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