Dell is simplifying hardware management for enterprise customers with a free tool that replaces three earlier pieces of software. The supplier is also launching a broad initiative for greater standardisation in management tools to give businesses more choice and flexibility.

The Dell Client Manager suite, available for download immediately, enables IT staff to discover OptiPlex desktops or Latitude laptops on the corporate network, deploy patches, and even update the Bios.

“It performs all the core life cycle management processes,” said Subo Guha, director of software marketing for Dell’s enterprise products group.

Snap-in upgrades to add software inventory and delivery, system imaging, and PC migration functions will also be available.

Dell said its future management tools will adopt the same format, offering core capabilities for free, and more advanced functions for a modest price.

Dell also unveiled a blueprint, the Unified Management Architecture (UMA), for a more modular, standards-based approach to system management. “Customer choice of best-in-class tools is better than being stuck with one vendor for everything,” said Guha.

Greater modularity will let users add control as their infrastructure grows rather than paying for expensive “forklift” deployments of entire management suites, according to Dell. The supplier has extended its partnership with remote management specialist Altiris to develop future OpenManage applications along these lines.

With UMA, Guha said, Dell is trying to get industry agreement on standards for management consoles and hardware. He cited the proprietary technology in Intel’s vPro desktops: while Dell supports vPro, “not everyone agrees this should be the standard”, he said.