How to enable the MySQL/MariaDB general query logs

mysql_query_log.md

How to enable the MySQL/MariaDB general query logs

1. Enter to MySQL/MariaDB server command-line tool (change root with your username and password):

mysql -u root -proot

2. Set the general log file path:

SET GLOBAL general_log_file='/var/log/mysql/mycustom.log';

3. Set the log output to file format:

SET GLOBAL log_output = 'FILE';

4. Enable the server general log:

SET GLOBAL general_log = 'ON';

5. Show the general log settings:

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE "general_log%";

6. Try to execute your own SQL query from your app or command-line tool...

7. View the general log file content:

less /var/log/mysql/mycustom.log

8. Disable the general server log:

SET GLOBAL general_log = 'OFF';

MariaDB documentation suggests using 1 to enable logging, and 0 to disable it. So it should be:

4. Enable the server general log:

SET GLOBAL general_log = 1;

8. Disable the general server log:

SET GLOBAL general_log = 0;

Source: https://mariadb.com/kb/en/server-system-variables/#general_log