarts, upon receipt of a notification of time setting completion from the base monitor, the controller and the base monitor. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a base and a console of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram depicting an example of exclusion information retained by a controller of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a sequential diagram denoting an example of a succession of procedural steps of a manual time synchronous function of an information processing device of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a base and a console of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram depicting an example of exclusion information retained by a controller of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a sequential diagram denoting an example of a succession of procedural steps of a manual time synchronous function of an information processing device of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device including a monitor and a monitoring object device; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a relationship of a controller of  FIG. 9  with a second time source; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a relationship of a console of  FIG. 9  with a first time source and a second time source; and 
         FIG. 12  is a sequential diagram denoting an example of a succession of procedural steps of a manual time synchronous function of a monitor of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     (A) First Embodiment 
     (A-1) Configuration of First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device  1  according to the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the information processing device  1  includes a monitor  10  and a monitoring object device  50 . 
     The monitor  10  regards at least one server  60 , a memory  70 , and at least one I/O unit  80  as an integrated monitoring object device  50 , and monitors the integrated monitoring object device  50 . The monitor  10  includes a base  20 , a console  30 , and a clock device  40 . 
     The base  20  monitors the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 , and includes a controller  21 , a first time source  22 , a base monitor  23 , and a second time source  24 . 
     The controller  21  controls the monitoring object device  50 , and also controls reception of a time from the clock device  40 . 
     The controller  21  includes an exclusion information notifier  211  and a first time setter  212 , and is exemplified by a hypervisor that manages the OS. 
     The exclusion information notifier  211  and the first time setter  212  will be detailed below. 
     The base monitor  23  monitors the base  20  itself likewise the base monitor  123  described above with reference to  FIG. 9 . The base monitor  23  is exemplified by a service processor. 
     The first time source  22  provides a time to be used in an OS managed by the controller  21 , and the second time source  24  provides a time to be used by the base monitor  23 . This means that the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  have respective time sources. 
     The first time source  22  synchronizes the time of the first time source  22  itself with the time of the second time source  24  when the monitor  10  is started likewise the first time source  122  described as the above with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     An example of the second time source  24  is a TOD clock and an example of the first time source  22  is a logical TOD clock. 
     The first time source  22  retains a time difference value between the time of the second time source  24  and the time used by the OS. The first time source  22  calculates the time of the OS managed by the controller  21  by adding the time of the second time source  24  and the time difference value. This means that the time of the first time source  22  is calculated using the time difference value depending on the time of the second time source  24  and the time of the second time source  24 . 
     The console  30  controls the information processing device  1  via the user interface (not illustrated) such as a display, a keyboard, and/or a mouse. 
     The user can obtain monitoring information such as a system status and log data of the monitoring object device  50  via the console  30 . 
     The user can set the times of the first time source  22  and the second time source  24  to desired time from the console  30 . This means that the console  30  can set desired time input by the user in both the first time source  22  and the second time source  24 . In other words, the console  30  can set the time of the second time source  24  such that the time difference value between the desired time input by the user and the time of the second time source  24  comes to be “0”. 
     The console  30  includes a stopper  31 , a second time setter  32 , and a restarter  33 , which will be detailed below. 
     Likewise the clock device  140  described above with reference to  FIG. 9 , the clock device  40  provides the information processing device  1  with a time. An example of the clock device  40  is an NTP server, which may be outside the information processing device  1 . 
     Likewise the monitoring object device  150  described above with reference to  FIG. 9 , the monitoring object device  50  includes at least one server  60 , a memory  70 , and at least one I/O unit  80 , and is an object to be monitored by the monitor  10 . 
     The server  60  is at least one large-scale server that shares the memory  70 , which is a common memory device, and at least one I/O unit  80  is a device connected to an I/O interface of the server  60 . 
     The monitor  10  has a time synchronizing function to distribute a time to the entire system from the controller  21 . 
     The controller  21  receives, as an NTP client, a time from the clock device  40  and distributes the received time to the entire system using the first function of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 . Likewise the monitor  110  described above with reference to  FIG. 9 , the first function causes the clock device  40  serving as an NTP server to synchronize the respective times of the first time source  22 , the second time source  24 , the console  30 , and the monitoring object device  50  with the time of the clock device  40 . 
     Using the second function (i.e., manual time synchronizing function) of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 , the controller  21  disables the time synchronization by the clock device  40  serving as the NTP server and instead distributes the time of the first time source  22  to the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 , using the first time source  22 . 
     Here, the controller  21  can set, using the manual time synchronizing function of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 , the time of the first time source  22  to the desired time that the user inputs via the console  30 . 
     The above first and the second functions may cause the controller  21  to periodically distribute a time. 
     As the above, the controller  21  functions as a time distribution master that distributes a time to the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 . 
     Using the manual time synchronizing function of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 , the console  30  of the first embodiment causes the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  to set a desired time (times) input by the user to the times of the first time source  22  and the second time source  24 , respectively. 
     Likewise the case described above with reference to  FIGS. 9-12 , the setting a time in the second time source  24  of the base monitor  23  has an exclusive relationship with the state of the controller  21 . 
     Hereinafter, description will now be made in relation to functional elements of the controller  21  and the console  30  that achieve the manual time synchronizing function of the first embodiment. 
     An exclusion information notifier  211  included in the controller  21  retains exclusion information representing an exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . The exclusion information will be detailed below with reference to  FIG. 3 . Upon receipt of an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set the time from the console  30 , the exclusion information notifier  211  notifies the exclusion information that the exclusion information notifier  211  retains to the console  30 . 
     A first time setter  212  sets the time in the first time source  22  in response to the instruction to set a time from the console  30 , and sets the time set in the first time source  22  also in the monitoring object device  50 . Furthermore, upon completion of setting the time in the monitoring object device  50 , the first time setter  212  transmits notification of time setting completion to the console  30 . 
     The console  30  notifies the controller  21  of an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set the time. After the notification of these instructions, the console  30  causes the stopper  31  and second time setter  32  to carry out the following process. 
     If the exclusion information received from the controller  21  represents that an exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , the stopper  31  included in the console  30  stops the controller  21  after receiving notification of time setting completion from the controller  21 . 
     After the controller  21  is stopped, the second time setter  32  causes the base monitor  23  to set a time in the second time source  24 . 
     After receiving notification of time setting completion from the base monitor  23 , the restarter  33  restarts the base monitor  23 . Furthermore, the restarter  33  restarts the controller  21  after the base monitor  23  is restarted. 
     As the above, the manual time synchronizing function of the first embodiment causes the controller  21  and the console  30  to synchronize the time of the second time source  24  in addition to the times of the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30  with the time of the first time source  22 . 
     Next, description will now be made in relation to the hardware configurations of the base  20  and the console  30  with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the base  20  and the console  30  of the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the base  20  includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  25 , a Random Access Memory (RAM)  26 , a Read Only Memory (ROM)  27 , a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)  28 , and an I/O interface  29 . 
     The CPU  25  is a processor that executes various controls and calculations of the base  20 , and specifically achieves various functions by executing programs stored in the ROM  27 . In the first embodiment, the CPU  25  functions as the controller  21 , the exclusion information notifier  211 , the first time setter  212 , the first time source  22 , and the base monitor  23  depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     The register of the CPU  25  retains the exclusion information representing an exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  that will be detailed below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The RAM  26  is a storage region that temporarily stores various pieces of data and programs, and is used for temporally storing or expanding data or programs when the CPU  25  executes the programs. 
     The ROM  27  is a memory device that retains programs and various pieces of data executed and used by the CPU  25 ; and the HDD  28  is another memory device that retains the various programs including the OS and various pieces of data. 
     The I/O interface  29  controls I/O devices, and is connected to the console  30 , the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and other devices. Specifically, the I/O interface  29  controls various I/O processing into and from the console  30 , the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and others. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the console  30  includes a CPU  35 , a RAM  36 , a ROM  37 , a HDD  38 , and an I/O interface  39 . 
     The CPU  35  is a processor that executes various controls and calculations of the console  30 , and specifically achieves various functions by executing programs stored in the ROM  37 . In the first embodiment, the CPU  35  functions as the stopper  31 , the second time setter  32 , and the restarter  33  depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     The RAM  36  is a storage region that temporarily stores various pieces of data and programs, and is used for temporally storing or expanding data or programs when the CPU  35  executes the programs. 
     The ROM  37  is a memory device that retains programs and various pieces of data executed and used by the CPU  35 ; and the HDD  38  is another memory device to that retains the various programs including the OS and various pieces of data. The HDDs  28  and  38  may be substituted by other recording media, such as Solid State Drives (SSDs), usable in an information processing device. 
     The I/O interface  39  controls I/O devices, and is connected to the base  20 , the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and user interfaces (not illustrated) such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. Specifically, the I/O interface  39  controls various I/O processing into and from the base  20 , the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and user interfaces such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the base  20  and the console  30  are achieved by respective different hardware devices, independent of each other, in the monitor  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of exclusion information retained in the controller  21  of the first embodiment. 
     The controller  21  causes the exclusion information notifier  211  to store the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  depicted in  FIG. 3  into the register of the CPU  25 . 
     Upon receipt of an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set the time from the console  30 , the exclusion information notifier  211  of the controller  21  notifies the exclusion information stored in the register of the CPU  25  to the console  30 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the exclusive subject side (exclusive source) between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  is stored in the region of the 0th to the third bytes. In the first embodiment, the IP address of the base monitor  23  is stored in the region of the 0th to the third bytes. 
     When an exclusive relationship is not established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , 0xFF is set in the region of the 0th to the third bytes. In other words, 0xFF set in the region of the 0th to the third bytes means that an exclusive relationship is not established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . 
     The IP address of the exclusive object side (exclusive destination) between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  is set in the region of the eighth to eleventh bytes. In the first embodiment, the IP address of the controller  21  itself is set in the region of the eighth to eleventh bytes. 
     In the region of the 48th byte, instruction information to the exclusive object side is set if an exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . In the first embodiment, instruction information to the controller  21  is set in the region of the 48th byte. 
     Here, instruction information represents information that instructs a process that the exclusive object side, that is the controller  21 , carries out to cancel the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . 
     For example, a rule is previously determined such that, when the digit “1” is set to be the instruction information in the region of the 48th byte, the exclusive object side, that is the controller  21 , is to be stopped. Alternatively, any process that the exclusive object side is to carry out to cancel the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  may be set to be instruction information. 
     Further alternatively, when the instruction information “0” is set in the region of the 48th byte for the purpose of the validation, the exclusive object side may be set to not carry out any process. 
     However, the above exclusion information is only an example. The regions in which the IP addresses of the exclusive object side and the exclusive subject side, and the instruction information are set are by no means limited to the above and may be arbitrary positions. 
     (A-2) Operation of First Embodiment: 
     Next, the operation of the information processing device  1  will now be described. 
       FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram denoting a succession of procedural steps of the manual time synchronizing function to be carried out in the information processing device  1  of the first embodiment. 
     The illustrated example assumes that an exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , and information to stop the controller  21  is set in the instruction information in the region of the 48th byte of the exclusion information stored in the register of the CPU  25 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , to begin with, the console  30  transmits, to the controller  21 , an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set a time in the first time source  22  (step S 1 ). The instruction to set a time includes a desired time input by the user. After transmitting the instruction to set a time to the controller  21 , the console  30  waits for exclusion information and notification of time setting completion from the controller  21 . 
     After the controller  21  receives the instruction to transmit exclusion information and the instruction to set a time from the console  30  (step S 2 ), the exclusion information notifier  211  of the controller  21  transmits the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , the information being stored in the register of the CPU  25 , to the console  30  (step S 3 ; the step of notifying exclusion information). 
     Upon receiving and obtaining of the exclusion information from the exclusion information notifier  211  (step S 4 ), the console  30  waits for notification of time setting completion from the controller  21 . 
     After the controller  21  transmits the exclusion information to the console  30 , the first time setter  212  of the controller  21  sets the time included in the instruction to seta time received from the console  30  at the step S 2  in the first time source (step S 5 ). 
     In succession, the first time setter  212  of the controller  21  distributes the time set in the first time source  22  to the monitoring object device  50  (step S 6 ). After distribution of the time to the monitoring object device  50 , the first time setter  212  waits for notification of time setting completion from the monitoring object device  50 . 
     Upon receipt of the distributed time from the first time setter  212 , the monitoring object device  50  sets the received time into the time source of the monitoring object device  50  itself (step S 7 ). 
     Then, the monitoring object device  50  transmits notification of time setting completion to the first time setter  212  (step S 8 ). 
     Upon receipt of the notification of time setting completion from the monitoring object device (step S 9 ), the first time setter  212  notifies the console  30  of the completion of time setting (step S 10 ). 
     The above steps S 5 , S 6 , S 9 , and S 10  are carried out by the first time setter  212 . Accordingly, the steps S 5 -S 10  can be collectively regarded as a first time setting step. 
     Upon receipt of the notification of time setting completion from the first time setter  212  (step S 11 ), the console  30  refers to the exclusion information obtained from the exclusion information notifier  211  in step S 4  to confirm the presence or the absence of the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . 
     If the console  30  determines that the exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , the stopper  31  of the console  30  transmits an instruction to stop to the controller  21 , serving as an exclusive object side, on the basis of the instruction information included in the obtained exclusion information (step S 12 ). 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to stop from the stopper  31 , the controller  21  stops the controller  21  itself (step S 13 ). 
     The above step S 12  is carried out by the stopper  31 . Accordingly, the steps S 12  and S 13  can be collectively regarded as a stopping step. 
     After the controller  21  stops in step S 13 , the console  30  causes the second time setter  32  of the console  30  to notify the base monitor  23  of an instruction to set a time in the second time source (step S 14 ). Likewise the above step S 1 , the instruction to set a time includes a desired time input by the user. Upon notification of the instruction to set a time to the base monitor  23 , the second time setter  32  waits for notification of time setting completion from the base monitor  23 . 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to set a time from the second time setter  32 , the base monitor  23  sets the time included in the received instruction to set a time in the second time source  24  (step S 15 ). 
     Then, the base monitor  23  notifies the second time setter  32  of time setting completion (step S 16 ) and the second time setter  32  receives the notification of time setting completion from the base monitor  23  (step S 17 ). 
     The above steps S 14  and S 17  are carried out by the second time setter  32 . Accordingly, the steps S 14 -S 17  can be collectively regarded as a second time setting step. 
     Next, the restarter  33  of the console  30  notifies an instruction to restart to the base monitor  23  (step S 18 ) so that the time set in the second time source  24  is reflected in the base monitor  23 . 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to restart from the restarter  33 , the base monitor  23  restarts the base monitor  23  itself (step S 19 ). 
     After the restarting the base monitor  23  is completed, the restarter  33  notifies an instruction to restart to the controller  21  (step S 20 ), so that the time set in the first time source  22  is reflected in the controller  21 . 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to restart from the restarter  33 , the controller  21  restarts the controller  21  itself (step S 21 ). 
     The above steps S 18  and S 20  are carried out by the restarter  33 . Accordingly, the steps S 18 -S 21  can be collectively regarded as a restarting step. 
     As described above, the time of the first time source  22  is calculated on the basis of the time differential value depending on the time of the second time source  24  and the time of the second time source  24 . In order to exactly reflect the times of the first time source  22  and the second time source  24  respectively in the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , the restarter  33  restarts the controller  21  after the restarting the base monitor  23  in step S 19  is completed. 
     As described above, the second time setter  32  sets the time in the base monitor  23  while the controller  21  is stopping during the stopping time period between the step S 13  and S 21  in the procedure of  FIG. 4 . 
     Along the above procedural steps, the console  30  successfully sets the time in the controller  21 , the base monitor  23 , and the monitoring object device  50 . 
     After the console  30  completes the time setting in the controller  21 , the base monitor  23 , and the monitoring object device  50 , the controller  21  periodically distributes, as the time distribution master, a time to the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30  using the manual time synchronizing function (step S 22 ). 
     When the console  30  determines that the exclusive relationship is not established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  in above step S 12 , there is no need to stop the controller  21  during a time is being set in the base monitor  23 . 
     In this case, the console  30  does not cause the stopper  31  to notify the instruction to stop to the controller  21  in step S 12 , and instead does cause the restarter  33  to notify the instruction to restart to the controller  21  in step S 20 . In other words, the process of steps S 12  and S 13  is substituted by the process of steps of S 20  and S 21 . Concurrently, after the completion of the process of step S 19 , the process of the steps S 20  and S 21  is skipped and the process of step S 22  is then carried out. 
     As described above, the exclusion information notifier  211  of the first embodiment retains the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . 
     This makes the stopper  31  of the first embodiment to determine whether the exclusion information received from the controller  21  represents that the exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . 
     When the exclusive relationship that the base monitor  23  is prohibited from setting a time in the second time source  24  under the state where the controller  21  is running, the stopper  31 , the second time setter  32 , and the restarter  33  included in the console  30  set a time in the base monitor  23  during the stooping time period of the controller  21 . 
     Thereby, even when the exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , the time of the first time source  22  of the controller  21  can be synchronized with the time of the second time source  24  of the base monitor  23 . 
     Furthermore, the first time setter  212  of the first embodiment sets the time in the first time source  22  in response to an instruction to set a time from the console  30 , and the time set in the first time source  22  is further set in the monitoring object device  50 . After the time setting in the monitoring object device  50  is completed, the notification of time setting completion is transmitted to the console  30 . 
     Even when the exclusion information received from the controller  21  represents that an exclusive relationship exists between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 , the stopper  31  stops the controller  21  after receiving the notification of time setting completion from the controller  21 . 
     Since the controller  21  is stopped by the stopper  31  after the first time setter  212  included in the controller  21  sets a time in the monitoring object device  50 , the first time setter  212  successfully sets the time in the monitoring object device  50  before the controller  21  is stopped by the stopper  31 . 
     Furthermore, after the first time setter  212  sets the time in the first time source  22  of the controller  21 , the second time setter  32  sets the time of the second time source  24  of the base monitor  23 . 
     The restarter  33  restarts the controller  21  after the base monitor  23  is restarted. 
     This can successfully synchronize the time of the first time source  22  with the time of the second time source  24  even when the time of the first time source  22  is calculated on the basis of the time differential value depending on the time of the second time source  24  and the time of the second time source  24 . 
     (B) Second Embodiment 
     (B-1) Configuration of Second Embodiment: 
     The configuration of the information processing device  1  should by no means be limited to that of the first embodiment detailed above, and may alternatively be an information processing device  1 ′ having two redundant bases  20  as depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6  according to the second embodiment. 
     Like reference numbers of the information processing device  1 ′ in  FIGS. 5 and 6  designate the same or substantially same parts and elements as those of the information processing device  1  of the above first embodiment, so detailed description thereof is omitted here. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram schematically illustrates an example of the configuration of the information processing device  1 ′ according to the second embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the information processing device  1 ′ includes a monitor  10 ′ and the monitoring object device  50 . 
     The monitor  10 ′ regards at least one server  60 , a memory  70 , and at least one I/O unit  80  as an integrated monitoring object device  50 , and monitors the integrated monitoring object device  50 . The monitor  10 ′ includes bases  20 - 1  and  20 - 1 , a console  30 ′, and a clock device  40 . 
     The bases  20 - 1  and  20 - 2  monitor the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 ′. The base  20 - 1  includes a controller  21 - 1 , a first time source  22 - 1 , a base monitor  23 - 1 , and a second time source  24 - 1 , and the base  20 - 2  includes a controller  21 - 2 , a first time source  22 - 2 , a base monitor  23 - 2 , and a second time source  24 - 2 . 
     The base  20 - 2 , a stand-by base redundant to the base  20 - 1 , is in a stand-by state when the base  20 - 1  is operating and comes to operate when the base  20 - 1  stops. 
     For the sake of convenience, the base  20 - 2  is also referred to as the stand-by base  20 - 2 . 
     To each of the bases  20 - 1  and  20 - 2 , the console  30 ′, the clock device  40 , and the monitoring object device  50  are connected. While the base  20 - 1  is operating, the base  20 - 1  carries out processing that is carried out by the base  20  of  FIG. 1  on the console  30 ′, the clock device  40 , and the monitoring object device  50 . On the other hand, while the base  20 - 1  is stopped, the stand-by base  20 - 2  carries out the same operation as that of the base  20  of  FIG. 1  on the console  30 ′, the clock device  40 , and the monitoring object device  50 . 
     The controllers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2 , the first time sources  22 - 1  and  22 - 2 , the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2 , and the second time sources  24 - 1  and  24 - 2  are the same in function as the controller  21 , the first time source  22 , the base monitor  23 , and the second time source  24  included in the information processing device  1  of  FIG. 1 , respectively, so description common to these elements between the first and the second embodiments is omitted here. 
     The controller  21 - 1  includes an exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  and a first time setter  212 - 1 , and the controller  21 - 2  includes an exclusion information notifier  211 - 2  and a first time setter  212 - 2 . 
     The exclusion information notifiers  211 - 1  and  211 - 2  and the first time setters  212 - 1  and  212 - 2  will be detailed below. 
     For the sake of convenience, the controller  21 - 2 , the first time source  22 - 2 , the base monitor  23 - 2 , and the second time source  24 - 2  that the base  20 - 2  includes are referred to as the stand-by controller  21 - 2 , the stand-by first time source  22 - 2 , the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 , and the stand-by second time source  24 - 2 , respectively. 
     The console  30 ′ is the same in function as the console  30  included in the information processing device  1  depicted in  FIG. 1 , so detailed description thereof is omitted here. 
     The console  30 ′ includes a stopper  31 ′, a second time setter  32 ′, and a restarter  33 ′, which will be detailed below. 
     The monitor  10 ′ has a time synchronizing function to distribute a time to the entire system from the controller  21 - 1  while the controller  21 - 1  is operating and from the stand-by controller  21 - 2  when the controller  21 - 1  is stopped likewise the controller  21  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Hereinafter, the reference numbers  20 - 1  and  20 - 2  are used to discriminate one base from the other, but an arbitrary base is represented by the reference number  20 . Similarly, the reference numbers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2  are used to discriminate one controller from the other, but an arbitrary controller is represented by the reference number  21 ; the reference numbers  22 - 1  and  22 - 2  are used to discriminate one first time source from the other, but an arbitrary first time source is represented by the reference number  22 . 
     The reference numbers  23 - 1  and  23 - 2  are used to discriminate one base monitor from the other, but an arbitrary base monitor is represented by the reference number  23 ; and the reference numbers  24 - 1  and  24 - 2  are used to discriminate one second time source from the other, but an arbitrary second time source is represented by the reference number  24 . 
     The reference numbers  211 - 1  and  211 - 2  are used to discriminate one exclusion information notifier from the other, but an arbitrary exclusion information notifier is represented by the reference number  211 ; and the reference numbers  212 - 1  and  212 - 2  are used to discriminate one first time setter from the other, but an arbitrary first time setter is represented by the reference number  212 . 
     The controller  21  receives, serving as an NTP client, a time from the clock device  40  and distributes the received time to the entire system using the first function of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 ′. In other words, the first function causes the clock device  40  serving as an NTP server to synchronize the respective times of the first time sources  22 - 1  and  22 - 2 , the second time sources  24 - 1  and  24 - 2 , the console  30 ′, and the monitoring object device  50  with the time of the clock device  40 . 
     Using the second function (i.e., manual time synchronizing function) of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 ′, the controller  21  disables the time synchronization by the clock device  40  serving as the NTP server, and instead distributes the time of the first time source  22  to the controller  21  in a stand-by state, the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 ′. 
     Here, the controller  21  can set, using the manual time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 ′, the time of the first time source  22  to the desired time that the user inputs via the console  30 ′. 
     The above first and the second functions may cause the controller  21  to periodically distribute a time. 
     As the above, the controller  21  functions as a time distribution master that distributes a time to the controller  21  in a stand-by state, the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 ′. 
     Using the manual time synchronizing function of the time synchronizing function of the monitor  10 ′, the console  30 ′ of the second embodiment causes the controllers  21  and the base monitors  23  to set a desired time input by the user to the times of the first time source  22 - 1  and the second time source  24 - 1  and the first time source  22 - 2  and the second time source  24 - 2  that are in a stand-by state. 
     The time setting in the second time source  24 - 1  in the base monitor  23 - 1  has an exclusive relationship with the state of the controller  21 - 1 , and the time setting in the stand-by time source  24 - 2  in the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  has an exclusive relationship with the state of the stand-by controller  21 - 2 . 
     Hereinafter, description will now be made in relation to functional elements of each controller  21  and the console  30 ′ that achieve the manual time synchronizing function of the second embodiment. 
     Since the stand-by controller  21 - 2  serves as a kind of redundant replacement that functions when the controller  21 - 1  is stopped, the functional elements of the stand-by controller  21 - 2  are the same as those of the controller  21 - 1 . Accordingly, description of the functional elements of the controller  21 - 2  will be omitted here. 
     The description below assumes that the controller  21 - 1  is operating. 
     An exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  included in the controller  21 - 1  retains exclusion information representing an exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and also retains exclusion information representing an exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . The exclusion information will be detailed below with reference to  FIG. 7 . Upon receipt of an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set a time from the console  30 ′, the exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  notifies the exclusion information that the exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  retains to the console  30 ′. 
     A first time setter  212 - 1  sets a time in the first time source  22 - 1  in response to the instruction to set a time from the console  30 ′, and sets the time set in the first time source  22 - 1  also in the first time source  22 - 2  of the stand-by controller  21 - 2 . Further, after the setting of the time in the first time source  22 - 2  is completed, the first time setter  212 - 1  sets the time set in the first time source  22 - 1  in the monitoring object device  50 . Then, upon completion of time setting in the monitoring object device  50 , the first time setter  212 - 1  transmits notification of time setting completion to the console  30 ′. 
     The console  30 ′ notifies the controller  21 - 1  of an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set a time. After the notification of these instructions, the console  30 ′ causes the stopper  31 ′, the second time setter  32 ′, and the restarter  33 ′ to carry out the following process. 
     If the exclusion information received from the controller  21  represents that at least one of an exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and an exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  is established, the stopper  31 ′ included in the console  30 ′ stops the controller  21  being in the exclusive relationship after receiving notification of time setting completion from the same controller  21 . 
     After the stopper  31 ′ stops the controller  21  in the exclusive relationship, the second time setter  32 ′ causes the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2  to set a time in the second time sources  24 - 1  and  24 - 2 , respectively. 
     After receiving notification of time setting completion from the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2 , the restarter  33 ′ restarts the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2 . Furthermore, the restarter  33 ′ restarts the controller  21  after the restarting of the base monitors  23  is completed. 
     As the above, the manual time synchronizing function of the second embodiment causes the controller  21  and the console  30 ′ to synchronize the time of the second time sources  24 - 1  and  24 - 2  in addition to the times of the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30  with the time of the first time sources  22 - 1  and  22 - 2 . 
     Next, description will now be made in relation to the hardware configurations of the bases  20  and the console  30 ′ with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of the hardware configurations of the bases  20  and the console  30 ′ of the second embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the base  20 - 1  includes a CPU  25 - 1 , a RAM  26 - 1 , and a ROM  27 - 1 , a HDD  28 - 1 , and an I/O interface  29 - 1  while the base  20 - 2  includes a CPU  25 - 2 , a RAM  26 - 2 , a ROM  27 - 2 , a HDD  28 - 2 , and an I/O interface  29 - 2 . 
     Since the CPUs  25 - 1  and  25 - 2 , the RAMs  26 - 1  and  26 - 2 , the ROMs  27 - 1  and  27 - 2 , the HDDs  28 - 1  and  28 - 2 , and the I/O interfaces  29 - 1  and  29 - 2  are same in configuration with the CPU  25 , the RAM  26 , the ROM  27 , the HDD  28 , and the I/O interface  29  of  FIG. 2 , respectively, detailed description thereof will be omitted here. 
     The CPU  25 - 1  functions as the controller  21 - 1 , the exclusion information notifier  211 - 1 , the first time setter  212 - 1 , the first time source  22 - 1 , and the base monitor  23 - 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Meanwhile, the CPU  25 - 2  functions as the controller  21 - 2 , the exclusion information notifier  211 - 2 , the first time setter  212 - 2 , the first time source  22 - 2 , and the base monitor  23 - 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The registers of the CPUs  25 - 1  and  25 - 2  each retain the exclusion information representing an exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and an exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  that will be detailed below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     Hereinafter, reference numbers  25 - 1  and  25 - 2  will be used when one CUP needs to be discriminated from the other, but an arbitrary CPU is represented by a reference number  25 . 
     The I/O interfaces  29 - 1  and  29 - 2  each control I/O devices, and are each connected to the console  30 ′, the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and other devices. Specifically, the I/O interfaces  29 - 1  and  29 - 2  control various I/O processing into and from the console  30 ′, the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and others. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the console  30 ′ includes a CPU  35 , a RAM  36 , a ROM  37 , a HDD  38 , and an I/O interface  39 , which respectively have the same configurations as the CPU  35 , the RAM  36 , the ROM  37 , the HDD  38 , and the I/O interface  39  of  FIG. 2 . For this, detailed description of the common points of these functional elements of  FIG. 6  with those of  FIG. 2  will be omitted here. 
     The CPU  35  functions as the stopper  31 ′, the second time setter  32 ′, and the restarter  33 ′ as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The I/O interface  39  controls I/O devices, and is connected to the bases  20 - 1  and  20 - 2 , the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and user interfaces (not illustrated) such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. Specifically, the I/O interface  39  controls various I/O processing into and from the bases  20 - 1  and  20 - 2 , the clock device  40 , the monitoring object device  50 , and user interfaces such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the bases  20 - 1  and  20 - 2  form a redundant system in the monitor  10 ′ and respectively have hardware devices independent from each other. The bases  20  and the console  30 ′ are achieved by respective different hardware devices, independent of one other, in the monitor  10 ′. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of exclusion information retained in the controllers  21  of the second embodiment. 
     The controllers  21  cause the corresponding exclusion information notifiers  211  to store the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  depicted in  FIG. 7  into the register of the CPU  25 . 
     Upon receipt of an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set a time from the console  30 ′, the exclusion information notifiers  211  of the controllers  21  notify the exclusion information stored in the register of the respective CPUs  25  to the console  30 ′. 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , the exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  is stored in a region of the 0th to the 63th bytes in the same format as that of  FIG. 3 . Similarly, the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  is stored in a region of the 64th-127th bytes in the same format as that of  FIG. 3 . As the above, the exclusion information stored into the register of each CPU  25  provides a region of a predetermined bytes to each combination of a controller  21  and a base monitor  23 . Specifically, a region of 64 bytes is provided to each combination of a controller  21  and a base monitor  23 . 
     The region of the 0th-63th bytes of  FIG. 7  is described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , so description will now be made in relation to the region of the 64th-127th bytes. 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , the IP address of the exclusive subject side (exclusive source) between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  are stored in the region of the 64th-67th bytes. In the second embodiment, the IP address of the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  is stored in the region of the 64th-67th bytes. 
     If the exclusive relationship is not established between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base  23 - 2 , 0xFF is set into the region of the 64th-67th bytes. In other words, if 0xFF is set in the region of the 64th-67th bytes, no exclusive relationship is established between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base  23 - 2 . 
     The IP address of the exclusive object side (exclusive destination) between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base  23 - 2  is set in the region of the 72th-75th bytes. In the second embodiment, the IP address of the stand-by controller  21 - 2  itself is set in the region of the 72th-75th bytes. 
     In the region of the 112th byte, instruction information to the exclusive object side is set if an exclusive relationship is established between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . In the second embodiment, instruction information to the stand-by controller  21 - 2  is set in the region of the 112th byte. 
     Here, as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , instruction information represents a process that the exclusive object side, that is the stand-by controller  21 - 2 , carries out to cancel the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . 
     For example, a rule is previously determined such that, when the digit “1” is set to be the instruction information in the region of the 112th byte, the exclusive object side, that is the stand-by controller  21 - 2 , is to be stopped. Alternatively, any process that the exclusive object side is to carry out to cancel the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base  23 - 2  may be set to be instruction information. 
     Further alternatively, when the instruction information “0” is set in the region of the 112th byte for the purpose of the validation, it may be possible that the exclusive object side does not carry out any process. 
     However, the above exclusion information is only an example. The regions in which the IP addresses of the exclusive object side and the exclusive subject side, and the instruction information are set are by no means limited to the above and may be arbitrary positions. 
     (B-2) Operation of Second Embodiment: 
     Next, the operation of the information processing device  1 ′ will now be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a sequence diagram denoting a succession of procedural steps of the manual time synchronizing function of the information processing device  1 ′ of the second embodiment. 
     The illustrated example assumes that an exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and also between the controller  21 - 2  and the base monitor  23 - 2 , and information to stop the controllers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2  is set in the instruction information respectively at the regions of the 48th byte and the 112th bytes of the exclusion information stored in the register of the CPU  25 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , to begin with, the console  30 ′ transmits, to the controller  21 - 1  serving as the time distribution master, an instruction to transmit exclusion information and an instruction to set a time in the first time source  22 - 1  (step T 1 ). The instruction to set a time includes the arbitrary time input by the user. After transmitting the instruction to set a time to the controller  21 - 1 , the console  30 ′ waits for exclusion information and notification of time setting completion from the controller  21 - 1 . 
     After the controller  21 - 1  receives the instruction to transmit exclusion information and the instruction to set a time from the console  30 ′ (step T 2 ), the exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  of the controller  21 - 1  transmits the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1 , the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 , the information being stored in the register of the CPU  25 - 1 , to the console  30 ′ (step T 3 ; the step of notifying exclusion information). 
     Upon receiving and obtaining of the exclusion information from the exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  (step T 4 ), the console  30 ′ waits for notification of time setting completion from the controller  21 - 1 . 
     After the controller  21 - 1  transmits the exclusion information to the console  30 ′, the first time setter  212 - 1  of a controller  21 - 1  sets the time included in the instruction to set the time received from the console  30 ′ at the step T 2  in the first time source  22 - 1  (step T 5 ). 
     In succession, the first time setter  212 - 1  of the controller  21 - 1  distributes the time set in the first time source  22 - 1  to the stand-by controller  21 - 2  (step T 6 ). After distribution of the time to the stand-by controller  21 - 1 , the first time setter  212 - 1  waits for notification of time setting completion from the stand-by controller  21 - 2 . 
     Upon receipt of time distributed from the first time setter  212 - 1 , the stand-by controller  21 - 2  sets the received time in the stand-by first time source  22 - 2  in the stand-by controller  21 - 2  itself (step T 7 ). 
     Then the stand-by controller  21 - 2  transmits notification of time setting completion to the first time setter  212 - 1  (step T 8 ). 
     Upon receipt of the notification of time setting completion from the stand-by controller  21 - 2  (step T 9 ), the first time setter  212 - 1  distributes the time set in the first time source  22 - 1  to the monitoring object device  50  (step T 10 ). Upon the distribution of the time to the monitoring object device  50 , the first time setter  21 - 1  waits for notification of time setting completion from the monitoring object device  50 . 
     Upon receipt of the first time distributed from the first time setter  212 - 1 , the monitoring object device  50  sets the received time in the time source of the monitoring object device  50  itself (step T 11 ). 
     Then, the monitoring object device  50  transmits notification of time setting completion to the first time setter  212 - 1  (step T 12 ). 
     Upon receipt of the notification of time setting completion from the monitoring object device (step T 13 ), the first time setter  212 - 1  notifies the console  30 ′ of the completion of time setting (step T 14 ). 
     The above steps T 5 , T 6 , T 9 , T 10 , T 13 , and T 14  are carried out by the first time setter  212 . Accordingly, the steps T 5 -T 14  can be collectively regarded as a first time setting step. 
     Upon receipt of the notification of time setting completion from the first time setter  212 - 1  (step T 15 ), the console  30 ′ refers to the exclusion information obtained from the exclusion information notifier  211 - 1  in step T 4  to confirm the presence or the absence of the exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and the presence or absence of the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . 
     If the console  30 ′ determines that the exclusive relationship is established both between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 , the stopper  31 ′ of the console  30 ′ transmits an instruction to stop to the controller  21 - 1 , that is an exclusive object side, on the basis of the instruction information included in the obtained exclusion information (step T 16 ). 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to stop from the stopper  31 ′, the controller  21 - 1  stops the controller  21 - 1  itself (step ST 17 ). 
     The stopper  31 ′ of the console  30 ′ transmits an instruction to stop to the stand-by controller  21 - 2 , that is an exclusive object side, on the basis of the instruction information included in the obtained exclusion information (step T 18 ). 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to stop from the stopper  31 ′, the stand-by controller  21 - 2  stops the stand-by controller  21 - 2  itself (step ST 19 ). 
     The above steps T 16  and T 18  are executed by the stopper  31 ′, and therefore correspond to a stopping step. 
     After the controller  21 - 1  stops in the step T 17 , the console  30 ′ causes the second time setter  32 ′ therein to transmit an instruction to set a time in the second time source  24 - 1  to the base monitor  23 - 1  (step T 20 ). Likewise the step T 1 , the instruction to set a time includes the arbitrary time input by the user. Upon notification of the instruction to set a time to the base monitor  23 - 1 , the second time setter  32 ′ waits for notification of time setting completion from the base monitor  23 - 1 . 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to set a time from the second time setter  32 ′, the base monitor  23 - 1  sets the time included in the received instruction to set a time in the second time source  24 - 1  (step T 21 ). 
     Then, the base monitor  23 - 1  notifies the second time setter  32 ′ of completion of time setting (step T 22 ), and the second time setter  32 ′ receives the notification of time setting completion from the base monitor  23 - 1  (step T 23 ). 
     After the stand-by controller  21 - 2  stops in the step T 19 , the console  30 ′ causes the second time setter  32 ′ therein to transmit an instruction to set a time in the stand-by second time source  24 - 2  to the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  (step T 24 ). Upon notification of the instruction to set a time to the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 , the second time setter  32 ′ waits for notification of time setting completion from the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . 
     Upon receipt of the instruction to set a time from the second time setter  32 ′, the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  sets the time included in the received instruction to set a time in the stand-by second time source  24 - 2  (step T 25 ). 
     Then, the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  notifies the second time setter  32 ′ of completion of time setting (step T 26 ) and the second time setter  32 ′ receives the notification of time setting completion from the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  (step T 27 ). 
     The above steps T 20 , T 23 , T 24 , and T 27  are executed by the second time setter  32 ′ and therefore the steps T 20 -T 27  correspond to a second time setting step. 
     Next, the restarter  33 ′ of the console  30 ′ transmits an instruction to restart to the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2  (step T 28 ) so that the times set in the second time sources  24 - 1  and  24 - 2  are reflected in the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2 , respectively. 
     Upon receipt of an instruction to restart from the restarter  33 ′, the base monitor  23 - 1  restarts the base monitor  23 - 1  itself (step T 29 ) while upon receipt of an instruction to restart from the restarter  33 ′, the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  restarts the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  (step T 30 ). 
     After restarting of the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2  is completed, the restarter  33 ′ transmits an instruction to restart to the controllers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2  (step T 31 ) so that the times set in the first time sources  22 - 1  and  22 - 2  are reflected in the controllers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2 , respectively. 
     Upon receipt of an instruction to restart from the restarter  33 ′, the controller  21 - 1  restarts the controller  21 - 1  itself (step T 32 ) while upon receipt of an instruction to restart from the restarter  33 ′, the stand-by controller  21 - 2  restarts the stand-by controller  21 - 2  itself (step T 33 ). 
     The above steps T 28  and T 31  are executed by the restarter  33 ′, and therefore steps T 28 -T 31  can be collectively regarded as a restarting step. 
     As described above, the time of the first time source  22 - 1  is calculated on the basis of a time differential value depending on the time of the second time source  24 - 1  and the time of the second time source  24 - 1  while the time of the stand-by first time source  22 - 2  is calculated on the basis of a time differential value depending on the time of the stand-by second time source  24 - 2  and the time of the stand-by second time source  24 - 2 . In order to exactly reflect the times of the first time sources  22  and the second time sources  24  in the controllers  21  and the base monitors  23 , the restarter  33 ′ restarts the controllers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2  after the completion of restarting the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2  in steps T 29  and T 30 . 
     As described above, the second time setter  32 ′ sets the time in the base monitor  23 - 1  during the stopping time period of the controller  21 - 1  between steps T 17  and T 33  in the procedure of  FIG. 8  while the second time setter  32 ′ sets the time in the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  during the stopping time period of the stand-by controller  21 - 2  between steps T 19  and T 32  in the procedure of  FIG. 8   
     Along the above procedural steps, the console  30 ′ sets the times in the controllers  21 , the base monitors  23 , and the monitoring object device  50 . 
     After the console  30 ′ completes the time setting in the controllers  21 , the base monitor  23 , and the monitoring object device  50 , the controller  21 - 1  periodically distributes, as the time distribution master, a time to the monitoring object device  50  and the console  30 ′ using the manual time synchronizing function (step T 34 ). 
     When the console  30 ′ determines that the exclusive relationship is not established between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  in above step T 16 , it is possible to not stop the controller  21 - 1  while a time is being set in the base monitor  23 - 1 . 
     In this case, the console  30 ′ does not cause the stopper  31 ′ to notify the instruction to stop to the controller  21 - 1  in step T 16  and instead does cause the restarter  33 ′ to notify the instruction to restart to the controller  21 - 1  in step T 31 . In other words, the process of steps T 16  and T 17  are substituted by the process of steps of T 31  and T 33 . Concurrently, after the completion of the process of step T 30 , the instruction to restart is not notified to the controller  21 - 1  in step T 31 , but the instruction to restart is notified to the stand-by controller  21 - 2  in step T 31 . 
     When the console  30 ′ determines that the exclusive relationship is not established between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  in above step T 18 , it is possible to not stop the stand-by controller  21 - 2  while a time is being set in the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . 
     In this case, the console  30 ′ does not cause the stopper  31 ′ to notify the instruction to stop to the stand-by controller  21 - 2  in step T 18 , and instead does cause the restarter  33 ′ to notify the instruction to restart to the stand-by controller  21 - 2  in step T 31 . In other words, the process of steps T 18  and T 19  are substituted by the process of steps of T 31  and T 32 . Concurrently, after the completion of the process of step T 30 , the instruction to restart is not notified to the stand-by controller  21 - 2  in step T 31 , but the instruction to restart is notified to the controller  21 - 1  in step T 31 . 
     Thereby, in the information processing device  1 ′ of the second embodiment, likewise the above information processing device  1 , even when the exclusive relationship is established between the controllers  21  and the base monitors  23 , the time of the first time sources  22  of the controllers  21  can be synchronized with the time of the second time sources  24  of the base monitors  23 . 
     Each exclusion information notifier  211  of the second embodiment retains exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . 
     For the above, the stopper  31 ′ of the second embodiment can determine whether the exclusion information received from the controller  21  represents the exclusive relationship between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and also determine whether the exclusion information received from the controller  21  represents the exclusive relationship between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . 
     Accordingly, as described above with reference to  FIG. 8 , when the exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  and the exclusive relationship is established between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 , the console  30 ′ is capable of synchronizing the times of the first time sources  22  of the controllers  21  with the times of the second time sources  24  of the base monitors  23 . When the exclusive relationship is established between the controller  21 - 1  and the base monitor  23 - 1  while the exclusive relationship is not established between the stand-by controller  21 - 2  and the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2  and vice versa, the console  30 ′ is capable of synchronizing the times of the first time sources  22  of the controllers  21  with the times of the second time sources  24  of the base monitors  23 . 
     The controller  21 - 1  (the first time setter  212 - 1 ) being operating serves as the time distribution master and therefore distributes a time to the other controller  21 - 2  and the monitoring object device  50 . The console  30 ′ (the second time setter  32 ′) distributes a time to the base monitors  23 - 1  and  23 - 2  while the controllers  21 - 1  and  21 - 2  are stopping. 
     Thereby, even in the information processing device  1 ′ of  FIG. 5 , which includes redundant bases  20  and increases the time sources, can synchronize the times of the first time sources  22  of the controllers  21  with the time of the second time sources  24  of the base monitors  23 . 
     In addition, after the first time setter  212  sets the time of the first time source  22 - 1  of the controller  21 - 1 , the second time setter  32  sets the time of the second time source  24 - 1  of the base monitor  23 - 1 . Furthermore, after the restarter  33  restarts the base monitor  23 - 1 , the controller  21 - 1  is restarted. 
     In the same manner, after the first time setter  212  sets the time of the stand-by first time source  22 - 2  of the stand-by controller  21 - 2 , the second time setter  32  sets the time of the stand-by second time source  24 - 2  of the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 . Furthermore, after the restarter  33  restarts the stand-by base monitor  23 - 2 , the stand-by controller  21 - 2  is restarted. 
     With this configuration, even when the time of the first time source  22 - 1  is calculated on the basis of the time differential value depending of the time of the second time source  24 - 1  and the time of the second time source  24 - 1 , the times of the first time source  22 - 1  and the second time source  24 - 1  can be synchronized with each other. Likewise, even when the time of the stand-by first time source  22 - 2  is calculated on the basis of the time differential value depending of the time of the stand-by second time source  24 - 2  and the time of the second time source  24 - 2 , the times of the stand-by first time source  22 - 2  and the stand-by second time source  24 - 2  can be synchronized with each other. 
     (C) Others: 
     Preferable embodiments of the present invention are detailed as the above. The present invention should by no means be limited to the foregoing embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be suggested without departing from the concept of the present invention. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , description is made on the information processing devices  1  and  1 ′, in which each base  20  includes single controller  21  and single first time source  22 . Alternatively, the number of controllers  21  and that of first time sources  22  included in a single base  20  are not limited to one. 
     Alternatively, multiple controllers  21  and multiple first time sources  22  may be included in a single base  20 . 
     In this case, one of the multiple controllers  21  functions as a master, which causes the first time setter  212  to distribute a time to the monitoring object device  50  and the remaining controllers  21 . Upon receipt of an instruction to stop from the stopper  31  or  31 ′ of the console  30  or  30 ′, the controller  21  serving as the master firstly restarts the remaining controllers  21  and after the restarting of the remaining controllers  21  is completed, restarts the controller  21  serving as the master itself. 
     Thereby, the base  20  including multiple controllers  21  and multiple first time sources  22  brings the same advantages as those of the above first and second embodiments. 
     The above description is made on cases where the console  30  or  30 ′ concurrently sets the time of the first time source  22  of the controller  21  and the time of the second time source  24  of the base monitor  23  with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . However, the present invention is not limited to the above. 
     Alternatively, the console  30  or  30 ′ may set one of a time of the first time source  22  of the controller  21  and a time of the second time source  24  of the base monitor  23 . In this case, when a time of the second time source  24  of the base monitor  23  is to be set, a controller  21  that establishes the to exclusive relationship with the base monitor  23  having the second time source  24  in which a time is to be set on the basis of the exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  is to beset to stop, as detailed the above. 
     Furthermore, the above description is made in relation to the controller  21  setting a time in the monitoring object device  50  with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. 
     Alternatively, if setting a time in the monitoring object device  50  can be omitted or if the monitoring object device  50  is not connected to the monitor  10  or  10 ′, the controller  21  may omit to set a time in a monitoring object device  50 . In this case, steps S 6 -S 9  of  FIG. 4  or steps T 10 -T 13  of  FIG. 8  are to be omitted. 
     The above description made with reference to  FIGS. 1-8  assumes that the exclusion information notifier  211  of the controller  21  manages exclusion information representing the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. 
     Alternatively, if the user that operates the console  30  or  30 ′ grasps the exclusive relationship between the controller  21  and the base monitor  23  in advance, the exclusion information notifier  211  can be omitted. In this case, steps S 3  and S 4  of  FIG. 4  and steps T 3  and T 4  of  FIG. 8  can be omitted. In step S 12  of  FIG. 4  or step T 16  of  FIG. 8 , it is sufficient that the user causes the console  30  or  30 ′ to notify an instruction to stop the controllers  21 . 
     The CPU  25  of the base  20  executing the first time setting program functions as the controller  21 , the exclusion information notifier  211 , the first time setter  212 , the first time source  22 , and the base monitor  23 . 
     The CPU  35  of the console  30  and  30 ′ executing the second time setting program functions as the stopper  31  and  31 ′, the second time setter  32  and  32 ′, and the restarter  33  and  33 ′. 
     In the above embodiments, the first time setting program and the second time setting program are integrated into a time setting program. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the first time setting program and the second time setting program may be provided independently from each other. 
     The program (the time setting program) to achieve the functions of the controller  21 , the exclusion information notifier  211 , the first time setter  212 , the first time source  22 , the base monitor  23 , the stopper  31  and  31 ′, the second time setter  32  and  32 ′, and the restarter  33  and  33 ′ is provided in the form of being stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD (e.g., CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW), and a DVD (e.g., DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, HD DVD), a Blu-ray disk, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk. The computer reads the program from the recording medium and forwards and stores the program into an internal or external memory for future use. The program may be stored in a storage device (recording medium), such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk, and may be provided to a computer from the storage device through a communication route. 
     The functions of the controller  21 , the exclusion information notifier  211 , the first time setter  212 , the first time source  22 , the base monitor  23 , the stopper  31  and  31 ′, the second time setter  32  and  32 ′, and the restarter  33  and  33 ′ are achieved by a microprocessor (corresponding to the CPU  25  of the base  20  and the CPU  35  of the console  30  or  30 ′ in the foregoing embodiments) executing a program stored in an internal memory (corresponding to the RAM  26 , the ROM  27 , or the HDD  28  of the base  20  and the RAM  36 , the ROM  37 , or the HDD  38  of the console  30  or  30 ′ in the foregoing embodiments). Alternatively, a computer may read a program stored in a recording medium and execute the read program. 
     In the first embodiment, a computer is a concept of a combination of hardware and an Operating System (OS), and means hardware which operates under control of the OS. Otherwise, if a program operates hardware independently of an OS, the hardware corresponds to the computer. Hardware includes at least a microprocessor such as a CPU and means to read a computer program recorded in a recording medium. In the foregoing embodiments, the base  20  and the console  30  or  30 ′ serve to function as a computer. 
     The technique disclosed above has an advantage of easily setting a time into the second time source even when time setting in the second time source establishes an exclusive relationship with the state of the controller in an information processing device. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for the pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although an embodiment of the present inventions has been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.