To surely and accurately update setting information inside for a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to one another through a network.

A transmitting and receiving part 15 transmits and receives data between image forming apparatuses 3 and 5 through the network 11. A storage part 17 stores own machine database. An input part 19 inputs setting information about the operation setting of own apparatus from outside. A control part 25 creates an own machine database relative to operation setting for the own apparatus from the set information and carries out control to store it in the storage part 17 and carries out control for receiving database of other machine relative to operation setting for other image forming apparatuses 3 and 5 through the transmitting and receiving part 15 at prescribed timing. The control part 25 carries out control of transmission from the transmission receiving part 15 by varying the other machine database by the own machine database when the received other machine database differs from the own machine database.