diff --git a/gns3server/api/routes/controller/computes.py b/gns3server/api/routes/controller/computes.py
index 796a72063..c8de19a55 100644
--- a/gns3server/api/routes/controller/computes.py
+++ b/gns3server/api/routes/controller/computes.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from fastapi import APIRouter, Body, Depends, Query, status
 import gns3server.db.models as models
 from gns3server import schemas
 from gns3server.controller import Controller
+from gns3server.controller.controller_error import ControllerBadRequestError, ControllerError
 from gns3server.db.repositories.computes import ComputesRepository
 from gns3server.db.repositories.rbac import RbacRepository
 from gns3server.services.computes import ComputesService
@@ -80,6 +81,42 @@ async def connect_compute(compute_id: Union[str, UUID]) -> None:
         await compute.connect(report_failed_connection=True)
 
 
+@router.post(
+    "/{compute_id}/disconnect",
+    status_code=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT,
+    responses={409: {"model": schemas.ErrorMessage, "description": "Compute is used by opened projects"}},
+    # dependencies=[Depends(has_privilege("Compute.Audit"))]  # FIXME: this is a temporary workaround due to a bug in the web-ui
+)
+async def disconnect_compute(compute_id: Union[str, UUID], force: Optional[bool] = False) -> None:
+    """
+    Disconnect from a compute on the controller.
+
+    The compute is not reconnected until an explicit connection is requested,
+    or the controller restarts with auto_connect enabled for this compute.
+
+    Rejected with 409 when an opened project still uses the compute, unless
+    force is true. Forcing does not stop anything on the compute: only the
+    controller-side control channel (notification stream and HTTP session) is
+    torn down, nodes keep running unmanaged.
+
+    Required privilege: Compute.Audit
+    """
+
+    if str(compute_id) == "local":
+        raise ControllerBadRequestError("Cannot disconnect the local compute")
+    controller = Controller.instance()
+    compute = controller.get_compute(str(compute_id))
+    if not force:
+        open_projects = controller.get_compute_open_projects(compute)
+        if open_projects:
+            project_names = ", ".join(f"'{project.name}'" for project in open_projects)
+            raise ControllerError(
+                f"Compute '{compute_id}' is used by opened projects ({project_names}), "
+                "disconnect anyway with force=true"
+            )
+    await compute.disconnect()
+
+
 @router.get(
     "/{compute_id}",
     response_model=schemas.Compute,
diff --git a/gns3server/controller/__init__.py b/gns3server/controller/__init__.py
index 075256d7e..b7fe5b4c9 100644
--- a/gns3server/controller/__init__.py
+++ b/gns3server/controller/__init__.py
@@ -201,10 +201,12 @@ class Controller:
         if computes:
             for c in computes:
                 try:
-                    # FIXME: Task exception was never retrieved
                     await self.add_compute(
                         compute_id=str(c.compute_id),
-                        connect=False,
+                        # computes flagged auto_connect connect in the
+                        # background, one second after the controller started
+                        connect=c.auto_connect,
+                        wait_connection=False,
                         **c.dict(exclude_unset=True, exclude={"compute_id", "created_at", "updated_at"}),
                         ssl_context=self._ssl_context,
                     )
@@ -625,9 +627,12 @@ class Controller:
             if connect:
                 if wait_connection:
                     await compute.connect()
-                else:
-                    # call compute.connect() later to give time to the controller to be fully started
-                    asyncio.get_event_loop().call_later(1, lambda: asyncio.ensure_future(compute.connect()))
+                elif not hasattr(sys, "_called_from_test"):
+                    # connect in the background to give time to the controller to be fully
+                    # started; goes through _try_reconnect so connection errors don't die
+                    # as unretrieved task exceptions. Skipped during tests: the timer would
+                    # leak the connection attempt into another test's event loop.
+                    asyncio.get_event_loop().call_later(1, lambda: asyncio.ensure_future(compute._try_reconnect()))
             self.notification.controller_emit("compute.created", compute.asdict())
             return compute
         else:
@@ -645,6 +650,17 @@ class Controller:
             if compute in project.computes:
                 await project.close()
 
+    def get_compute_open_projects(self, compute):
+        """
+        Return the opened projects using a compute.
+
+        :returns: List of opened projects
+        """
+
+        return [
+            project for project in self._projects.values() if compute in project.computes and project.status == "opened"
+        ]
+
     def compute_has_open_project(self, compute):
         """
         Check is compute has a project opened.
@@ -652,10 +668,7 @@ class Controller:
         :returns: True if a project is open
         """
 
-        for project in self._projects.values():
-            if compute in project.computes and project.status == "opened":
-                return True
-        return False
+        return bool(self.get_compute_open_projects(compute))
 
     async def delete_compute(self, compute_id):
         """
diff --git a/gns3server/controller/compute.py b/gns3server/controller/compute.py
index bd0cf01d4..aa2095eca 100644
--- a/gns3server/controller/compute.py
+++ b/gns3server/controller/compute.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class Compute:
         name=None,
         console_host=None,
         ssl_context=None,
+        auto_connect=False,
     ):
         self._http_session = None
         assert controller is not None
@@ -80,6 +81,11 @@ class Compute:
         self._connected = False
         self._notifications = None
         self._closed = False  # Close mean we are destroying the compute node
+        # True when the user asked to disconnect: blocks every reconnection
+        # path (retry backoff, notification stream reconnect, lazy connect)
+        # until connect() is called again
+        self._manual_disconnect = False
+        self._auto_connect = auto_connect
         self._controller = controller
         self._set_auth(user, password)
         self._cpu_usage_percent = 0
@@ -154,6 +160,11 @@ class Compute:
 
     async def update(self, **kwargs):
 
+        if "auto_connect" in kwargs:
+            # stored separately from the generic attributes below so that
+            # asdict() reports it (it is persisted in the database, the
+            # controller-side copy is only a mirror for notifications)
+            self._auto_connect = kwargs.pop("auto_connect")
         for kw in kwargs:
             if kw not in ("user", "password"):
                 setattr(self, kw, kwargs[kw])
@@ -323,6 +334,7 @@ class Compute:
             "host": self._host,
             "port": self._port,
             "user": self._user,
+            "auto_connect": self._auto_connect,
             "connected": self._connected,
             "cpu_usage_percent": self._cpu_usage_percent,
             "memory_usage_percent": self._memory_usage_percent,
@@ -368,7 +380,9 @@ class Compute:
         :param params: Optional dict of query parameters to append to the URL
         """
 
-        if not self._connected and not dont_connect:
+        # a manually disconnected compute is not lazily reconnected either: the
+        # request fails like for any unreachable compute
+        if not self._connected and not self._manual_disconnect and not dont_connect:
             if self._id == "vm" and not self._controller.gns3vm.running:
                 await self._controller.gns3vm.start()
             await self.connect()
@@ -381,6 +395,9 @@ class Compute:
         """
         We catch error during reconnect
         """
+
+        if self._manual_disconnect:
+            return  # stop reconnecting, the compute was manually disconnected
         try:
             await self.connect()
         except ControllerError:
@@ -413,6 +430,8 @@ class Compute:
         Check if remote server is accessible
         """
 
+        # an explicit connection request cancels a manual disconnect
+        self._manual_disconnect = False
         if not self._connected and not self._closed and self.host:
             try:
                 log.info(f"Connecting to compute '{self._id}'")
@@ -474,6 +493,31 @@ class Compute:
             self._last_error = None
             self._controller.notification.controller_emit("compute.updated", self.asdict())
 
+    async def disconnect(self):
+        """
+        Manually disconnect from the compute. The controller stops reconnecting
+        (retry backoff, notification stream reconnect and lazy connection are
+        all blocked) until connect() is called again, or the controller
+        restarts with auto_connect enabled for this compute.
+        """
+
+        self._manual_disconnect = True
+        if self._notifications:
+            # Cancelling the notification task runs its finally block: the
+            # compute is marked disconnected and clients are notified. The
+            # flag set above keeps it from scheduling a reconnection.
+            self._notifications.cancel()
+            try:
+                await self._notifications
+            except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                pass
+            self._notifications = None
+        if self._http_session and not self._http_session.closed:
+            await self._http_session.close()
+        if self._connected:
+            self._connected = False
+            self._controller.notification.controller_emit("compute.updated", self.asdict())
+
     async def _connect_notification(self):
         """
         Connect to the notification stream
@@ -526,9 +570,12 @@ class Compute:
             # Try to reconnect after 1 second if server unavailable only if not during tests (otherwise we create a resources usage bomb)
             from gns3server.api.server import app
 
-            if not app.state.exiting and not hasattr(sys, "_called_from_test"):
+            # The reconnection goes through _try_reconnect (not connect
+            # directly) so that a manual disconnect landing within the 1
+            # second window is still honoured by the time the timer fires
+            if not self._manual_disconnect and not app.state.exiting and not hasattr(sys, "_called_from_test"):
                 log.info(f"Reconnecting to compute '{self._id}' WebSocket '{ws_url}'")
-                asyncio.get_event_loop().call_later(1, lambda: asyncio.ensure_future(self.connect()))
+                asyncio.get_event_loop().call_later(1, lambda: asyncio.ensure_future(self._try_reconnect()))
 
     def _getUrl(self, path):
         host = self._host
diff --git a/gns3server/db/models/computes.py b/gns3server/db/models/computes.py
index 4561e9f82..a2524f499 100644
--- a/gns3server/db/models/computes.py
+++ b/gns3server/db/models/computes.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, String
+from sqlalchemy import Boolean, Column, Integer, String, false
 
 from .base import GUID, BaseTable
 
@@ -30,3 +30,4 @@ class Compute(BaseTable):
     port = Column(Integer)
     user = Column(String)
     password = Column(String)
+    auto_connect = Column(Boolean, nullable=False, server_default=false())
diff --git a/gns3server/db/repositories/computes.py b/gns3server/db/repositories/computes.py
index 3ccbc668b..3b3c9971b 100644
--- a/gns3server/db/repositories/computes.py
+++ b/gns3server/db/repositories/computes.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class ComputesRepository(BaseRepository):
             port=compute_create.port,
             user=compute_create.user,
             password=compute_create.password.get_secret_value() if compute_create.password else None,
+            auto_connect=bool(compute_create.auto_connect),
         )
         self._db_session.add(db_compute)
         await self._db_session.commit()
@@ -74,6 +75,9 @@ class ComputesRepository(BaseRepository):
         update_values = compute_update.model_dump(exclude_unset=True)
         if compute_update.password is not None:
             update_values["password"] = compute_update.password.get_secret_value()
+        if update_values.get("auto_connect") is None:
+            # the column is NOT NULL: treat an explicit null as "leave unchanged"
+            update_values.pop("auto_connect", None)
 
         query = update(models.Compute).where(models.Compute.compute_id == compute_id).values(update_values)
 
diff --git a/gns3server/db_migrations/versions/f7d3a9c2e5b1_add_auto_connect_to_computes.py b/gns3server/db_migrations/versions/f7d3a9c2e5b1_add_auto_connect_to_computes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f114e7bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gns3server/db_migrations/versions/f7d3a9c2e5b1_add_auto_connect_to_computes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""add auto_connect to computes table
+
+Revision ID: f7d3a9c2e5b1
+Revises: d9e8a2b7c401
+Create Date: 2026-10-15 10:00:00.000000
+
+"""
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = "f7d3a9c2e5b1"
+down_revision = "d9e8a2b7c401"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+
+    op.add_column("computes", sa.Column("auto_connect", sa.Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default=sa.false()))
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+
+    op.drop_column("computes", "auto_connect")
diff --git a/gns3server/schemas/controller/computes.py b/gns3server/schemas/controller/computes.py
index 229a97660..f7c1fa791 100644
--- a/gns3server/schemas/controller/computes.py
+++ b/gns3server/schemas/controller/computes.py
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ class ComputeBase(BaseModel):
     user: Optional[str] = None
     password: Optional[SecretStr] = None
     name: Optional[str] = None
+    auto_connect: Optional[bool] = Field(
+        False, description="Whether to automatically connect to the compute when the controller starts"
+    )
     model_config = ConfigDict(use_enum_values=True)
 
 
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@ class ComputeUpdate(ComputeBase):
 
     user: Optional[str] = None
     password: Optional[SecretStr] = None
+    auto_connect: Optional[bool] = None  # no default: update schemas must not publish defaults
     model_config = ConfigDict(
         json_schema_extra={
             "example": {
@@ -107,6 +111,8 @@ class Compute(DateTimeModelMixin, ComputeBase):
     port: int = Field(..., gt=0, le=65535)
     compute_id: Union[str, uuid.UUID]
     name: str
+    # defaulted: topology files and the local compute dict may not carry it
+    auto_connect: bool = False
     connected: Optional[bool] = Field(None, description="Whether the controller is connected to the compute or not")
     cpu_usage_percent: Optional[float] = Field(None, description="CPU usage of the compute", ge=0, le=100)
     memory_usage_percent: Optional[float] = Field(None, description="Memory usage of the compute", ge=0, le=100)
diff --git a/gns3server/services/computes.py b/gns3server/services/computes.py
index ab328ca04..1b5e66e29 100644
--- a/gns3server/services/computes.py
+++ b/gns3server/services/computes.py
@@ -15,19 +15,44 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 
+import asyncio
 from typing import List, Union
 from uuid import UUID
 
 import gns3server.db.models as models
 from gns3server import schemas
 from gns3server.controller import Controller
+from gns3server.controller.compute import Compute
 from gns3server.controller.controller_error import (
     ControllerBadRequestError,
+    ControllerError,
     ControllerNotFoundError,
 )
 from gns3server.db.repositories.computes import ComputesRepository
 
 
+async def _connect_in_background(compute: Compute) -> None:
+
+    try:
+        await compute.connect()
+    except ControllerError:
+        # the connection failure is reported via compute.updated and the
+        # retry backoff is already scheduled by the connect attempt itself
+        pass
+
+
+# fire-and-forget background connections: keep a reference so the task is not
+# garbage-collected mid-flight, drop it once it is done
+_background_connect_tasks: set[asyncio.Task] = set()
+
+
+def _schedule_background_connect(compute: Compute) -> None:
+
+    task = asyncio.ensure_future(_connect_in_background(compute))
+    _background_connect_tasks.add(task)
+    task.add_done_callback(_background_connect_tasks.discard)
+
+
 class ComputesService:
     def __init__(self, computes_repo: ComputesRepository):
 
@@ -50,6 +75,13 @@ class ComputesService:
             **compute_create.model_dump(exclude_unset=True, exclude={"compute_id"}),
         )
         self._controller.notification.controller_emit("compute.created", compute.asdict())
+
+        # auto_connect connects in the background — including when the compute
+        # was already registered on the controller — so the create request
+        # never waits for, or fails on, the connection. An explicit
+        # ?connect=true keeps its synchronous behavior via add_compute.
+        if compute_create.auto_connect and not compute.connected:
+            _schedule_background_connect(compute)
         return db_compute
 
     async def get_compute(self, compute_id: Union[str, UUID]) -> Union[models.Compute, dict]:
@@ -68,11 +100,26 @@ class ComputesService:
     ) -> models.Compute:
 
         compute = self._controller.get_compute(str(compute_id))
+
+        # remember the previous value to detect the false -> true transition below
+        previous_auto_connect = False
+        if compute_update.auto_connect:
+            previous_db_compute = await self._computes_repo.get_compute(compute_id)
+            if previous_db_compute:
+                previous_auto_connect = bool(previous_db_compute.auto_connect)
+
         await compute.update(**compute_update.model_dump(exclude_unset=True))
         db_compute = await self._computes_repo.update_compute(compute_id, compute_update)
         if not db_compute:
             raise ControllerNotFoundError(f"Compute '{compute_id}' not found")
         self._controller.notification.controller_emit("compute.updated", compute.asdict())
+
+        # Enabling auto_connect (false -> true) connects in the background: the
+        # request returns immediately and the connection status flips via
+        # compute.updated. The true -> true case is skipped on purpose so that
+        # saving an edit does not reconnect a manually disconnected compute.
+        if compute_update.auto_connect and not previous_auto_connect and not compute.connected:
+            _schedule_background_connect(compute)
         return db_compute
 
     async def delete_compute(self, compute_id: Union[str, UUID]) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/api/routes/controller/test_computes.py b/tests/api/routes/controller/test_computes.py
index 0558a62d7..08e2ec7df 100644
--- a/tests/api/routes/controller/test_computes.py
+++ b/tests/api/routes/controller/test_computes.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import asyncio
 import uuid
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import pytest
 from fastapi import FastAPI, status
 from httpx import AsyncClient
 
+from gns3server.controller import Controller
 from gns3server.schemas.controller.computes import Compute
 
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ class TestComputeRoutes:
         for param, value in params.items():
             assert response.json()[param] == value
 
-    async def test_compute_list(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+    async def test_compute_list(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient, test_compute: Compute) -> None:
 
         response = await client.get(app.url_path_for("get_computes"))
         assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
@@ -263,3 +265,152 @@ class TestComputeFeatures:
     #         response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("autoidlepc", compute_id=compute_id) + "/auto_idlepc", json=params)
     #         assert mock.called
     #         assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+
+
+class TestComputeAutoConnect:
+    async def test_compute_create_with_auto_connect(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {
+            "protocol": "http",
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "port": 84,
+            "user": "julien",
+            "password": "secure",
+            "auto_connect": True,
+        }
+
+        with patch("gns3server.controller.compute.Compute.connect", new_callable=AsyncioMagicMock) as connect_mock:
+            response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+            assert response.json()["auto_connect"] is True
+            # the create request returns immediately, the connection happens
+            # in the background
+            await asyncio.sleep(0)
+            assert connect_mock.call_count == 1
+
+        # persisted, not just echoed back
+        compute_id = response.json()["compute_id"]
+        response = await client.get(app.url_path_for("get_compute", compute_id=compute_id))
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+        assert response.json()["auto_connect"] is True
+
+    async def test_compute_create_auto_connect_defaults_to_false(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {"protocol": "http", "host": "localhost", "port": 85, "user": "julien", "password": "secure"}
+
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+        assert response.json()["auto_connect"] is False
+
+    async def test_compute_update_enable_auto_connect_connects(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {"protocol": "http", "host": "localhost", "port": 86, "name": "auto-connect-target"}
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+        compute_id = response.json()["compute_id"]
+
+        with patch("gns3server.controller.compute.Compute.connect", new_callable=AsyncioMagicMock) as connect_mock:
+            response = await client.put(
+                app.url_path_for("update_compute", compute_id=compute_id), json={"auto_connect": True}
+            )
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+            assert response.json()["auto_connect"] is True
+            await asyncio.sleep(0)  # give the background connection task a tick
+            assert connect_mock.call_count == 1
+
+            # saving the same value again must not reconnect: a manual
+            # disconnect has to survive an unrelated edit of the compute
+            response = await client.put(
+                app.url_path_for("update_compute", compute_id=compute_id), json={"auto_connect": True}
+            )
+            assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+            await asyncio.sleep(0)
+            assert connect_mock.call_count == 1
+
+    async def test_compute_update_preserves_auto_connect(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {
+            "protocol": "http",
+            "host": "localhost",
+            "port": 87,
+            "user": "julien",
+            "password": "secure",
+            "auto_connect": True,
+        }
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+        compute_id = response.json()["compute_id"]
+
+        response = await client.put(app.url_path_for("update_compute", compute_id=compute_id), json={"name": "renamed"})
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+        assert response.json()["name"] == "renamed"
+
+        response = await client.get(app.url_path_for("get_compute", compute_id=compute_id))
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
+        assert response.json()["auto_connect"] is True
+
+
+class TestComputeDisconnect:
+    async def test_compute_disconnect(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {"protocol": "http", "host": "localhost", "port": 88, "user": "julien", "password": "secure"}
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+        compute_id = response.json()["compute_id"]
+
+        compute = Controller.instance().get_compute(compute_id)
+        compute._connected = True
+
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("disconnect_compute", compute_id=compute_id))
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT
+        assert compute._manual_disconnect is True
+        assert compute.connected is False
+
+    async def test_compute_disconnect_in_use_rejected(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {"protocol": "http", "host": "localhost", "port": 89, "user": "julien", "password": "secure"}
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+        compute_id = response.json()["compute_id"]
+
+        compute = Controller.instance().get_compute(compute_id)
+        compute._connected = True
+
+        open_project = MagicMock()
+        open_project.name = "project-using-the-compute"
+        with patch("gns3server.controller.Controller.get_compute_open_projects", return_value=[open_project]):
+            response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("disconnect_compute", compute_id=compute_id))
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_409_CONFLICT
+        # the offending project names are reported to the client
+        assert "project-using-the-compute" in response.json()["message"]
+        # the compute is left untouched
+        assert compute._manual_disconnect is False
+        assert compute.connected is True
+
+    async def test_compute_disconnect_in_use_forced(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        params = {"protocol": "http", "host": "localhost", "port": 90, "user": "julien", "password": "secure"}
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("create_compute"), json=params)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_201_CREATED
+        compute_id = response.json()["compute_id"]
+
+        compute = Controller.instance().get_compute(compute_id)
+        compute._connected = True
+
+        with patch("gns3server.controller.Controller.get_compute_open_projects", return_value=[MagicMock()]):
+            response = await client.post(
+                app.url_path_for("disconnect_compute", compute_id=compute_id), params={"force": True}
+            )
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT
+        assert compute._manual_disconnect is True
+        assert compute.connected is False
+
+    async def test_compute_disconnect_local_rejected(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("disconnect_compute", compute_id="local"))
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST
+
+    async def test_compute_disconnect_unknown(self, app: FastAPI, client: AsyncClient) -> None:
+
+        response = await client.post(app.url_path_for("disconnect_compute", compute_id=str(uuid.uuid4())))
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND
diff --git a/tests/controller/test_compute.py b/tests/controller/test_compute.py
index 6a8f3b27b..66fc638f9 100644
--- a/tests/controller/test_compute.py
+++ b/tests/controller/test_compute.py
@@ -29,11 +29,13 @@ from gns3server.api.server import app as gns3_app
 from gns3server.controller.compute import Compute
 from gns3server.controller.controller_error import (
     ComputeConflictError,
+    ComputeError,
     ControllerError,
     ControllerNotFoundError,
     ControllerUnauthorizedError,
 )
 from gns3server.controller.project import Project
+from gns3server.version import __version__
 from tests.utils import AsyncioMagicMock, asyncio_patch
 
 
@@ -376,6 +378,7 @@ async def test_json(compute):
         "host": "example.com",
         "port": 84,
         "user": "test",
+        "auto_connect": False,
         "cpu_usage_percent": 0,
         "memory_usage_percent": 0,
         "disk_usage_percent": 0,
@@ -696,3 +699,87 @@ async def test_connect_http_error_notifies_schedules_retry_and_raises(compute, m
     actions = [c.args[0] for c in emit_mock.call_args_list]
     assert "compute.updated" in actions
     assert scheduled_delays == [5]  # first exponential backoff delay
+
+
+def test_auto_connect_constructor_default(controller):
+
+    assert Compute("default_auto_connect", controller=controller).asdict()["auto_connect"] is False
+    assert Compute("enabled_auto_connect", controller=controller, auto_connect=True).asdict()["auto_connect"] is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_update_auto_connect(compute, controller):
+
+    compute._controller._notification = MagicMock()
+    compute._controller.save = MagicMock()
+
+    assert compute.asdict()["auto_connect"] is False
+    await compute.update(auto_connect=True)
+    assert compute.asdict()["auto_connect"] is True
+    controller.notification.controller_emit.assert_called_with("compute.updated", compute.asdict())
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_disconnect_stops_the_notification_stream(compute, controller):
+    """
+    disconnect() tears down the notification stream, marks the compute
+    disconnected and notifies clients — without scheduling any reconnection.
+    """
+
+    assert compute.connected is True
+
+    compute._controller._notification = MagicMock()
+    started = asyncio.Event()
+
+    async def fake_notification_stream():
+        started.set()
+        try:
+            await asyncio.Event().wait()
+        except asyncio.CancelledError:
+            raise
+
+    compute._notifications = asyncio.gather(asyncio.create_task(fake_notification_stream()))
+    await started.wait()
+
+    await compute.disconnect()
+    assert compute._manual_disconnect is True
+    assert compute.connected is False
+    assert compute._notifications is None
+    compute._controller._notification.controller_emit.assert_called_with("compute.updated", compute.asdict())
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_manual_disconnect_blocks_reconnect_and_lazy_connect(compute):
+    """
+    After a manual disconnect no reconnection path may bring the compute back:
+    not the retry backoff, not the lazy connection of http_query.
+    """
+
+    await compute.disconnect()
+
+    with patch("gns3server.controller.compute.Compute.connect", new_callable=AsyncioMagicMock) as connect_mock:
+        await compute._try_reconnect()
+        connect_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+        with pytest.raises(ComputeError):
+            await compute.http_query("GET", "/capabilities")
+        connect_mock.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_connect_cancels_manual_disconnect(compute, monkeypatch):
+
+    compute._manual_disconnect = True
+
+    async def fake_capabilities(method, path, **kwargs):
+        return SimpleNamespace(json={"version": __version__})
+
+    async def fake_notification_stream():
+        return None
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(compute, "_run_http_query", fake_capabilities)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(compute, "_connect_notification", fake_notification_stream)
+
+    await compute.connect()
+    assert compute._manual_disconnect is False
+    assert compute.connected is True