SET @start_global_value = @@global.flush_time; select @@global.flush_time; @@global.flush_time 0 select @@session.flush_time; ERROR HY000: Variable 'flush_time' is a GLOBAL variable show global variables like 'flush_time'; Variable_name Value flush_time 0 show session variables like 'flush_time'; Variable_name Value flush_time 0 select * from information_schema.global_variables where variable_name='flush_time'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE FLUSH_TIME 0 select * from information_schema.session_variables where variable_name='flush_time'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE FLUSH_TIME 0 set global flush_time=1; select @@global.flush_time; @@global.flush_time 1 set session flush_time=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'flush_time' is a GLOBAL variable and should be set with SET GLOBAL set global flush_time=1.1; ERROR 42000: Incorrect argument type to variable 'flush_time' set global flush_time=1e1; ERROR 42000: Incorrect argument type to variable 'flush_time' set global flush_time="foo"; ERROR 42000: Incorrect argument type to variable 'flush_time' set global flush_time=0; select @@global.flush_time; @@global.flush_time 0 set global flush_time=cast(-1 as unsigned int); Warnings: Note 1105 Cast to unsigned converted negative integer to it's positive complement Warning 1292 Truncated incorrect flush_time value: '18446744073709551615' select @@global.flush_time; @@global.flush_time 31536000 SET @@global.flush_time = @start_global_value;