Configuring Python logging.handlers.SMTPHandler for Email Logging with TLS/SSL

The author encountered login‑timeout errors when trying to send log records via email using Python's logging.handlers.SMTPHandler with a QQ corporate mailbox, prompting an investigation into the underlying cause.

By examining the source of the logging module, it was discovered that the default logging handler expects a TLS connection, while QQ (and Gmail) require an SSL connection, leading to the authentication failure.

The solution is to configure the SMTP handler to use the appropriate security protocol and correct server settings. A full logging.conf file is provided, showing how to define loggers, handlers, formatters, and the SMTP handler with TLS/SSL parameters.

Finally, a short Python script demonstrates loading the configuration and sending a test log email.

# logging.conf complete configuration
[loggers]
keys=root,test

[handlers]
keys=consoleHandler,fileHandler,testHandler

[formatters]
keys=simpleFormatter

[formatter_simpleFormatter]
format=%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s - [%(filename)s:%(lineno)s]
datefmt=

[logger_root]
level=INFO
handlers=consoleHandler,fileHandler

[logger_test]
level=INFO
handlers=testHandler
qualname=test
propagate=0

[handler_consoleHandler]
class=StreamHandler
level=INFO
formatter=simpleFormatter
args=(sys.stdout,)

[handler_fileHandler]
class=FileHandler
level=INFO
formatter=simpleFormatter
args=('log/spider_db.log', 'a')

[handler_testHandler]
class=handlers.SMTPHandler
level=INFO
formatter=simpleFormatter
args=(('smtp.163.com',25), '[email protected]', ['[email protected]','[email protected]'], 'Test SMTPHandler', ('username', 'password'))

# Email test example
import logging
import logging.config

logging.config.fileConfig("logging.conf")
logger = logging.getLogger('test')
logger.info('hello body ~')