Abstract: In a forwarding device connected to a network including a plurality of communication nodes connected to each other, in which a plurality of communication routes, each for forwarding a signal through at least one of the communication nodes can be present between arbitrary ones of the communication nodes, a forwarding method according to the present invention determines that the received packet is a BPDU or a local BPDU, and discards the BPDU if the received packet is the BPDU and fetches an original BPDU from the local BPDU if it is the local BPDU. In the case where the BPDU is to be transmitted, the BPDU is created and wrapped in a format of the local BPDU. Then, the wrapped BPDU is broadcasted. In this manner, the local BPDU can be exchanged without affecting the other bridges having a normal spanning tree function.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of managing information without generating any inconsistency between a plurality of servers. A server system according to the present invention includes a plurality of server devices that perform processing using a plurality of processing data without duplication. Each of the server devices relays a signal initially transmitted by any of the server devices so that the signal passes through all the server devices to be finally received by the server device initially transmitting the signal, transmits a first signal indicating use of processing data to another server device when any of the processing data is to be used, receives the first signal from the another server device and relays it to a further another server device, and permits use of the processing data to be used when transmission means transmits the first signal and the first signal is relayed from one of the other server devices.

Abstract: In a forwarding device connected to a network including a plurality of communication nodes connected to each other, in which a plurality of communication routes, each for forwarding a signal through at least one of the communication nodes can be present between arbitrary ones of the communication nodes, a forwarding method according to the present invention determines that the received packet is a BPDU or a local BPDU, and discards the BPDU if the received packet is the BPDU and fetches an original BPDU from the local BPDU if it is the local BPDU. In the case where the BPDU is to be transmitted, the BPDU is created and wrapped in a format of the local BPDU. Then, the wrapped BPDU is broadcasted. In this manner, the local BPDU can be exchanged without affecting the other bridges having a normal spanning tree function.

Abstract: A server system manages information so that no inconsistency may occur between a plurality of servers. The server system includes a plurality of server devices, which process, using a plurality of pieces of processing data without any overlap. Each server device relays the signal received at first by any server device, so that the signal may be passed through all server devices and may be received at last by the server device having transmitted the signal at first. The server device transmits, when any processing data is to be used, a first signal indicating the use of that processing data, to another server device, and receives the first signal from another server device and relays the same to another server device. When transmission means transmits the first signal so that the first signal is relayed from another server device, the use of the processing data to be used is permitted.

Abstract: Device files are disposed on respective routes through which a process accesses the same device, and access rules for those device files are unified. Foe example, where there exist two routes by which a certain process accesses a device, two device files are disposed on each of the routes. Access rules that are set for all directories that access the two device files are unified so as to permit only reading so that the device file can be accessed according to the same access rule by the two routes.

Abstract: Device files are disposed on respective routes through which a process accesses the same device, and access rules for those device files are unified. Foe example, where there exist two routes by which a certain process accesses a device, two device files are disposed on each of the routes. Access rules that are set for all directories that access the two device files are unified so as to permit only reading so that the device file can be accessed according to the same access rule by the two routes.