diff --git a/environments/puppet-ceph-external.yaml b/environments/puppet-ceph-external.yaml
index 06e4f7aad7..5f8b02adde 100644
--- a/environments/puppet-ceph-external.yaml
+++ b/environments/puppet-ceph-external.yaml
@@ -30,5 +30,8 @@ parameter_defaults:
   # finally we disable the Cinder LVM backend
   CinderEnableIscsiBackend: false
 
+  # Uncomment if connecting to a pre-Jewel or RHCS1.3 Ceph Cluster
+  # RbdDefaultFeatures: 1
+
   # Backward compatibility setting, will be removed in the future
   CephAdminKey: ''
diff --git a/puppet/services/ceph-external.yaml b/puppet/services/ceph-external.yaml
index b898d0bf13..aaa9b03960 100644
--- a/puppet/services/ceph-external.yaml
+++ b/puppet/services/ceph-external.yaml
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ parameters:
   MonitoringSubscriptionCephExternal:
     default: 'overcloud-ceph-external'
     type: string
+  RbdDefaultFeatures:
+    default: ''
+    description: The default features enabled when creating a block device
+                 image. Only applies to format 2 images. Set to '1' for Jewel
+                 clients using older Ceph servers.
+    type: string
 
 conditions:
   glance_multiple_locations:
@@ -81,6 +87,7 @@ outputs:
       config_settings:
         tripleo::profile::base::ceph::ceph_mon_host: {get_param: CephExternalMonHost}
         ceph::profile::params::fsid: {get_param: CephClusterFSID}
+        ceph::profile::params::rbd_default_features: {get_param: RbdDefaultFeatures}
         ceph::profile::params::client_keys:
           str_replace:
             template: "{