Techniques are described for dynamically optimizing a device management command for bulk retrieval of configuration information. A network management device is described in which a programmable processor is configured to issue a bulk data retrieval command to direct the managed network device to retrieve configuration information variables stored within a set of columns of a table within the managed device, receive a response from the managed network device in response to the managed network device querying the table a first number of repetitions, analyze the response, and update an estimate of the number of variables expected to be received from the managed network device in a single response based on the analysis of the response.