An apparatus and method for managing a number of data processing resources to produce one or more independent and separate data processing partitions. Each partition is defined as a proper subset of the total inventory of available data processing resources. Each partition is controlled by a system control facility. All system control facilities communicate with a site configuration management system, which defines and redefines the composition of each partition. The site configuration management system can move resources from one partition to another as required. Preferably, the system control facilities and the site configuration management system are industry standard personal computers which communicate via a local area network.