select @@global.innodb_sort_buffer_size; @@global.innodb_sort_buffer_size 1048576 select @@session.innodb_sort_buffer_size; ERROR HY000: Variable 'innodb_sort_buffer_size' is a GLOBAL variable show global variables like 'innodb_sort_buffer_size'; Variable_name Value innodb_sort_buffer_size 1048576 show session variables like 'innodb_sort_buffer_size'; Variable_name Value innodb_sort_buffer_size 1048576 select * from information_schema.global_variables where variable_name='innodb_sort_buffer_size'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE INNODB_SORT_BUFFER_SIZE 1048576 select * from information_schema.session_variables where variable_name='innodb_sort_buffer_size'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE INNODB_SORT_BUFFER_SIZE 1048576 set global innodb_sort_buffer_size=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'innodb_sort_buffer_size' is a read only variable set session innodb_sort_buffer_size=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'innodb_sort_buffer_size' is a read only variable