select @@global.log_bin; @@global.log_bin 0 select @@session.log_bin; ERROR HY000: Variable 'log_bin' is a GLOBAL variable show global variables like 'log_bin'; Variable_name Value log_bin OFF show session variables like 'log_bin'; Variable_name Value log_bin OFF select * from information_schema.global_variables where variable_name='log_bin'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE LOG_BIN OFF select * from information_schema.session_variables where variable_name='log_bin'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE LOG_BIN OFF set global log_bin=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'log_bin' is a read only variable set session log_bin=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'log_bin' is a read only variable