Log MySQL output to file without restart - FILE and TABLE approach

gistfile1.sql

# http://stackoverflow.com/a/20485975/682754

# Log to file

#### Turn on and configure
SET global log_output = 'FILE';
SET global general_log_file='/tmp/mysql_general.log';
SET global general_log = 1;

#### Turn off
SET global general_log = 0;

# Log to table

CREATE TABLE `slow_log` (
	`start_time` TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
	`user_host` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL,
	`query_time` TIME NOT NULL,
	`lock_time` TIME NOT NULL,
	`rows_sent` INT(11) NOT NULL,
	`rows_examined` INT(11) NOT NULL,
	`db` VARCHAR(512) NOT NULL,
	`last_insert_id` INT(11) NOT NULL,
	`insert_id` INT(11) NOT NULL,
	`server_id` INT(10) UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
	`sql_text` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL,
	`thread_id` BIGINT(21) UNSIGNED NOT NULL
) ENGINE=CSV DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 COMMENT='Slow log';

CREATE TABLE `general_log` (
	`event_time` TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
	`user_host` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL,
	`thread_id` BIGINT(21) UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
	`server_id` INT(10) UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
	`command_type` VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,
	`argument` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL
) ENGINE=CSV DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 COMMENT='General log';

####  Enable Query logging on the database
SET GLOBAL general_log = 1;
SET GLOBAL log_output = 'table';

#### View the log
SELECT * FROM mysql.general_log

#### Disable Query logging on the database
SET GLOBAL general_log = 0;