select @@global.old; @@global.old 0 select @@session.old; @@session.old 0 show global variables like 'old'; Variable_name Value old OFF show session variables like 'old'; Variable_name Value old OFF select * from information_schema.global_variables where variable_name='old'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE OLD OFF select * from information_schema.session_variables where variable_name='old'; VARIABLE_NAME VARIABLE_VALUE OLD OFF set global old=1; set session old=1; select @@global.old; @@global.old 1 select @@session.old; @@session.old 1 set @@global.old=DEFAULT;