An information processing apparatus including a plurality of nodes. The each of the nodes comprises a processor, a storage device, and a storing unit that stores therein multiple pointer sets in each of which a write pointer indicating an address used when data received from another node is stored in the storage device is associated with a read pointer indicating an address used when the data is read from the storage device. The each of the nodes comprises a notifying unit that notifies a node corresponding to a transmission source of the data of a pointer identifier that indicates a pointer set. The each of the nodes comprises a retaining unit that retains the received data in the storage device in accordance with an address indicated by a write pointer in a pointer set indicated by the pointer identifier.