code: def getParam(self, key):
          
          cur = self._conn.cursor()
          cur.execute("SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE %s", key)
          row = cur.fetchone()
          return int(row[1])
docs: Returns value of Run-time Database Parameter 'key'.
          
          @param key: Run-time parameter name.
          @return:    Run-time parameter value.