At the same time, CA is bringing out two new tools that can be included in the integrated offering: the CA Desktop Management Suite for Windows, which manages PCs throughout their life cycle, and Unicenter Patch Management, which manages the desktop and server software-patch function.

Each of the tools in the integrated system, including the new offerings -- Unicenter Asset Management, Unicenter Software Delivery and Unicenter Remote Control -- continue to be available separately. The full suite is now available. Time-saver

Jason Bullock, systems administrator at Colorado Springs School District 11, a beta tester of the integrated software since October, uses the suite's single management console to monitor software delivery, asset management and remote control of machines.

Bullock noted that one unexpected benefit of the updated system is its support for older Windows 95 machines, of which the district still has 4,000.

The automated update feature also cut the school district's costs by reducing the travel time of 15 IT workers who shared the job of delivering updates to the schools, Bullock said. "It makes my job a lot easier and has saved us all hours of work," he said.