¿Cómo aumentar mysql max_allowed_packet para el cliente?

Quiero aumentar el tamaño de la variable max_allowed_packet para el cliente mysql que utiliza un servidor remoto. Lo busqué en Google y las respuestas que pude encontrar solo discutieron el cambio de la variable para el servidor.

Mi programa cliente es MySql Workbench para Windows 7.

De acuerdo a Documentación MySQL en max_allowed_packet

Algunos programas como mysql y mysqldump le permiten cambiar el valor del lado del cliente al establecer max_allowed_packet en la línea de comandos o en un archivo de opciones.

En la línea de comandos, para configurarlo en 512M simplemente ejecute mysql client con esto:

C:\>mysql -u... -p...

Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 31
Server version: 5.5.12-log MySQL Community Server (GPL)

Copyright (c) 2000, 2010, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

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> show variables like 'max_allowed_packet';
+--------------------+----------+
| Variable_name      | Value    |
+--------------------+----------+
| max_allowed_packet | 16777216 |
+--------------------+----------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> set max_allowed_packet=1024 * 1024 * 512;
ERROR 1621 (HY000): SESSION variable 'max_allowed_packet' is read-only. Use SET GLOBAL to assign the value
mysql> set global max_allowed_packet=1024 * 1024 * 512;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> show variables like 'max_allowed_packet';
+--------------------+----------+
| Variable_name      | Value    |
+--------------------+----------+
| max_allowed_packet | 16777216 |
+--------------------+----------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> exit
Bye

C:\>mysql -u... -p...
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 32
Server version: 5.5.12-log MySQL Community Server (GPL)

Copyright (c) 2000, 2010, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

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> show variables like 'max_allowed_packet';
+--------------------+-----------+
| Variable_name      | Value     |
+--------------------+-----------+
| max_allowed_packet | 536870912 |
+--------------------+-----------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

Tienes que configurarlo globalmente. No puedes configurarlo localmente.

Necesitas el SUPER privilegio para establecer cualquier variable global.