diff --git a/networking_generic_switch/devices/__init__.py b/networking_generic_switch/devices/__init__.py
index 31c52f63..9e986273 100644
--- a/networking_generic_switch/devices/__init__.py
+++ b/networking_generic_switch/devices/__init__.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
     {'name': 'ngs_ssh_connect_timeout', 'default': 60},
     {'name': 'ngs_ssh_connect_interval', 'default': 10},
     {'name': 'ngs_max_connections', 'default': 1},
+    # If True, disable switch ports that are not in use.
+    {'name': 'ngs_disable_inactive_ports', 'default': False},
 ]
 
 
@@ -91,6 +93,15 @@ def _get_physical_networks(self):
             return []
         return physnets.split(',')
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _str_to_bool(value):
+        truthy = ('true', 'yes', '1')
+        return str(value).lower() in truthy
+
+    def _disable_inactive_ports(self):
+        """Return whether inactive ports should be disabled."""
+        return self._str_to_bool(self.ngs_config['ngs_disable_inactive_ports'])
+
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def add_network(self, segmentation_id, network_id):
         pass
diff --git a/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py b/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py
index c1e246b7..2ae915a3 100644
--- a/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py
+++ b/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ class NetmikoSwitch(devices.GenericSwitchDevice):
 
     DELETE_PORT = None
 
+    ENABLE_PORT = None
+
+    DISABLE_PORT = None
+
     PLUG_TRUNK_PORT_TO_NETWORK = None
 
     UNPLUG_TRUNK_PORT_FROM_NETWORK = None
@@ -179,16 +183,21 @@ def del_network(self, segmentation_id, network_id):
         self.send_commands_to_device(cmds)
 
     def plug_port_to_network(self, port, segmentation_id):
-        self.send_commands_to_device(
-            self._format_commands(self.PLUG_PORT_TO_NETWORK,
-                                  port=port,
-                                  segmentation_id=segmentation_id))
+        cmds = []
+        if self._disable_inactive_ports() and self.ENABLE_PORT:
+            cmds += self._format_commands(self.ENABLE_PORT, port=port)
+        cmds += self._format_commands(self.PLUG_PORT_TO_NETWORK,
+                                      port=port,
+                                      segmentation_id=segmentation_id)
+        self.send_commands_to_device(cmds)
 
     def delete_port(self, port, segmentation_id):
-        self.send_commands_to_device(
-            self._format_commands(self.DELETE_PORT,
-                                  port=port,
-                                  segmentation_id=segmentation_id))
+        cmds = self._format_commands(self.DELETE_PORT,
+                                     port=port,
+                                     segmentation_id=segmentation_id)
+        if self._disable_inactive_ports() and self.DISABLE_PORT:
+            cmds += self._format_commands(self.DISABLE_PORT, port=port)
+        self.send_commands_to_device(cmds)
 
     def send_config_set(self, net_connect, cmd_set):
         """Send a set of configuration lines to the device.
diff --git a/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/netmiko/test_netmiko_base.py b/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/netmiko/test_netmiko_base.py
index d8356f6c..31b08d0b 100644
--- a/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/netmiko/test_netmiko_base.py
+++ b/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/netmiko/test_netmiko_base.py
@@ -76,11 +76,27 @@ def test_plug_port_to_network(self, m_sctd):
         self.switch.plug_port_to_network(2222, 22)
         m_sctd.assert_called_with([])
 
+    @mock.patch('networking_generic_switch.devices.netmiko_devices.'
+                'NetmikoSwitch.send_commands_to_device')
+    def test_plug_port_to_network_disable_inactive(self, m_sctd):
+        switch = self._make_switch_device(
+            {'ngs_disable_inactive_ports': 'true'})
+        switch.plug_port_to_network(2222, 22)
+        m_sctd.assert_called_with([])
+
     @mock.patch('networking_generic_switch.devices.netmiko_devices.'
                 'NetmikoSwitch.send_commands_to_device')
     def test_delete_port(self, m_sctd):
         self.switch.delete_port(2222, 22)
-        m_sctd.assert_called_with(None)
+        m_sctd.assert_called_with([])
+
+    @mock.patch('networking_generic_switch.devices.netmiko_devices.'
+                'NetmikoSwitch.send_commands_to_device')
+    def test_delete_port_disable_inactive(self, m_sctd):
+        switch = self._make_switch_device(
+            {'ngs_disable_inactive_ports': 'true'})
+        switch.delete_port(2222, 22)
+        m_sctd.assert_called_with([])
 
     def test__format_commands(self):
         self.switch._format_commands(