A set value management service updates virtual configuration data of an image forming apparatus, returns a response including a notification instruction that instructs image forming apparatus to notify surrounding image forming apparatus that virtual configuration data has been updated in response to virtual configuration data acquisition request from the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs an update notification indicating that virtual configuration data has been updated to the surrounding image forming apparatus in response to the notification instruction included in the response. Then, the surrounding image forming apparatus that received the notification performs virtual configuration data acquisition request to the set value management service.