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