A symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) of hierarchical connection realizing an inter-partition shared memory has at the gateway of an inter-node connection switch from each node, a translator for translating an address of an access command for an area shared between partitions, between a real address used in a partition and a shared area address used in common between partitions. Thereby, the address of a local area of each partition is freely set, and cache coherent control of a shared area is conducted at high speed by using a snoop command of the hierarchical connection SMP. Fault containment between partitions is realized by checking conformity between the address of the access command issued from another partition and the shared area configuration. Nodes included in other partitions may be reset from each partition. In addition, the configuration information of the shared area between partitions may be dynamically modified.