Azure Automation - InternalServerError when trying to read variable

Question

Hello

I have a runbook, part of which reads an encrypted automation variable which is created by another runbook. It has been working fine, but the variable value size has increased and now when I try and read the variable using Get-AutomationVariable, I get the following error:

Get-AutomationVariable : A webservice exception occured. Response Code: InternalServerError At line:1 char:1 + Get-AutomationVariable -Name myvariable + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-AutomationVariable], AssetManagementClientException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : 2,Orchestrator.AssetManagement.Cmdlets.GetAutomationVariableCmdlet

I've written a one line runbook with simply Get-AutomationAccount -Name myvariable still get the error. Is there a size limit to variable values? If so why is the runbook which writes the variable not erroring in doing so?

Any help appreciated

Thanks

Answer 1

Hello @UkDanR - really good queston. Curious what specifically drove the new increase in the variable size and if you can revert back to the previous size to see if that works as expected. from my early research, looks like automation variables have a max limit.