cjd@ub_mysql:~$ mysql -uroot -p
Enter password: 
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 35761
Server version: 5.6.27-0ubuntu0.14.04.1 (Ubuntu)

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Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its
affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

mysql> set global max_connections = 3600;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> select VARIABLE_VALUE from information_schema.GLOBAL_VARIABLES where VARIABLE_NAME='MAX_CONNECTIONS';
+----------------+
| VARIABLE_VALUE |
+----------------+
| 3600           |
+----------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> quit
Bye
cjd@ub_mysql:~$ sudo service mysql restart
[sudo] password for cjd: 
mysql stop/waiting
mysql start/running, process 11517
cjd@ub_mysql:~$