A management device is connected to image formation devices, each having at least one network interface, via a network. Embodiments include a presence check request transmitting unit which transmits presence check requests to the network interfaces of the image formation devices via the network; an identification information receiving unit which receives response information returned from the network interfaces in response to the presence check requests; a combined identification information equivalence judgment unit which makes a judgment on equivalence of multiple pieces of combined identification information when multiple pieces of combined identification information (each generated by combining multiple pieces of identification information assigned to two or more network interfaces) are received from two or more network interfaces as the response information; and a management unit which manages network interfaces whose combined identification information is judged to be equivalent, as network interfaces belonging to the same image formation device.