Image forming apparatus

An image forming device comprising:

• a first layer control unit that controls a function for forming an image on a printing material;
• a primary second layer control unit that is controlled by the first layer control unit and controls a first load;
• and
• a secondary second layer control unit that is controlled by the first layer control unit and controls a second load,
• wherein the secondary second layer control unit comprises a first monitoring unit that monitors, when the secondary second layer control unit has not controlled the second load, signals from the first load and commands transmitted and received between the primary second layer control unit and the first layer control unit, and detects an error of the primary second layer control unit based on the signals from the first load and signals transmitted from the primary second layer control unit to the first layer control unit, and
• wherein the first monitoring unit does not execute a processing for detecting the error of the primary second layer control unit when the secondary second layer control unit has controlled the second load.