I’m working with Mailgun to handle incoming messages and route them to my application endpoint. This morning I tested by sending 7 messages, and while all of them successfully reached my endpoint, the logging dashboard shows inconsistent records.
What I’m seeing in the logs:
First message: Shows Delivered/Processed/Error status
Second message: Shows Delivered/Processed/Error status
Third message: Only shows Delivered status
Fourth message: No log entry at all
Fifth message: Shows Delivered/Processed/Error status
Sixth message: No log entry at all
Seventh message: Only shows Delivered status
What I’ve confirmed:
All messages appear in my email client’s sent items
My application received and processed every single message (confirmed via debugging)
The webhook endpoint responded correctly each time
Has anyone experienced similar issues with incomplete logging? What could cause certain entries to be missing or partially recorded in the Mailgun dashboard while the actual delivery works fine?
I faced a similar issue a while back while processing around 200-300 messages daily with Mailgun. The gaps in logging were problematic for meeting our audit requirements. After some investigation, I found that Mailgun’s logs can have delays and may drop webhook events, particularly during busy times. Since your endpoint is receiving messages without issue, the problem seems to be with the logging on their end. To solve this, I created a simple database that logs every webhook call. I store the message ID, timestamp, and event type before processing the data, which gives me a complete audit trail independent of Mailgun’s dashboard. Additionally, be sure to check your account’s event retention settings and ensure your webhook URLs are responding swiftly, as slow responses can create logging inconsistencies.
You’re experiencing inconsistent logging in the Mailgun dashboard despite successful message delivery and processing by your application. Some messages show complete status (Delivered/Processed/Error), others show only “Delivered,” and some have no log entry at all. Your application confirms receipt and processing of all 7 test messages, and your webhook responded correctly each time.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Mailgun’s logging system operates independently from its message delivery system. These are separate pipelines, and inconsistencies arise due to asynchronous processing and potential delays or failures within the logging pipeline itself. This is a common characteristic of distributed systems. Relying solely on the Mailgun dashboard for comprehensive logging can be unreliable.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Implement Custom Logging: Create a robust logging system within your application to track every webhook event. This independent logging mechanism will provide a complete and reliable audit trail, regardless of Mailgun’s logging inconsistencies. This system should record at minimum: the message ID, timestamp, event type, request payload, and response code from your webhook. Below is a basic Python example:
import json
import logging
# Configure logging (customize as needed)
logging.basicConfig(filename='mailgun_events.log', level=logging.INFO,
format='%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s')
def process_mailgun_event(event):
try:
event_data = json.loads(event) # Assuming event is a JSON string
message_id = event_data['Message-Id']
timestamp = event_data['Timestamp']
event_type = event_data['event']
# ... extract other relevant data ...
logging.info(f"Event Received: Message-ID={message_id}, Timestamp={timestamp}, Event={event_type}") # Log the event
# ... your existing message processing logic ...
except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
logging.error(f"Error decoding JSON: {e}")
except KeyError as e:
logging.error(f"Missing key in event data: {e}")
# Example usage (replace with your webhook handler)
# Assuming 'event' contains the raw webhook payload
process_mailgun_event(event)
Verify Webhook URL & Timeout: Ensure your webhook URL is correctly configured in your Mailgun settings and that your server can handle requests efficiently. Slow response times from your webhook can lead to missed or incomplete logs in Mailgun’s system. Increase your webhook timeout if needed.
Check Mailgun Event Retention: Review Mailgun’s account settings to verify your event retention policy. Ensure it’s set to retain logs for a sufficiently long period.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Network Issues: Investigate any potential network problems between your application and Mailgun. Intermittent connectivity issues can result in failed webhook calls and missing log entries.
Rate Limiting: Check if you’re exceeding Mailgun’s API rate limits. Exceeding limits can cause delays and failures in event logging.
Error Handling: Implement thorough error handling in your webhook processing logic to capture and log any exceptions that may occur.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
mailgun’s logging has been pretty unreliable lately. i’ve seen this more often in recent months - events just don’t get logged even though delivery works fine. sometimes waiting 10-15 mins and refreshing helps fill in missing entries, but not always. support just blames “eventual consistency” when you complain.
Inconsistent logging with Mailgun can be tricky. I get that you’re relying on their logs, but they often have delays or even drop some events, especially during busy times.
Your messages are reaching your application, which means the delivery is working fine. The issue is on the logging side, where Mailgun might miss logging processed or error statuses.
Instead of trying to fix Mailgun’s logging, consider building your own system for comprehensive logging. You can automate monitoring all webhook events and ensure every instance is stored correctly.
I’ve created a similar setup that tracks all incoming data, alerts me when there are discrepancies, and provides clearer insights than Mailgun’s dashboard.
Setting up your automation can help you sync data from various sources and catch any missing entries. It offers a more reliable solution.
This happens because Mailgun’s event processing is spread across different systems. Your messages get delivered through one pipeline while logging runs on another - that’s why emails go through fine but logs get patchy. I’ve dealt with similar volumes before. Those missing entries usually pop up when Mailgun’s event aggregation hits temporary slowdowns. You’re getting partial logs because some webhook events make it to their logging system while others timeout. Here’s what worked for me: I started tracking message IDs from successful webhook calls on my own system. That way I could see which messages actually processed, no matter what their dashboard showed. Also check your webhook timeout settings - Mailgun retries failed deliveries but doesn’t always log the retries properly.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!