Truncated Environment Variables on AE Windows Agent 24.4.5 with Anonymous Jobs

Products

• Automic Automation

Issue/Introduction

When running the Automic Automation (AE) Windows Agent version 24.4.5 while it is configured to run jobs anonymously (logon=0 + UC_HOSTCHAR_DEFAULT -> ANONYMOUS_*=Y), jobs may execute with a severely truncated process environment. Variables such as PATH and other standard user environment variables are missing, which can cause job steps dependent on these variables to fail (e.g., failure to locate executables). This article describes the cause and workarounds for this behavior.

Environment

• Automic Automation (AE) Windows Agent 24.4.5
• Windows Server 2022
• Agent running anonymously (Agent INI configured with: logon=0 and AE configured with: UC_HOSTCHAR_DEFAULT -> ANONYMOUS_*=Y)

Cause

This behavior is observed in AE Windows Agent 24.4.5 due to changes in the default job-launch path. When the agent operates under a specific account without explicit configuration for Job Objects, the process environment provided to executed jobs is significantly reduced.

Resolution

Resolution:

We are investigating via DE209645. At this time, we anticipate a fix for this issue in version 24.4.6 and 26.1.0. 

 

Workaround:

Option 1: Per-job configuration (Recommended for individual jobs)

1. Navigate to the Windows Job object in the Automic Web Interface.
2. Open the Process page.
3. Locate the Use Windows OS Job Object attribute.
4. Set the value to Yes.
5. Save the job.

Option 2: Agent-wide configuration (Recommended for all jobs on an agent)

1. Access the Agent installation directory.
2. Edit the agent's .ini file.
3. Locate the [GLOBAL] section.
4. Add or modify the following parameter: useJobObject=1
5. Restart the Agent service for the changes to take effect.