select @@global.max_digest_length; @@global.max_digest_length 1024 select @@session.max_digest_length; ERROR HY000: Variable 'max_digest_length' is a GLOBAL variable show global variables like 'max_digest_length'; Variable_name Value max_digest_length 1024 show session variables like 'max_digest_length'; Variable_name Value max_digest_length 1024 select * from information_schema.global_variables where variable_name='max_digest_length'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE MAX_DIGEST_LENGTH 1024 select * from information_schema.session_variables where variable_name='max_digest_length'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE MAX_DIGEST_LENGTH 1024 set global max_digest_length=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'max_digest_length' is a read only variable set session max_digest_length=1; ERROR HY000: Variable 'max_digest_length' is a read only variable