What are *.ame files in the Altiris Agent Queue directory?

[WDRAIN1]

What are the *.ame files in the C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Queue directory for?

Normally these files have the *.nse extension.

[Sergei Zjaikin]

These are not files created by the agent or any ITMS plugin, at least I've never seen any AME file.

This could be some 3rdparty software trying to send event to SMP server.

Could you please post a sample of AME file?

[WDRAIN1]

Hi Sergei

Thanks for the response, the files are blank and have no content when I open them in notepad.

[Sergei Zjaikin]

Try running Process Monitor and see what process creates those AME files, then you might be able to identify the software package where that process belongs to. 

[Sergei Zjaikin]

I'm sorry, we've found where those files are coming from - Application Metering plugin. Check if you're using application metering functionality of ITMS.

We'll look into the problem, there should be no AME files in this folder at all

You can uninstall application metering plugin if you do not need metering functionality.

Sorry for confusion once again!

[WDRAIN1]

Morning Sergei,

Thanks for the response. We use Application Metering, so uninstall won’t be an option.
Do you have any details how and when these files are created?
Also why are the files empty and when and how do they get deleted?

Regards

[Igor Perevozchikov]

Hi WDRAIN1!

1. Once "Application Metering Agent" plug-in is installed and receive some of App Metering policies, then there will be (GUID of App Metering policy).ame file created.
 
2. *.ame file is empty for now, because Application Metering Agent gets event records and will put them in *.ame file according to "Record usage events" option in Application metering policy.

As example
App metering policy doesn't allow to run MSEdge any version and Appmetering agent must record all stop events during 1 day

Once record event interval (1 day) from App metering policy is achieved on client computer, these records will be sent to NS and stored in *.ame file and *.ame file will be empty
To see current event records while they aren't yet uploaded to NS, user can restart "Symantec Management Agent" service, then App Metering agent will put all available events in ame file.

If specified software rule in Application Metering policy doesn't exist on client computer, then (Application Metering policy GUID).ame file will always be empty even if Symantec Management Agent service restarted.

Best regards,
IP.