Abstract: A system status maintaining and supporting apparatus in which more than two boards can be utilized with one console for communication, capable of monitoring the system status without system bus utilization. A system maintenance and support processor board is provided with different ports for console, CPU board and modem connections, and includes a selective switching circuit for selectively connecting ports in accordance with control signals based on predetermined modes. In the system maintenance and support mode, data processed in the system maintenance and support processor board is supplied to the console via a serial input/output controller, data obtained from the CPU board is transmitted to the console in a mode used for central process unit only, and upon a remote maintenance and support mode, the modem is selectively connected to the CPU and system maintenance and support processor boards.