AB#6188: Runbook job suspended in Azure Automation

Author: AmandaAZ

support/azure/automation/runbooks/runbook-job-suspended.md

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+---
+title: Runbook jobs get suspended in Azure Automation
+description: Provides solutions to an issue where runbook jobs get suspended in Azure Automation.
+ms.date: 06/17/2025
+ms.reviewer: adoyle, v-weizhu
+ms.service: azure-automation
+ms.custom: sap:Runbook not working as expected
+---
+# Runbook jobs get suspended in Azure Automation
+
+This article provides solutions to an issue where runbook jobs get suspended in Azure Automation.
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> Azure Automation enables recovery of runbooks deleted in last 29 days - Restore the deleted runbook by running a PowerShell script as a job in your Automation account. For more information, see [Restore deleted runbook](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/automation/manage-runbooks#restore-deleted-runbook).
+
+## Symptoms
+
+Runbook jobs might be in a suspended state after three failed start attempts.
+
+## Cause 1: Exceed memory or network socket limits in an Azure sandbox
+
+- Memory limit
+
+    A job might fail if using more than 400 MB of memory.
+- Network socket limit
+
+    An Azure sandbox is limited to 1,000 concurrent network sockets.
+
+For more information, see [Azure Automation limits](/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits#azure-automation-limits).
+
+Here are some suggestions to work within the memory limits:
+
+- Split the workload among multiple runbooks.
+- Reduce the amount of data processed in memory.
+- Avoid writing unnecessary output from your runbooks.
+- Consider the number of checkpoints written in your PowerShell workflow runbooks.
+
+Here are some actions that can reduce the memory footprint of your runbook during runtime:
+
+- Use the `clear` method, such as `$myVar.clear`, to clear out variables.
+- Use the `[GC]::Collect` command to run the garbage collection immediately.
+
+## Cause 2: Module incompatibility
+
+Module dependencies might not be correct. In this case, your runbook typically returns a "Command not found" or "Cannot bind parameter" error message.
+
+To resolve this issue, [update Azure PowerShell modules in Azure Automation](/azure/automation/automation-update-azure-modules).
+
+## Cause 3: No authentication with Microsoft Entra ID in an Azure sandbox
+
+Azure Automation runbooks that attempt to call executables or subprocesses within the Azure sandbox environment can't use Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL) for authentication with Microsoft Entra ID.
+
+To resolve this issue, use Managed Identity for the Automation account. When you authenticate this runbook with Microsoft Entra ID by using Managed Identity, ensure the following things:
+
+- The Azure AD PowerShell module is available in your Automation account.
+- The Managed Identity is granted the required permissions to execute the tasks automated by the runbook.
+
+If your runbook can't call an executable or subprocess in an Azure sandbox, run the runbook on a [hybrid worker](/azure/automation/automation-hrw-run-runbooks). Hybrid workers aren't limited by the memory and network limits that Azure sandboxes have.
+
+## References
+
+- [Throttling Azure Resource Manager requests](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/request-limits-and-throttling)
+- [Troubleshooting API throttling errors](https://learn.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/azure/virtual-machines/troubleshooting-throttling-errors)
+
+[!INCLUDE [Azure Help Support](../../../includes/azure-help-support.md)]

support/azure/automation/toc.yml

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
   href: welcome-automation.yml
 - name: Runbook not working as expected
   items:
+  - name: Runbook jobs get suspended
+    href: runbooks/runbook-job-suspended.md
   - name: Troubleshoot runbook execution issues when using PowerShell
     href: runbooks/powershell-job-script-cmdlets-not-working.md
 

support/azure/automation/welcome-automation.yml

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ landingContent:
   - title: Runbook not working as expected
     linkLists:
       - linkListType: how-to-guide
-        links:                                                               
+        links:       
+          - text: Runbook jobs get suspended
+            url: runbooks/runbook-job-suspended.md                                                        
           - text: Troubleshoot runbook execution issues when using PowerShell
             url: runbooks/powershell-job-script-cmdlets-not-working.md