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