Provided is a linking server that can easily link outputted data with another system. The linking server includes: a communication unit that is capable of communicating between a management server that collects one or more pieces of operating information from one or more image forming apparatus, and an external system that performs processing using the one or more pieces of operating information; a storage unit; an input/output unit that acquires the one or more pieces of operating information that is outputted from the management server, and stores that operating information in the storage unit; and a packaging unit that acquires the one or more pieces of operating information, generates compressed data by performing a compression process and a packaging process, and writes the generated compressed data back into the storage unit; wherein the input/output unit outputs the compressed data to the external system.