To unlink an Azure Automation Account from a Log Analytics Workspace, you need to navigate to your Automation account in the Azure portal, locate the "Linked workspace" setting, and follow the prompts to disconnect it.
Understanding Linked Workspaces in Azure Automation
An Azure Automation account is often linked to an Azure Log Analytics Workspace to enable advanced features like Update Management, Change Tracking and Inventory, and Start/Stop VMs during off-hours. This linkage allows the Automation account to send logs and data to the workspace for analysis and for the workspace to facilitate the management of resources. However, there might be scenarios where you need to sever this connection, such as migrating to a new workspace, decommissioning old resources, or reorganizing your Azure environment.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlink Your Automation Account from a Log Analytics Workspace
Unlinking your Automation account from a Log Analytics workspace is a straightforward process within the Azure portal. Follow these steps carefully:
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Navigate to Automation Accounts:
- Open your web browser and go to the Azure portal.
- In the search bar at the top, type "Automation Accounts" and select it from the services list.
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Open Your Automation Account:
- From the list of Automation Accounts, select the specific account you wish to unlink.
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Access Linked Workspace Settings:
- In the left-hand menu of your Automation account, under the Related Resources section, find and select Linked workspace. This will open the "Unlink workspace" page.
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Initiate the Unlinking Process:
- On the Unlink workspace page, you will see details about the currently linked Log Analytics workspace.
- Select the Unlink workspace button.
- You will be prompted to confirm your action. Review the information and confirm to proceed with the unlinking.
Once confirmed, the Automation account will be disconnected from the Log Analytics workspace.
Important Considerations Before Unlinking
Before you proceed with unlinking, it's crucial to understand the implications of this action:
- Feature Disruption: Services like Update Management, Change Tracking and Inventory, and Start/Stop VMs during off-hours that rely on the linked Log Analytics workspace will cease to function or collect data.
- Data Collection Stoppage: The Automation account will no longer send specific operational data or logs to that particular Log Analytics workspace for the enabled solutions.
- Resource Management Impact: Any runbooks or configurations that directly depend on the integration with the specific Log Analytics workspace might encounter issues.
Impact of Unlinking on Azure Automation Features
| Feature/Solution | Impact of Unlinking |
|---|---|
| Update Management | Scheduled updates and deployment management for virtual machines will no longer function via this Automation account. Historical update data might become unavailable. |
| Change Tracking & Inventory | Data collection for changes and inventory will stop. New changes will not be tracked, and inventory data will not be updated within the Automation portal. |
| Start/Stop VMs during off-hours | If this solution is configured to use the specific Log Analytics workspace for scheduling or monitoring, its operations will be affected or stop entirely. |
| Hybrid Runbook Worker (Extension-based) | While not directly unlinked, if the worker's monitoring or logging is tied to this specific workspace, that integration will be affected. |
Why Unlink an Azure Automation Workspace?
There are several common reasons why administrators choose to unlink an Automation account from a Log Analytics workspace:
- Migration: Moving an Automation account or a Log Analytics workspace to a different Azure subscription, resource group, or region.
- Consolidation: Consolidating multiple Automation accounts or workspaces into a single, centralized management solution.
- Decommissioning: Preparing to delete an old or unused Log Analytics workspace or Automation account.
- Cost Management: Optimizing costs by ensuring that only necessary data is collected and processed by active solutions.
- Reorganization: Restructuring Azure resources for better governance, compliance, or operational efficiency.
After unlinking, you always have the option to link your Automation account to a different Log Analytics workspace if required, restoring the functionality of the integrated features.
