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