Patent ID: 8429304

Claim:
An information processing apparatus provided with a plurality of logical partitions assigned logically divided computing resources, and configured such that operating systems are independently run in the respective logical partitions, wherein at least one of the plurality of logical partitions is a designated logical partition that is assigned a network address uniquely-identified by an external network on behalf of the plurality of logical partitions, the network address to be shared by the plurality of logical partitions through the designated logical partition, and wherein the plurality of logical partitions are connected to each other via a virtual network interface for performing internal communication between the plurality of logical partitions and the designated logical partition is connected to a physical network interface for performing communication with the external entity, the designated logical partition comprising: a port assignment unit which assigns an available port number to a logical partition other than the designated logical partition ports available for communication with an external entity; and a packet forwarding unit that forwards routes a packet that has been received by the designated logical partition via the physical network interface, using an assigned port, to the logical partition to which the respective port number has been assigned via the virtual network interface.