diff --git a/app/background_poller.py b/app/background_poller.py
index 64bcc60..071fc31 100644
--- a/app/background_poller.py
+++ b/app/background_poller.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ for fast API access without querying devices on every request.
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
+import os
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -20,6 +21,11 @@ from app.device_logger import log_device_event, cleanup_old_logs
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# Global polling default. Set SLMM_POLLING_ENABLED=false to start an instance in
+# standby (running but not polling and not holding device connections) — e.g. a
+# dev box that must not latch onto a device that a prod instance owns.
+POLLING_ENABLED_DEFAULT = os.getenv("SLMM_POLLING_ENABLED", "true").lower() == "true"
+
 
 class BackgroundPoller:
     """
@@ -39,6 +45,7 @@ class BackgroundPoller:
         self._logger = logger
         self._last_cleanup = None  # Track last log cleanup time
         self._last_pool_log = None  # Track last connection pool heartbeat log
+        self._active = POLLING_ENABLED_DEFAULT  # Global polling on/off (standby toggle)
 
     async def start(self):
         """Start the background polling task."""
@@ -71,15 +78,48 @@ class BackgroundPoller:
 
         self._logger.info("Background poller stopped")
 
+    def is_active(self) -> bool:
+        """Whether background polling is currently active (vs standby)."""
+        return self._active
+
+    async def set_active(self, active: bool):
+        """Globally enable/disable polling at runtime.
+
+        When deactivated, the loop stays alive but polls nothing and releases all
+        device connections, so this SLMM instance stops occupying the devices'
+        single connection slots (e.g. so a prod instance can take over). Runtime
+        state only — on restart the instance returns to SLMM_POLLING_ENABLED.
+        """
+        self._active = active
+        if active:
+            self._logger.info("[SYSTEM] Background polling ACTIVATED")
+        else:
+            self._logger.info("[SYSTEM] Background polling DEACTIVATED (standby) — releasing connections")
+            await self._release_all_connections()
+
+    async def _release_all_connections(self):
+        """Gracefully close every pooled device connection (no-op if none)."""
+        from app.services import _connection_pool
+        for device_key in list(_connection_pool.get_stats().get("connections", {})):
+            await _connection_pool.discard(device_key)
+
     async def _poll_loop(self):
         """Main polling loop that runs continuously."""
         self._logger.info("Background polling loop started")
 
         while self._running:
-            try:
-                await self._poll_all_devices()
-            except Exception as e:
-                self._logger.error(f"Error in poll loop: {e}", exc_info=True)
+            if self._active:
+                try:
+                    await self._poll_all_devices()
+                except Exception as e:
+                    self._logger.error(f"Error in poll loop: {e}", exc_info=True)
+            else:
+                # Standby: poll nothing, and keep holding no device connection slots
+                # so another SLMM instance (e.g. prod) can talk to the devices.
+                try:
+                    await self._release_all_connections()
+                except Exception as e:
+                    self._logger.warning(f"Standby connection release failed: {e}")
 
             # Run log cleanup once per hour
             try:
diff --git a/app/routers.py b/app/routers.py
index 98673de..6b7cede 100644
--- a/app/routers.py
+++ b/app/routers.py
@@ -153,6 +153,99 @@ async def disconnect_device(unit_id: str, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
     }
 
 
+@router.post("/{unit_id}/deactivate")
+async def deactivate_device(unit_id: str, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """Make a single unit dormant: stop background polling for it AND drop its
+    connection, freeing the device's connection slot. poll_enabled=False is
+    persisted, so the unit stays dormant across restarts until /activate.
+    """
+    cfg = db.query(NL43Config).filter_by(unit_id=unit_id).first()
+    if not cfg:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="NL43 config not found")
+
+    cfg.poll_enabled = False
+    db.commit()
+
+    from app.services import _connection_pool, _get_device_lock
+
+    device_key = f"{cfg.host}:{cfg.tcp_port}"
+
+    # Wait briefly for any in-flight poll/command to finish (so its connection is
+    # back in the pool), then drop it. If a long-lived stream holds the lock we
+    # don't block forever — discard the pooled connection regardless.
+    lock = await _get_device_lock(device_key)
+    acquired = False
+    try:
+        await asyncio.wait_for(lock.acquire(), timeout=10.0)
+        acquired = True
+    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        acquired = False
+    try:
+        await _connection_pool.discard(device_key)
+    finally:
+        if acquired:
+            lock.release()
+
+    return {
+        "status": "ok",
+        "unit_id": unit_id,
+        "poll_enabled": False,
+        "message": "Polling disabled and connection closed for this unit",
+    }
+
+
+@router.post("/{unit_id}/activate")
+async def activate_device(unit_id: str, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """Resume background polling for a unit previously deactivated."""
+    cfg = db.query(NL43Config).filter_by(unit_id=unit_id).first()
+    if not cfg:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="NL43 config not found")
+
+    cfg.poll_enabled = True
+    db.commit()
+
+    return {
+        "status": "ok",
+        "unit_id": unit_id,
+        "poll_enabled": True,
+        "message": "Polling enabled for this unit",
+    }
+
+
+@router.get("/_system/status")
+async def system_status():
+    """Report whether this SLMM instance is actively polling or in standby."""
+    from app.background_poller import poller
+    from app.services import _connection_pool
+    return {
+        "status": "ok",
+        "mode": "active" if poller.is_active() else "standby",
+        "polling_active": poller.is_active(),
+        "active_connections": _connection_pool.get_stats().get("active_connections", 0),
+    }
+
+
+@router.post("/_system/standby")
+async def system_standby():
+    """Put this SLMM instance into standby: stop polling ALL devices and release
+    every connection, so it stops occupying device slots (e.g. so a prod instance
+    can take over). Runtime-only — on restart the instance returns to its
+    SLMM_POLLING_ENABLED default.
+    """
+    from app.background_poller import poller
+    await poller.set_active(False)
+    return {"status": "ok", "mode": "standby",
+            "message": "Polling stopped and all device connections released"}
+
+
+@router.post("/_system/resume")
+async def system_resume():
+    """Resume polling after standby (global)."""
+    from app.background_poller import poller
+    await poller.set_active(True)
+    return {"status": "ok", "mode": "active", "message": "Polling resumed"}
+
+
 # ============================================================================
 # GLOBAL POLLING STATUS ENDPOINT (must be before /{unit_id} routes)
 # ============================================================================