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