code: def getParam(self, key):
          
          cur = self._conn.cursor()
          cur.execute("SHOW %s" % key)
          row = cur.fetchone()
          return util.parse_value(row[0])
docs: Returns value of Run-time Database Parameter 'key'.
          
          @param key: Run-time parameter name.
          @return:    Run-time parameter value.