diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 23d4c25bb5..cbabf997f4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -21,3 +21,4 @@ ceph-ansible.spec
 !.mergify.yml
 !raw_install_python.yml
 !requirements.yml
+.vscode/
diff --git a/group_vars/all.yml.sample b/group_vars/all.yml.sample
index 4375e99311..7a086aa898 100644
--- a/group_vars/all.yml.sample
+++ b/group_vars/all.yml.sample
@@ -368,8 +368,7 @@ dummy:
 #radosgw_address_block: subnet
 #radosgw_keystone_ssl: false # activate this when using keystone PKI keys
 #radosgw_num_instances: 1
-# Rados Gateway options
-#email_address: foo@bar.com
+#rgw_zone: default  # This is used for rgw instance client names.
 
 
 ## Testing mode
@@ -445,7 +444,7 @@ dummy:
 #   global:
 #     foo: 1234
 #     bar: 5678
-#   "client.rgw.{{ hostvars[groups.get(rgw_group_name)[0]]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
+#   "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ hostvars[groups.get(rgw_group_name)[0]]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
 #     rgw_zone: zone1
 #
 #ceph_conf_overrides: {}
diff --git a/group_vars/rgws.yml.sample b/group_vars/rgws.yml.sample
index 76e57a6e96..5445ec8f2e 100644
--- a/group_vars/rgws.yml.sample
+++ b/group_vars/rgws.yml.sample
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ dummy:
 # If you want to add parameters, you should retain the existing ones and include the new ones.
 #ceph_rgw_container_params:
 #  volumes:
-#    - /var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:z
+#    - /var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:z
 #  args:
 #    - -f
-#    - -n=client.rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}
-#    - -k=/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}/keyring
+#    - -n=client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}
+#    - -k=/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}/keyring
 
 ###########
 # SYSTEMD #
diff --git a/profiles/rgw-keystone-v2 b/profiles/rgw-keystone-v2
index 861815a075..05fc81571b 100644
--- a/profiles/rgw-keystone-v2
+++ b/profiles/rgw-keystone-v2
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 
 ceph_conf_overrides:
-  "client.rgw.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
+  "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
     "rgw keystone api version": "2"
     "rgw keystone url": "http://192.168.0.1:35357"
     "rgw keystone admin token": "password"
diff --git a/profiles/rgw-keystone-v3 b/profiles/rgw-keystone-v3
index ae5e045741..a82d96b683 100644
--- a/profiles/rgw-keystone-v3
+++ b/profiles/rgw-keystone-v3
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 
 ceph_conf_overrides:
-  "client.rgw.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
+  "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
     "rgw keystone api version": "3"
     "rgw keystone url": "http://192.168.0.1:35357"
     "rgw keystone admin token": "password"
diff --git a/profiles/rgw-radosgw-static-website b/profiles/rgw-radosgw-static-website
index 1cd18c2607..fc1ff890e0 100644
--- a/profiles/rgw-radosgw-static-website
+++ b/profiles/rgw-radosgw-static-website
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@
 # The double quotes are important, do NOT remove them.
 
 ceph_conf_overrides:
-  "client.rgw.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
+  "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
     rgw enable static website = true
     rgw dns s3website name = objects-website-region.domain.com
diff --git a/profiles/rgw-usage-log b/profiles/rgw-usage-log
index af704fb727..2f0a6021d3 100644
--- a/profiles/rgw-usage-log
+++ b/profiles/rgw-usage-log
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # The double quotes are important, do NOT remove them.
 
 ceph_conf_overrides:
-  "client.rgw.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
+  "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
     rgw enable usage log = true
     rgw usage log tick interval = 30
     rgw usage log flush threshold = 1024
diff --git a/roles/ceph-config/tasks/main.yml b/roles/ceph-config/tasks/main.yml
index acfee21d1a..3dad8af7a8 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-config/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-config/tasks/main.yml
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
         _ceph_ansible_rgw_conf: >-
           {{ _ceph_ansible_rgw_conf | default({}) | combine({
-              'client.rgw.' + ansible_facts['hostname'] + '.' + item.instance_name: {
-                'log_file': '/var/log/ceph/' + cluster + '-rgw-' + ansible_facts['hostname'] + '.' + item.instance_name + '.log',
+              'client.rgw.' + rgw_zone + '.' + ansible_facts['hostname'] + '.' + item.instance_name: {
+                'log_file': '/var/log/ceph/' + cluster + '-rgw-' + rgw_zone + '-' + ansible_facts['hostname'] + '.' + item.instance_name + '.log',
                 'rgw_frontends': 'beast ' + _rgw_beast_endpoint + _rgw_beast_ssl_option,
               }
           }, recursive=true) }}
diff --git a/roles/ceph-defaults/defaults/main.yml b/roles/ceph-defaults/defaults/main.yml
index b01aa31e2a..b4e016df53 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-defaults/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-defaults/defaults/main.yml
@@ -360,8 +360,7 @@ radosgw_address: x.x.x.x
 radosgw_address_block: subnet
 radosgw_keystone_ssl: false # activate this when using keystone PKI keys
 radosgw_num_instances: 1
-# Rados Gateway options
-email_address: foo@bar.com
+rgw_zone: default  # This is used for rgw instance client names.
 
 
 ## Testing mode
@@ -437,7 +436,7 @@ ceph_rbd_mirror_pool: "rbd"
 #   global:
 #     foo: 1234
 #     bar: 5678
-#   "client.rgw.{{ hostvars[groups.get(rgw_group_name)[0]]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
+#   "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ hostvars[groups.get(rgw_group_name)[0]]['ansible_facts']['hostname'] }}":
 #     rgw_zone: zone1
 #
 ceph_conf_overrides: {}
diff --git a/roles/ceph-handler/tasks/check_running_containers.yml b/roles/ceph-handler/tasks/check_running_containers.yml
index 0c006b8864..2f6a40ff52 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-handler/tasks/check_running_containers.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-handler/tasks/check_running_containers.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
   when: inventory_hostname in groups.get(mds_group_name, [])
 
 - name: Check for a rgw container
-  ansible.builtin.command: "{{ container_binary }} ps -q --filter='name=ceph-rgw-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}'"
+  ansible.builtin.command: "{{ container_binary }} ps -q --filter='name=ceph-rgw-{{ rgw_zone }}-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}'"
   register: ceph_rgw_container_stat
   changed_when: false
   failed_when: false
diff --git a/roles/ceph-handler/templates/restart_rgw_daemon.sh.j2 b/roles/ceph-handler/templates/restart_rgw_daemon.sh.j2
index 0c7a8ff0d7..5ea0f3c7db 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-handler/templates/restart_rgw_daemon.sh.j2
+++ b/roles/ceph-handler/templates/restart_rgw_daemon.sh.j2
@@ -13,13 +13,14 @@ fi
 INSTANCES_NAME=({% for i in rgw_instances %}{{ i.instance_name }} {% endfor %})
 RGW_IPS=({% for i in rgw_instances %}{{ i.radosgw_address }} {% endfor %})
 RGW_PORTS=({% for i in rgw_instances %}{{ i.radosgw_frontend_port }} {% endfor %})
+RGW_ZONE="{{ rgw_zone }}"
 declare -a DOCKER_EXECS
 declare -a SOCKET_PREFIX
 for ((i=0; i<${RGW_NUMS}; i++)); do
-  SOCKET_PREFIX[i]="/var/run/ceph/{{ cluster }}-client.rgw.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}"
+  SOCKET_PREFIX[i]="/var/run/ceph/{{ cluster }}-client.rgw.${RGW_ZONE}.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}"
   DOCKER_EXECS[i]=""
 {% if containerized_deployment | bool %}
-  DOCKER_EXECS[i]="{{ container_binary }} exec ceph-rgw-${HOST_NAME}-${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}"
+  DOCKER_EXECS[i]="{{ container_binary }} exec ceph-rgw-${RGW_ZONE}-${HOST_NAME}-${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}"
 {% endif %}
 done
 
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ check_socket() {
   done
   if [ $succ -ne 1 ]; then
     echo "Socket file ${SOCKET} could not be found, which means Rados Gateway is not running. Showing ceph-rgw unit logs now:"
-    journalctl -u ceph-radosgw@rgw.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}
+    journalctl -u ceph-radosgw@rgw.${RGW_ZONE}.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}
     exit 1
   fi
 }
@@ -81,10 +82,10 @@ for ((i=0; i<${RGW_NUMS}; i++)); do
 
   # Check if systemd unit exists
   # This is needed for new instances as the restart might trigger before the deployment
-  if systemctl list-units --full --all | grep -q "ceph-radosgw@rgw.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}"; then
-    systemctl restart ceph-radosgw@rgw.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}
+  if systemctl list-units --full --all | grep -q "ceph-radosgw@rgw.${RGW_ZONE}.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}"; then
+    systemctl restart ceph-radosgw@rgw.${RGW_ZONE}.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]}
   else
-    echo "Systemd unit ceph-radosgw@rgw.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]} does not exist."
+    echo "Systemd unit ceph-radosgw@rgw.${RGW_ZONE}.${HOST_NAME}.${INSTANCES_NAME[i]} does not exist."
     continue
   fi
 
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/defaults/main.yml b/roles/ceph-rgw/defaults/main.yml
index c53edd5c9a..4e16074ff5 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/defaults/main.yml
@@ -80,11 +80,11 @@ rgw_config_keys: "/" # DON'T TOUCH ME
 # If you want to add parameters, you should retain the existing ones and include the new ones.
 ceph_rgw_container_params:
   volumes:
-    - /var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:z
+    - /var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}:z
   args:
     - -f
-    - -n=client.rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}
-    - -k=/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}/keyring
+    - -n=client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}
+    - -k=/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.${INST_NAME}/keyring
 
 ###########
 # SYSTEMD #
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/handlers/main.yml b/roles/ceph-rgw/handlers/main.yml
index a0344c7fa0..54d24b781a 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/handlers/main.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 - name: Restart rgw
   ansible.builtin.service:
-    name: "ceph-radosgw@rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
+    name: "ceph-radosgw@rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
     state: restarted
   with_items: "{{ rgw_instances }}"
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/common.yml b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/common.yml
index 3b2604d3c6..225f9ecae4 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/common.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/common.yml
@@ -1,13 +1,4 @@
 ---
-- name: Create rados gateway directories
-  ansible.builtin.file:
-    path: "{{ item }}"
-    state: directory
-    owner: "{{ ceph_uid if containerized_deployment | bool else 'ceph' }}"
-    group: "{{ ceph_uid if containerized_deployment | bool else 'ceph' }}"
-    mode: "{{ ceph_directories_mode }}"
-  with_items: "{{ rbd_client_admin_socket_path }}"
-
 - name: Get keys from monitors
   ceph_key:
     name: "{{ item.name }}"
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/pre_requisite.yml b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/pre_requisite.yml
index a31b88dfb2..2f374cb075 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/pre_requisite.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/pre_requisite.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 - name: Create rados gateway directories
   ansible.builtin.file:
-    path: "/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
+    path: "/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
     state: directory
     owner: "{{ ceph_uid if containerized_deployment | bool else 'ceph' }}"
     group: "{{ ceph_uid if containerized_deployment | bool else 'ceph' }}"
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@
 
 - name: Create rgw keyrings
   ceph_key:
-    name: "client.rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
+    name: "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
     cluster: "{{ cluster }}"
     user: "client.bootstrap-rgw"
     user_key: /var/lib/ceph/bootstrap-rgw/{{ cluster }}.keyring
-    dest: "/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}/keyring"
+    dest: "/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}/keyring"
     caps:
       osd: 'allow rwx'
       mon: 'allow rw'
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 - name: Get keys from monitors
   ceph_key:
-    name: "client.rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
+    name: "client.rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}"
     cluster: "{{ cluster }}"
     output_format: plain
     state: info
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 
 - name: Copy ceph key(s) if needed
   ansible.builtin.copy:
-    dest: "/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.item.instance_name }}/keyring"
+    dest: "/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.item.instance_name }}/keyring"
     content: "{{ item.stdout + '\n' }}"
     owner: "{{ ceph_uid if containerized_deployment | bool else 'ceph' }}"
     group: "{{ ceph_uid if containerized_deployment | bool else 'ceph' }}"
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_docker_rgw.yml b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_docker_rgw.yml
index cffeec811a..c9df6c77f0 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_docker_rgw.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_docker_rgw.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 - name: Systemd start rgw container
   ansible.builtin.systemd:
-    name: ceph-radosgw@rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}
+    name: ceph-radosgw@rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}
     state: started
     enabled: true
     masked: false
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_radosgw.yml b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_radosgw.yml
index 805667548a..5de184fb1a 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_radosgw.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/tasks/start_radosgw.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 - name: Start rgw instance
   ansible.builtin.systemd:
-    name: ceph-radosgw@rgw.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}
+    name: ceph-radosgw@rgw.{{ rgw_zone }}.{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}.{{ item.instance_name }}
     state: started
     enabled: true
     masked: false
diff --git a/roles/ceph-rgw/templates/ceph-radosgw.service.j2 b/roles/ceph-rgw/templates/ceph-radosgw.service.j2
index 524817653d..38fd968183 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-rgw/templates/ceph-radosgw.service.j2
+++ b/roles/ceph-rgw/templates/ceph-radosgw.service.j2
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ Wants=network-online.target local-fs.target time-sync.target
 EnvironmentFile=/var/lib/ceph/radosgw/{{ cluster }}-%i/EnvironmentFile
 {% if container_binary == 'podman' %}
 ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/rm -f /%t/%n-pid /%t/%n-cid
-ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} rm --storage ceph-rgw-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
+ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} rm --storage ceph-rgw-{{ rgw_zone }}-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
 ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/mkdir -p /var/log/ceph
 {% else %}
-ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} stop ceph-rgw-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
+ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} stop ceph-rgw-{{ rgw_zone }}-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
 {% endif %}
-ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} rm ceph-rgw-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
+ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} rm ceph-rgw-{{ rgw_zone }}-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
 ExecStart=/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} run --rm --net=host \
 {% if container_binary == 'podman' %}
   -d --log-driver journald --conmon-pidfile /%t/%n-pid --cidfile /%t/%n-cid \
@@ -46,14 +46,14 @@ ExecStart=/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} run --rm --net=host \
 {% if radosgw_frontend_ssl_certificate -%}
   -v {{ radosgw_frontend_ssl_certificate }}:{{ radosgw_frontend_ssl_certificate }} \
 {% endif -%}
-  --name=ceph-rgw-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME} \
+  --name=ceph-rgw-{{ rgw_zone }}-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME} \
   --entrypoint=/usr/bin/radosgw \
   {{ ceph_docker_registry }}/{{ ceph_docker_image }}:{{ ceph_docker_image_tag }} \
   {{ (ceph_common_container_params['args'] + ceph_rgw_container_params['args'] | default([])) | join(' ') }}
 {% if container_binary == 'podman' %}
 ExecStop=-/usr/bin/sh -c "/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} rm -f `cat /%t/%n-cid`"
 {% else %}
-ExecStopPost=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} stop ceph-rgw-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
+ExecStopPost=-/usr/bin/{{ container_binary }} stop ceph-rgw-{{ rgw_zone }}-{{ ansible_facts['hostname'] }}-${INST_NAME}
 {% endif %}
 KillMode=none
 Restart=always