PURPOSE: To read the hardware information on a logical device forming an information processing system at a high speed.

CONSTITUTION: In an information processing system containing a service processor 1. and a diagnostic control part 24, the processor 1 is provided with a procedure interpreting meens 11 which interprets the procedure input data 10 showing the reading procedure of the hardware information on a logical device 2 through the part 24, a pre-read instructing means 12 which produces a pre-read instruction when a pre-read instruction of the hardware information is received as the procedure input data, a diagnostic control. pert 24, a reader means 14 which has an interface and reads the hardware information out of the device 2, a holding means 15 which holds the information read out with the pre-read instruction, and a holding state release means 13.