Logical partitions in an information processing apparatus share an IP address and are assigned different MAC addresses. A representative logical partition communicates with an external entity on behalf of the other logical partitions. A driver is provided with a virtual interface and a physical interface. Internal communication between the logical partitions is done via the virtual interface and communication with an external entity is done via the physical interface. If a packet received from an external destination is destined to one of the other logical partitions, the protocol stack of the representative logical partition replaces the destination MAC address by the MAC address of the destination logical partition. The protocol stack provides the packet in which the destination MAC address has been replaced to the virtual interface. The virtual interface transfers the packet provided by the protocol stack to the destination logical partition.