A monitoring device configured to be installed in an information processing apparatus to detect a failure of the information processing apparatus, and to output an alarm signal when the failure is detected, the monitoring device including an alarm signal generating unit that generates the alarm signal upon detecting the failure, an alarm signal storing unit that stores the generated alarm signal, an alarm signal output unit that outputs the stored alarm signal to outside, an alarm signal input unit that receives, when the monitoring device is in a standby state, another alarm signal from another monitoring device in an active state, and an alarm signal storage instructing unit that supplies to the alarm signal storing unit an instruction signal for storing said another alarm signal in the alarm signal storing unit.