"unsupported startup parameter": the client sends what Neon rejects
# "unsupported startup parameter": diagnose and fix
## Symptom
Connection fails immediately with `unsupported startup parameter: [parameter-name]`.
## Cause
Some clients/drivers send extra startup parameters on connect (common with newer drivers sending options the proxy allowlist does not include). Neon's proxy rejects unknown startup parameters instead of ignoring them.
## Confirm
1. The parameter name in the error; check whether your driver added it by default or via config.
2. Other clients without that parameter connect fine with the same string.
## Fix
- Remove or override the parameter in the client configuration/connection options.
- If the driver requires it, check the driver's docs for a compatibility flag; as a last resort use a different driver version.
- Report it: parameters that mainstream drivers send by default are worth flagging to Neon support.
## Verify
The client connects with no startup-parameter error and behaves normally afterwards.