diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fc338c9..90e260e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
 # cephrgw-operator
 
 A Kubernetes operator that provisions Ceph RGW (S3) **buckets** and **access
-keys** declaratively, driving the Ceph **manager dashboard REST API**. You
+keys** declaratively, talking **directly to radosgw** the way the CLI does. You
 describe a bucket, its owner, and who may read or write it as custom resources;
 the operator creates the RGW users and bucket, delivers the access/secret keys
 into Kubernetes Secrets, and maintains the bucket's S3 policy.
 
-It talks only to the dashboard API (e.g. `https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net`) —
-no RADOS access, no admin socket, no in-cluster Ceph required.
+It uses native Go libraries against radosgw (e.g.
+`https://radosgw.service.consul:443`) — no manager dashboard, no RADOS access,
+no admin socket, no in-cluster Ceph required:
+
+- **[go-ceph](https://github.com/ceph/go-ceph) `rgw/admin`** drives the RGW
+  **Admin Ops API** (`/admin/...`) for users, keys, quotas and bucket
+  info/removal — pure Go, no cgo.
+- **[aws-sdk-go-v2](https://github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2)** drives the **S3 API**
+  for bucket creation, versioning, policy, tagging and object lock — the
+  operations the Admin Ops API does not expose. These are signed as the bucket
+  **owner**, so the owner owns the bucket directly.
 
 ## Custom resources
 
@@ -37,10 +46,10 @@ order objects are created or deleted. It watches `BucketAccess` and
 `ObjectStoreUser`, re-reconciling the bucket whenever a grant or user changes.
 
 ```
-ObjectStoreUser ──create user──▶ dashboard /api/rgw/user ──▶ Secret (AK/SK)
-Bucket          ──create bucket─▶ dashboard /api/rgw/bucket ─▶ owns S3 policy
-BucketAccess    ──ensure user───▶ dashboard /api/rgw/user ──▶ Secret (AK/SK, RW or RO)
-                        └────── enqueues Bucket ──▶ PUT bucket_policy (aggregate)
+ObjectStoreUser ──admin PUT /admin/user──────▶ Secret (AK/SK)
+Bucket          ──S3 CreateBucket (as owner)─▶ owns S3 policy
+BucketAccess    ──admin PUT /admin/user──────▶ Secret (AK/SK, RW or RO)
+                        └────── enqueues Bucket ──▶ S3 PutBucketPolicy (aggregate)
 ```
 
 ## Credential Secrets
@@ -50,7 +59,7 @@ into a workload:
 
 - `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID`, `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY`
 - `RGW_UID`
-- `S3_ENDPOINT`, `BUCKET_HOST` (when `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` is configured)
+- `S3_ENDPOINT`, `BUCKET_HOST` (when `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` is set)
 - `BUCKET_NAME` (on `BucketAccess` Secrets)
 
 Secrets are owner-referenced by the resource that produced them, so they are
@@ -58,10 +67,11 @@ garbage-collected when the resource is deleted.
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-The operator needs a dashboard login with the `rgw-manager` role, a dashboard
-that is wired to RGW, and (for `read-only`/non-owner `read-write` grants) Ceph
-**Reef 18.2+ / Squid**. See **[docs/ceph-setup.md](docs/ceph-setup.md)** for the
-exact commands and the `cephrgw-credentials` Secret schema.
+The operator needs an RGW user with admin caps (`users=*;buckets=*`) and its
+access/secret key, the radosgw endpoint, and (for `read-only`/non-owner
+`read-write` grants) Ceph **Reef 18.2+ / Squid**. See
+**[docs/ceph-setup.md](docs/ceph-setup.md)** for the exact commands and the
+`cephrgw-credentials` Secret schema.
 
 ## Quickstart
 
@@ -104,12 +114,11 @@ with `make patch|minor|major`.
 
 ## Notes & caveats
 
-- **Policy clearing.** Removing the last `BucketAccess` asks the dashboard to
-  clear the bucket policy. Not every release honours an empty policy string; if
-  a stale policy lingers, clear it once by hand. Adding/replacing grants always
-  works.
+- **Policy clearing.** Removing the last `BucketAccess` issues an S3
+  `DeleteBucketPolicy`. A `NoSuchBucketPolicy` response is treated as already
+  clear. Adding/replacing grants always works.
 - **Per-bucket quota.** `Bucket.spec.quota` is applied as the owner's default
-  bucket quota via the dashboard, which is per-owner rather than strictly
+  bucket quota via the Admin Ops API, which is per-owner rather than strictly
   per-bucket. Use distinct owners if you need independent bucket quotas.
 - **Immutability.** `bucketName`, an `ObjectStoreUser`'s `uid`, and object lock
   are fixed at creation; changing them on an existing object has no effect.
diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/objectstoreuser_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/objectstoreuser_types.go
index 5439623..6831c3d 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/objectstoreuser_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/objectstoreuser_types.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // ObjectStoreUserSpec defines a Ceph RGW (S3) user. The operator creates the
-// user through the Ceph dashboard API and writes its generated access/secret
+// user through the radosgw Admin Ops API and writes its generated access/secret
 // key pair into a Kubernetes Secret. The key material is never stored on the
 // resource itself.
 type ObjectStoreUserSpec struct {
diff --git a/cmd/operator/main.go b/cmd/operator/main.go
index 4ca6757..7d9e0f0 100644
--- a/cmd/operator/main.go
+++ b/cmd/operator/main.go
@@ -40,19 +40,19 @@ func main() {
 
 	cephCfg, endpoint, err := cephConfigFromEnv()
 	if err != nil {
-		logger.Error(err, "invalid Ceph dashboard configuration")
+		logger.Error(err, "invalid radosgw configuration")
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 	cephClient, err := ceph.NewClient(cephCfg)
 	if err != nil {
-		logger.Error(err, "unable to build Ceph dashboard client")
+		logger.Error(err, "unable to build radosgw client")
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 	// Fail fast on obviously-broken credentials, but do not block startup on a
-	// transiently unreachable dashboard.
+	// transiently unreachable radosgw.
 	pingCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 15*time.Second)
 	if err := cephClient.Ping(pingCtx); err != nil {
-		logger.Error(err, "initial dashboard authentication failed; continuing and will retry per-reconcile")
+		logger.Error(err, "initial radosgw authentication failed; continuing and will retry per-reconcile")
 	}
 	cancel()
 
@@ -89,24 +89,34 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
-// cephConfigFromEnv reads dashboard connection settings from the environment,
+// cephConfigFromEnv reads radosgw connection settings from the environment,
 // which the deployment sources from the cephrgw-credentials Secret.
+//
+// The operator talks to the radosgw Admin Ops and S3 APIs at
+// CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT (falling back to CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT). The returned
+// endpoint string is the S3 endpoint written into consumer credential Secrets,
+// which may differ (e.g. a public S3 name) from the API endpoint.
 func cephConfigFromEnv() (ceph.Config, string, error) {
-	cfg := ceph.Config{
-		BaseURL:  os.Getenv("CEPH_DASHBOARD_URL"),
-		Username: os.Getenv("CEPH_DASHBOARD_USERNAME"),
-		Password: os.Getenv("CEPH_DASHBOARD_PASSWORD"),
-		Insecure: os.Getenv("CEPH_DASHBOARD_INSECURE") == "true",
+	consumerEndpoint := os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT")
+	apiEndpoint := os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT")
+	if apiEndpoint == "" {
+		apiEndpoint = consumerEndpoint
 	}
-	if f := os.Getenv("CEPH_DASHBOARD_CA_FILE"); f != "" {
+	cfg := ceph.Config{
+		Endpoint:  apiEndpoint,
+		AccessKey: os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_ACCESS_KEY"),
+		SecretKey: os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_SECRET_KEY"),
+		Region:    os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_REGION"),
+		Insecure:  os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_INSECURE") == "true",
+	}
+	if f := os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_CA_FILE"); f != "" {
 		b, err := os.ReadFile(f)
 		if err != nil {
 			return cfg, "", err
 		}
 		cfg.CACert = b
-	} else if inline := os.Getenv("CEPH_DASHBOARD_CA"); inline != "" {
+	} else if inline := os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_CA"); inline != "" {
 		cfg.CACert = []byte(inline)
 	}
-	endpoint := os.Getenv("CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT")
-	return cfg, endpoint, nil
+	return cfg, consumerEndpoint, nil
 }
diff --git a/docs/ceph-setup.md b/docs/ceph-setup.md
index 12a84d0..caa2a4c 100644
--- a/docs/ceph-setup.md
+++ b/docs/ceph-setup.md
@@ -1,102 +1,73 @@
 # Ceph setup: credentials and permissions the operator needs
 
-`cephrgw-operator` never talks to RADOS or the RGW admin socket directly. It
-drives the **Ceph manager dashboard REST API** (the same API the web dashboard
-uses) at `https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net`. Everything below is about giving
-the operator a dashboard login with enough RGW authority, and making sure the
-dashboard itself is wired to your RGW.
+`cephrgw-operator` talks **directly to radosgw**, the same way the `radosgw-admin`
+CLI and S3 clients do — no manager dashboard involved. It uses two native Go
+libraries against the RGW endpoint (e.g. `https://radosgw.service.consul:443`):
 
-There are **two** credentials involved. Don't confuse them:
+- **go-ceph `rgw/admin`** → the RGW **Admin Ops API** (`/admin/user`,
+  `/admin/bucket`), signed with the operator's access/secret key, for users,
+  keys, quotas and bucket info/removal.
+- **aws-sdk-go-v2** → the **S3 API**, signed as each bucket's **owner**, for
+  bucket creation, versioning, policy, tagging and object lock.
 
-| # | Credential | Who uses it | What it is |
-|---|------------|-------------|------------|
-| 1 | Dashboard login (username + password) | the operator → `POST /api/auth` | a **dashboard account** with the `rgw-manager` role |
-| 2 | RGW admin connection | the dashboard → RGW | a **radosgw system user** (access/secret key) the dashboard is configured with |
-
-The operator only holds #1. #2 is what actually lets the dashboard create RGW
-users, buckets and bucket policies on the operator's behalf, so it must exist
-and be privileged.
+So there is exactly **one** credential to provision: a radosgw user with admin
+caps, plus its access/secret key.
 
 ---
 
-## 1. Create the dashboard login for the operator
+## 1. Create the operator's RGW admin user
 
-Create a dedicated dashboard user with the built-in **`rgw-manager`** role. That
-role grants full create/read/update/delete on the dashboard's `rgw` scope
-(users, buckets, policies) and nothing else — least privilege for this operator.
-
-```bash
-# Put the password in a file so it never lands in shell history.
-printf '%s' 'REPLACE-WITH-A-STRONG-PASSWORD' > /tmp/cephrgw.pw
-
-ceph dashboard ac-user-create k8s-cephrgw-operator -i /tmp/cephrgw.pw rgw-manager
-
-rm -f /tmp/cephrgw.pw
-```
-
-If your Ceph version wants the arguments in a different order, check
-`ceph dashboard ac-user-create -h`. To confirm the role exists and what it
-grants:
-
-```bash
-ceph dashboard ac-role-show rgw-manager
-```
-
-> Prefer `rgw-manager` over `administrator`. The operator only needs RGW
-> authority; giving it full dashboard admin is unnecessary blast radius.
-
-## 2. Make sure the dashboard can manage RGW
-
-The dashboard performs RGW operations through a **radosgw system user**. On
-recent Ceph (Pacific and later) the mgr/dashboard module usually auto-discovers
-and configures this. Verify it first:
-
-```bash
-ceph dashboard get-rgw-api-access-key   # should print a key, not empty
-```
-
-If it is empty, create a system user and point the dashboard at it:
+Create a dedicated radosgw user and give it the admin caps the operator needs.
+Only `users` and `buckets` caps are required (the operator never reads usage or
+metadata endpoints):
 
 ```bash
 radosgw-admin user create \
-  --uid=dashboard \
-  --display-name="Ceph Dashboard" \
-  --system
+  --uid=cephrgw-operator \
+  --display-name="cephrgw-operator" \
+  --caps="users=*;buckets=*"
 
-# Feed the returned keys to the dashboard.
-radosgw-admin user info --uid=dashboard \
-  | jq -r '.keys[0].access_key' > /tmp/ak
-radosgw-admin user info --uid=dashboard \
-  | jq -r '.keys[0].secret_key' > /tmp/sk
-
-ceph dashboard set-rgw-api-access-key -i /tmp/ak
-ceph dashboard set-rgw-api-secret-key -i /tmp/sk
-rm -f /tmp/ak /tmp/sk
+# Grab its keys (these become CEPH_RGW_ACCESS_KEY / CEPH_RGW_SECRET_KEY):
+radosgw-admin user info --uid=cephrgw-operator \
+  | jq -r '.keys[0] | .access_key, .secret_key'
 ```
 
-A `--system` user has the admin caps the dashboard needs to create/delete RGW
-users and buckets and to set bucket policies on any bucket. If you would rather
-not use `--system`, grant an equivalent admin cap set instead:
+If the user already exists, add the caps instead:
 
 ```bash
-radosgw-admin caps add --uid=dashboard \
-  --caps="users=*;buckets=*;metadata=*;usage=read;zone=read"
+radosgw-admin caps add --uid=cephrgw-operator --caps="users=*;buckets=*"
 ```
 
-If the dashboard reaches RGW over TLS with a private CA, you may also need:
+> `users=*;buckets=*` lets the operator create/read/delete RGW users and read/
+> remove buckets through the Admin Ops API. Bucket **creation** and all bucket
+> sub-resources (versioning, policy, tagging, object lock) go over the S3 API
+> signed as the bucket owner, so they need no extra admin cap — every RGW user
+> can manage its own buckets. The `--system` flag is **not** required.
+
+## 2. Admin Ops API must be enabled on radosgw
+
+The Admin Ops API is served by radosgw at the `admin` resource and is enabled by
+default. If your deployment has trimmed `rgw_enable_apis`, make sure it includes
+both `s3` and `admin`:
+
+```
+rgw_enable_apis = s3, admin
+```
+
+Quick check from your workstation (a `403`/`AccessDenied` still proves the
+endpoint is reachable and the API is on; a connection error means it is not):
 
 ```bash
-ceph dashboard set-rgw-api-ssl-verify true   # keep verification on in prod
+curl -sk "https://radosgw.service.consul:443/admin/user?format=json"
 ```
 
 ## 3. Bucket policy support (read-only / non-owner read-write)
 
-The operator enforces `read-only` and non-owner `read-write` grants by writing
-an **S3 bucket policy** through the dashboard's bucket API (the `bucket_policy`
-field on `PUT /api/rgw/bucket/{name}`). That field is available on **Ceph Reef
-18.2+ / Squid**. On older releases bucket creation and owner (`full`) access
-still work, but policy-based grants will fail — upgrade the cluster, or only use
-owner credentials, if you are pre-Reef.
+The operator enforces `read-only` and non-owner `read-write` grants by writing an
+**S3 bucket policy** (`PutBucketPolicy`). Bucket-policy support is available on
+**Ceph Reef 18.2+ / Squid**. On older releases bucket creation and owner
+(`full`) access still work, but policy-based grants will fail — upgrade the
+cluster, or only use owner credentials, if you are pre-Reef.
 
 Check your version:
 
@@ -108,27 +79,31 @@ ceph versions | jq -r '.mon | keys[]'
 
 The operator can stamp the S3 endpoint into every credential Secret it writes
 (`S3_ENDPOINT` and `BUCKET_HOST`) so applications don't have to hard-code it.
-This is the RGW/S3 endpoint your clients use — **not** the dashboard URL. Provide
-it via `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` (see below); if unset, those keys are simply omitted.
+Provide it via `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` (see below); if unset, those keys are simply
+omitted. This is also the default endpoint for the Admin Ops and S3 API calls
+when `CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT` is not set separately.
 
 ---
 
 ## 5. Give the operator its credentials (the `cephrgw-credentials` Secret)
 
 The operator reads its configuration from environment variables, which the
-deployment sources (via `envFrom`) from a Secret named **`cephrgw-credentials`**
-in its namespace (`cephrgw-system`). The Secret data keys map 1:1 to the env
-vars:
+deployment sources from a Secret named **`cephrgw-credentials`** in its namespace
+(`cephrgw-system`). The Secret data keys map 1:1 to the env vars:
 
 | Secret key | Required | Meaning |
 |------------|----------|---------|
-| `CEPH_DASHBOARD_URL` | yes | dashboard base URL, e.g. `https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net` |
-| `CEPH_DASHBOARD_USERNAME` | yes | the `rgw-manager` account from step 1 |
-| `CEPH_DASHBOARD_PASSWORD` | yes | its password |
-| `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` | no | S3 endpoint written into consumer Secrets |
-| `CEPH_DASHBOARD_CA` | no | PEM CA bundle to verify the dashboard TLS cert (inline) |
-| `CEPH_DASHBOARD_CA_FILE` | no | path to a mounted CA file (alternative to the above) |
-| `CEPH_DASHBOARD_INSECURE` | no | `"true"` to skip TLS verification (dev only) |
+| `CEPH_RGW_ACCESS_KEY` | yes | access key of the RGW admin user from step 1 |
+| `CEPH_RGW_SECRET_KEY` | yes | its secret key |
+| `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` | see note | S3 endpoint; written into consumer Secrets and used for API calls unless `CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT` is set |
+| `CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT` | no | radosgw endpoint for the Admin Ops + S3 API calls, if it differs from the public `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` |
+| `CEPH_RGW_REGION` | no | SigV4 credential-scope region for S3 requests (default `default`) |
+| `CEPH_RGW_CA` | no | PEM CA bundle to verify the radosgw TLS cert (inline) |
+| `CEPH_RGW_CA_FILE` | no | path to a mounted CA file (alternative to the above) |
+| `CEPH_RGW_INSECURE` | no | `"true"` to skip TLS verification (dev only) |
+
+> At least one of `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` or `CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT` must be set —
+> the API endpoint falls back to `CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT` when the admin one is unset.
 
 ### Primary method: Vault + VSO
 
@@ -143,10 +118,10 @@ Vault role or policy is required** — you only seed the values:
 
 ```bash
 vault kv put kv/kubernetes/namespace/cephrgw-system/default/cephrgw-credentials \
-  CEPH_DASHBOARD_URL=https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net \
-  CEPH_DASHBOARD_USERNAME=k8s-cephrgw-operator \
-  CEPH_DASHBOARD_PASSWORD='REPLACE-WITH-A-STRONG-PASSWORD' \
-  CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT=https://s3.ceph.unkin.net
+  CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT=https://s3.ceph.unkin.net \
+  CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT=https://radosgw.service.consul:443 \
+  CEPH_RGW_ACCESS_KEY='REPLACE-WITH-ACCESS-KEY' \
+  CEPH_RGW_SECRET_KEY='REPLACE-WITH-SECRET-KEY'
 ```
 
 The keys under that KV path are copied verbatim into the Secret, so they must be
@@ -162,10 +137,10 @@ directly instead of using Vault:
 
 ```bash
 kubectl -n cephrgw-system create secret generic cephrgw-credentials \
-  --from-literal=CEPH_DASHBOARD_URL=https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net \
-  --from-literal=CEPH_DASHBOARD_USERNAME=k8s-cephrgw-operator \
-  --from-literal=CEPH_DASHBOARD_PASSWORD='REPLACE-WITH-A-STRONG-PASSWORD' \
-  --from-literal=CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT=https://s3.ceph.unkin.net
+  --from-literal=CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT=https://s3.ceph.unkin.net \
+  --from-literal=CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT=https://radosgw.service.consul:443 \
+  --from-literal=CEPH_RGW_ACCESS_KEY='REPLACE-WITH-ACCESS-KEY' \
+  --from-literal=CEPH_RGW_SECRET_KEY='REPLACE-WITH-SECRET-KEY'
 ```
 
 The operator does not care where the Secret comes from, only that those keys
@@ -175,22 +150,19 @@ exist.
 
 ## Quick verification
 
-Once the Secret and dashboard account exist, a smoke test from your workstation:
+Once the Secret and RGW admin user exist, a smoke test from your workstation
+using the operator's keys (this is the same Admin Ops call the operator's
+readiness `Ping` makes):
 
 ```bash
-# 1. Log in and capture a token.
-TOKEN=$(curl -sk -X POST https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net/api/auth \
-  -H 'Accept: application/vnd.ceph.api.v1.0+json' \
-  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"username":"k8s-cephrgw-operator","password":"REPLACE-WITH-A-STRONG-PASSWORD"}' \
-  | jq -r .token)
-
-# 2. List RGW users — a 200 with a JSON array means the role + RGW wiring work.
-curl -sk https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net/api/rgw/user \
-  -H 'Accept: application/vnd.ceph.api.v1.0+json' \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"
+# Signing an Admin Ops request by hand is fiddly; the simplest proof is to use
+# the AWS CLI configured with the operator's keys against the S3 endpoint:
+AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=REPLACE-WITH-ACCESS-KEY \
+AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=REPLACE-WITH-SECRET-KEY \
+aws --endpoint-url https://s3.ceph.unkin.net s3 ls
 ```
 
-If step 1 fails the login/role is wrong (step 1–2 above); if step 1 works but
-step 2 returns 500/empty, the dashboard→RGW connection is not configured
-(step 2).
+A successful (even empty) listing proves the keys and endpoint work. If the
+operator logs `initial radosgw authentication failed`, the keys are wrong or the
+`admin` API is disabled (steps 1–2); if users are created but bucket policy
+grants fail, the cluster is likely pre-Reef (step 3).
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 86953b1..0a7e64d 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 module git.unkin.net/unkin/cephrgw-operator
 
-go 1.25
+go 1.25.0
 
 require (
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2 v1.43.0
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials v1.19.30
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3 v1.106.0
+	github.com/aws/smithy-go v1.27.4
+	github.com/ceph/go-ceph v0.40.0
 	k8s.io/api v0.34.4
 	k8s.io/apimachinery v0.34.4
 	k8s.io/client-go v0.34.4
@@ -10,6 +15,14 @@ require (
 )
 
 require (
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws/protocol/eventstream v1.7.14 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/configsources v1.4.31 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/endpoints/v2 v2.7.31 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/internal/v4a v1.4.32 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/accept-encoding v1.13.13 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/checksum v1.9.24 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/presigned-url v1.13.31 // indirect
+	github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/internal/s3shared v1.19.32 // indirect
 	github.com/beorn7/perks v1.0.1 // indirect
 	github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 // indirect
@@ -48,7 +61,7 @@ require (
 	golang.org/x/net v0.38.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.27.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/sync v0.12.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/term v0.30.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/text v0.23.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/time v0.9.0 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 2261246..bb98464 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,43 @@
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2 v1.43.0 h1:fharf/WhbRAVZ1du0QL7roNFxZ6T/sWr+4Ni617bwSI=
+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2 v1.43.0/go.mod h1:5pKeft2eJj+gElQ38Jqg4ibCqh+/AK33/0X3hip7IjM=
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+github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/ssooidc v1.38.0 h1:tC323YV77QdafeBr6LUhLDTsboyuyHLNRwAyCP44kGU=
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+github.com/aws/smithy-go v1.27.4 h1:JQcphmBN4f0q/sPqXqROIItRNV/hy10cgu7CsFy616M=
+github.com/aws/smithy-go v1.27.4/go.mod h1:YE2RhdIuDbA5E5bTdciG9KrW3+TiEONeUWCqxX9i1Fc=
 github.com/beorn7/perks v1.0.1 h1:VlbKKnNfV8bJzeqoa4cOKqO6bYr3WgKZxO8Z16+hsOM=
 github.com/beorn7/perks v1.0.1/go.mod h1:G2ZrVWU2WbWT9wwq4/hrbKbnv/1ERSJQ0ibhJ6rlkpw=
+github.com/ceph/go-ceph v0.40.0 h1:Wz9WOX6i73Hz74mpwhTO9S6IyX3eFPv88VUc7FRMPRk=
+github.com/ceph/go-ceph v0.40.0/go.mod h1:1oFtT/x/4y+teLsNiogdd/Kj81Gmrw6JM5w1bWnZoc4=
 github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0 h1:UL815xU9SqsFlibzuggzjXhog7bL6oX9BbNZnL2UFvs=
 github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0/go.mod h1:VGX0DQ3Q6kWi7AoAeZDth3/j3BFtOZR5XLFGgcrjCOs=
 github.com/creack/pty v1.1.9/go.mod h1:oKZEueFk5CKHvIhNR5MUki03XCEU+Q6VDXinZuGJ33E=
@@ -101,8 +139,8 @@ github.com/stretchr/testify v1.3.0/go.mod h1:M5WIy9Dh21IEIfnGCwXGc5bZfKNJtfHm1UV
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.1/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.0/go.mod h1:yNjHg4UonilssWZ8iaSj1OCr/vHnekPRkoO+kdMU+MU=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.1/go.mod h1:w2LPCIKwWwSfY2zedu0+kehJoqGctiVI29o6fzry7u4=
-github.com/stretchr/testify v1.10.0 h1:Xv5erBjTwe/5IxqUQTdXv5kgmIvbHo3QQyRwhJsOfJA=
-github.com/stretchr/testify v1.10.0/go.mod h1:r2ic/lqez/lEtzL7wO/rwa5dbSLXVDPFyf8C91i36aY=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1 h1:7s2iGBzp5EwR7/aIZr8ao5+dra3wiQyKjjFuvgVKu7U=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1/go.mod h1:wZwfW3scLgRK+23gO65QZefKpKQRnfz6sD981Nm4B6U=
 github.com/x448/float16 v0.8.4 h1:qLwI1I70+NjRFUR3zs1JPUCgaCXSh3SW62uAKT1mSBM=
 github.com/x448/float16 v0.8.4/go.mod h1:14CWIYCyZA/cWjXOioeEpHeN/83MdbZDRQHoFcYsOfg=
 github.com/yuin/goldmark v1.1.27/go.mod h1:3hX8gzYuyVAZsxl0MRgGTJEmQBFcNTphYh9decYSb74=
@@ -138,8 +176,8 @@ golang.org/x/sync v0.12.0/go.mod h1:1dzgHSNfp02xaA81J2MS99Qcpr2w7fw1gpm99rleRqA=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190215142949-d0b11bdaac8a/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190412213103-97732733099d/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200930185726-fdedc70b468f/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0 h1:ioabZlmFYtWhL+TRYpcnNlLwhyxaM9kWTDEmfnprqik=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.31.0/go.mod h1:BJP2sWEmIv4KK5OTEluFJCKSidICx8ciO85XgH3Ak8k=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0 h1:dO4czNzziLiiXplLQgBCEpCvXQ3dnkn0SdaZSYdQ+FY=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0/go.mod h1:4GL1E5IUh+htKOUEOaiffhrAeqysfVGipDYzABqnCmw=
 golang.org/x/term v0.30.0 h1:PQ39fJZ+mfadBm0y5WlL4vlM7Sx1Hgf13sMIY2+QS9Y=
 golang.org/x/term v0.30.0/go.mod h1:NYYFdzHoI5wRh/h5tDMdMqCqPJZEuNqVR5xJLd/n67g=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
diff --git a/hack/kind/manifests/operator-deployment.yaml b/hack/kind/manifests/operator-deployment.yaml
index 95d47ff..15a3507 100644
--- a/hack/kind/manifests/operator-deployment.yaml
+++ b/hack/kind/manifests/operator-deployment.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 ---
-# Dashboard credentials for local testing. Replace the values, or create the
+# radosgw admin credentials for local testing. Replace the values, or create the
 # Secret out-of-band, before applying. Keys map 1:1 to the operator env vars.
+# The access/secret key belong to an RGW user with admin caps
+# (users=*, buckets=*, metadata=read).
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: Secret
 metadata:
@@ -8,13 +10,17 @@ metadata:
   namespace: cephrgw-system
 type: Opaque
 stringData:
-  CEPH_DASHBOARD_URL: "https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net"
-  CEPH_DASHBOARD_USERNAME: "k8s-cephrgw-operator"
-  CEPH_DASHBOARD_PASSWORD: "change-me"
-  # Optional: the S3 endpoint written into credential Secrets for consumers.
+  # radosgw endpoint the operator talks to (Admin Ops + S3 APIs).
+  CEPH_RGW_ADMIN_ENDPOINT: "https://radosgw.service.consul:443"
+  CEPH_RGW_ACCESS_KEY: "change-me"
+  CEPH_RGW_SECRET_KEY: "change-me"
+  # The S3 endpoint written into credential Secrets for consumers (may be a
+  # public name that differs from the API endpoint above).
   CEPH_RGW_ENDPOINT: "https://s3.ceph.unkin.net"
+  # Optional: SigV4 credential-scope region (defaults to "default").
+  # CEPH_RGW_REGION: "default"
   # Optional: set to "true" to skip TLS verification (dev only).
-  # CEPH_DASHBOARD_INSECURE: "true"
+  # CEPH_RGW_INSECURE: "true"
 ---
 apiVersion: apps/v1
 kind: Deployment
diff --git a/internal/ceph/buckets.go b/internal/ceph/buckets.go
index 2759d8d..458e381 100644
--- a/internal/ceph/buckets.go
+++ b/internal/ceph/buckets.go
@@ -2,22 +2,25 @@ package ceph
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"net/http"
-	"net/url"
-	"strconv"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3"
+	s3types "github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3/types"
+	"github.com/ceph/go-ceph/rgw/admin"
 )
 
-// BucketInfo is the subset of an RGW bucket record the operator consumes.
-// Different Ceph releases name the id/name fields slightly differently, so the
-// struct captures the known variants and Name/ID normalise them.
+// BucketInfo is the subset of an RGW bucket record the operator consumes, as
+// returned by the Admin Ops API (GET /admin/bucket).
 type BucketInfo struct {
-	Bucket string `json:"bucket"`
-	Bid    string `json:"bid"`
-	ID     string `json:"id"`
-	Owner  string `json:"owner"`
+	Bucket string
+	Bid    string
+	ID     string
+	Owner  string
 }
 
-// Name returns the bucket name regardless of the field the dashboard used.
+// Name returns the bucket name regardless of the field radosgw used.
 func (b *BucketInfo) Name() string {
 	if b.Bucket != "" {
 		return b.Bucket
@@ -40,90 +43,160 @@ type CreateBucketSpec struct {
 	LockYears       *int32
 }
 
-type createBucketRequest struct {
-	Bucket          string `json:"bucket"`
-	UID             string `json:"uid"`
-	Zonegroup       string `json:"zonegroup,omitempty"`
-	PlacementTarget string `json:"placement_target,omitempty"`
-	LockEnabled     string `json:"lock_enabled"`
-	LockMode        string `json:"lock_mode,omitempty"`
-	LockDays        string `json:"lock_retention_period_days,omitempty"`
-	LockYears       string `json:"lock_retention_period_years,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// GetBucket fetches a bucket by name, returning an *APIError with status 404
-// (see IsNotFound) when it does not exist.
+// GetBucket fetches a bucket by name via the Admin Ops API, returning an error
+// classified by IsNotFound (admin.ErrNoSuchBucket) when it does not exist.
 func (c *Client) GetBucket(ctx context.Context, name string) (*BucketInfo, error) {
-	var b BucketInfo
-	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodGet, "/api/rgw/bucket/"+url.PathEscape(name), nil, &b, ""); err != nil {
+	b, err := c.admin.GetBucketInfo(ctx, admin.Bucket{Bucket: name})
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &b, nil
+	return &BucketInfo{Bucket: b.Bucket, ID: b.ID, Owner: b.Owner}, nil
 }
 
-// CreateBucket provisions a bucket owned by spec.OwnerUID.
+// CreateBucket provisions a bucket owned by spec.OwnerUID. The Admin Ops API
+// cannot create buckets, so the operator issues an S3 CreateBucket signed as the
+// owner (which makes the owner the bucket owner directly).
 func (c *Client) CreateBucket(ctx context.Context, spec CreateBucketSpec) (*BucketInfo, error) {
-	req := createBucketRequest{
-		Bucket:          spec.Bucket,
-		UID:             spec.OwnerUID,
-		Zonegroup:       spec.Zonegroup,
-		PlacementTarget: spec.PlacementTarget,
-		LockEnabled:     strconv.FormatBool(spec.LockEnabled),
-		LockMode:        spec.LockMode,
-	}
-	if spec.LockDays != nil {
-		req.LockDays = strconv.Itoa(int(*spec.LockDays))
-	}
-	if spec.LockYears != nil {
-		req.LockYears = strconv.Itoa(int(*spec.LockYears))
-	}
-	var b BucketInfo
-	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/api/rgw/bucket", req, &b, ""); err != nil {
+	owner, err := c.asOwner(ctx, spec.OwnerUID)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &b, nil
-}
 
-type setBucketRequest struct {
-	BucketID        string  `json:"bucket_id"`
-	UID             string  `json:"uid"`
-	VersioningState *string `json:"versioning_state,omitempty"`
-	BucketPolicy    *string `json:"bucket_policy,omitempty"`
-	Tags            *string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// SetBucketVersioning enables or suspends S3 versioning on a bucket.
-func (c *Client) SetBucketVersioning(ctx context.Context, name, bucketID, ownerUID string, enabled bool) error {
-	state := "Suspended"
-	if enabled {
-		state = "Enabled"
+	input := &s3.CreateBucketInput{Bucket: aws.String(spec.Bucket)}
+	if loc := locationConstraint(spec.Zonegroup, spec.PlacementTarget); loc != "" {
+		input.CreateBucketConfiguration = &s3types.CreateBucketConfiguration{
+			LocationConstraint: s3types.BucketLocationConstraint(loc),
+		}
 	}
-	req := setBucketRequest{BucketID: bucketID, UID: ownerUID, VersioningState: &state}
-	return c.do(ctx, http.MethodPut, "/api/rgw/bucket/"+url.PathEscape(name), req, nil, "")
+	if spec.LockEnabled {
+		input.ObjectLockEnabledForBucket = aws.Bool(true)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := c.s3.CreateBucket(ctx, input, owner); err != nil && !IsConflict(err) {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// Apply a default object-lock retention when requested.
+	if spec.LockEnabled && spec.LockMode != "" && (spec.LockDays != nil || spec.LockYears != nil) {
+		if err := c.setObjectLockDefault(ctx, owner, spec); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return c.GetBucket(ctx, spec.Bucket)
 }
 
-// SetBucketPolicy replaces the S3 bucket policy. An empty policy string asks the
-// dashboard to clear it; not every release honours clearing, so callers should
-// treat a clear as best-effort.
+// SetBucketVersioning enables or suspends S3 versioning on a bucket. bucketID is
+// unused (kept for call-site stability).
+func (c *Client) SetBucketVersioning(ctx context.Context, name, bucketID, ownerUID string, enabled bool) error {
+	owner, err := c.asOwner(ctx, ownerUID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	status := s3types.BucketVersioningStatusSuspended
+	if enabled {
+		status = s3types.BucketVersioningStatusEnabled
+	}
+	_, err = c.s3.PutBucketVersioning(ctx, &s3.PutBucketVersioningInput{
+		Bucket:                  aws.String(name),
+		VersioningConfiguration: &s3types.VersioningConfiguration{Status: status},
+	}, owner)
+	return err
+}
+
+// SetBucketPolicy replaces the S3 bucket policy. An empty policy clears it.
+// bucketID is unused (kept for call-site stability).
 func (c *Client) SetBucketPolicy(ctx context.Context, name, bucketID, ownerUID, policy string) error {
-	req := setBucketRequest{BucketID: bucketID, UID: ownerUID, BucketPolicy: &policy}
-	return c.do(ctx, http.MethodPut, "/api/rgw/bucket/"+url.PathEscape(name), req, nil, "")
+	owner, err := c.asOwner(ctx, ownerUID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if policy == "" {
+		_, err := c.s3.DeleteBucketPolicy(ctx, &s3.DeleteBucketPolicyInput{Bucket: aws.String(name)}, owner)
+		if IsNotFound(err) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err = c.s3.PutBucketPolicy(ctx, &s3.PutBucketPolicyInput{
+		Bucket: aws.String(name),
+		Policy: aws.String(policy),
+	}, owner)
+	return err
 }
 
-// SetBucketTags replaces the bucket tag set. tagsJSON is the RGW/S3 tag JSON
-// (a list of {"Key","Value"} objects).
+// SetBucketTags replaces the bucket tag set. tagsJSON is the JSON produced by
+// BuildTagJSON (a list of {"Key","Value"} objects). bucketID is unused (kept for
+// call-site stability).
 func (c *Client) SetBucketTags(ctx context.Context, name, bucketID, ownerUID, tagsJSON string) error {
-	req := setBucketRequest{BucketID: bucketID, UID: ownerUID, Tags: &tagsJSON}
-	return c.do(ctx, http.MethodPut, "/api/rgw/bucket/"+url.PathEscape(name), req, nil, "")
+	owner, err := c.asOwner(ctx, ownerUID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	type tag struct {
+		Key   string `json:"Key"`
+		Value string `json:"Value"`
+	}
+	var tags []tag
+	if tagsJSON != "" {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(tagsJSON), &tags); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("ceph: parse bucket tags: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(tags) == 0 {
+		_, err := c.s3.DeleteBucketTagging(ctx, &s3.DeleteBucketTaggingInput{Bucket: aws.String(name)}, owner)
+		if IsNotFound(err) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return err
+	}
+
+	tagSet := make([]s3types.Tag, 0, len(tags))
+	for _, t := range tags {
+		tagSet = append(tagSet, s3types.Tag{Key: aws.String(t.Key), Value: aws.String(t.Value)})
+	}
+	_, err = c.s3.PutBucketTagging(ctx, &s3.PutBucketTaggingInput{
+		Bucket:  aws.String(name),
+		Tagging: &s3types.Tagging{TagSet: tagSet},
+	}, owner)
+	return err
 }
 
-// DeleteBucket removes a bucket. When purge is true its objects are deleted too;
-// otherwise deletion of a non-empty bucket fails. A 404 is treated as success.
+// DeleteBucket removes a bucket via the Admin Ops API. When purge is true its
+// objects are deleted too. A NoSuchBucket response is treated as success.
 func (c *Client) DeleteBucket(ctx context.Context, name string, purge bool) error {
-	path := "/api/rgw/bucket/" + url.PathEscape(name) + "?purge_objects=" + strconv.FormatBool(purge)
-	err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodDelete, path, nil, nil, "")
+	err := c.admin.RemoveBucket(ctx, admin.Bucket{Bucket: name, PurgeObject: &purge})
 	if IsNotFound(err) {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return err
 }
+
+// setObjectLockDefault sets the bucket's default object-lock retention.
+func (c *Client) setObjectLockDefault(ctx context.Context, owner func(*s3.Options), spec CreateBucketSpec) error {
+	_, err := c.s3.PutObjectLockConfiguration(ctx, &s3.PutObjectLockConfigurationInput{
+		Bucket: aws.String(spec.Bucket),
+		ObjectLockConfiguration: &s3types.ObjectLockConfiguration{
+			ObjectLockEnabled: s3types.ObjectLockEnabledEnabled,
+			Rule: &s3types.ObjectLockRule{
+				DefaultRetention: &s3types.DefaultRetention{
+					Mode:  s3types.ObjectLockRetentionMode(spec.LockMode),
+					Days:  spec.LockDays,
+					Years: spec.LockYears,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}, owner)
+	return err
+}
+
+// locationConstraint renders the RGW LocationConstraint from a zonegroup and
+// placement target ("<zonegroup>:<placement>"), or "" for default placement.
+func locationConstraint(zonegroup, placement string) string {
+	loc := zonegroup
+	if placement != "" {
+		loc = zonegroup + ":" + placement
+	}
+	return loc
+}
diff --git a/internal/ceph/client.go b/internal/ceph/client.go
index 8203d06..0bd985c 100644
--- a/internal/ceph/client.go
+++ b/internal/ceph/client.go
@@ -1,39 +1,50 @@
-// Package ceph is a small client for the Ceph manager dashboard REST API,
-// scoped to the RGW (S3) user and bucket endpoints the operator needs.
+// Package ceph is a small client for the Ceph RGW (radosgw) admin and S3 APIs,
+// scoped to the user, bucket and policy operations the operator needs.
 //
-// The dashboard authenticates with a username/password to POST /api/auth, which
-// returns a bearer (JWT) token. The client caches that token and transparently
-// re-authenticates when the server returns 401 (expired/invalid token).
+// It talks directly to radosgw (e.g. https://radosgw.service.consul:443) rather
+// than the manager dashboard, via two native Go libraries:
+//
+//   - github.com/ceph/go-ceph/rgw/admin drives the RGW Admin Ops API
+//     (/admin/...), signed with the operator's admin access/secret key, to
+//     manage users, keys, quotas and bucket info/removal.
+//   - github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3 drives the S3 API (/), signed as
+//     the bucket's owner, to create buckets and set versioning, tagging, policy
+//     and object lock — operations the Admin Ops API does not expose.
 package ceph
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"crypto/x509"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3"
+	smithy "github.com/aws/smithy-go"
+	awshttp "github.com/aws/smithy-go/transport/http"
+	"github.com/ceph/go-ceph/rgw/admin"
 )
 
-// defaultAccept is the versioned media type the Ceph dashboard requires on its
-// RGW endpoints. The dashboard rejects requests without a matching version.
-const defaultAccept = "application/vnd.ceph.api.v1.0+json"
-
-// Config configures a dashboard Client.
+// Config configures a Client.
 type Config struct {
-	// BaseURL is the dashboard root, e.g. https://dashboard.ceph.unkin.net.
-	BaseURL string
-	// Username / Password authenticate to POST /api/auth. The account needs the
-	// rgw-manager role (or admin) on the dashboard.
-	Username string
-	Password string
-	// CACert is an optional PEM bundle used to verify the dashboard TLS cert.
+	// Endpoint is the radosgw root, e.g. https://radosgw.service.consul:443.
+	Endpoint string
+	// AccessKey / SecretKey are the S3 credentials of an RGW user holding the
+	// admin caps the operator needs (users=*, buckets=*).
+	AccessKey string
+	SecretKey string
+	// Region is the SigV4 credential-scope region used for S3 requests. radosgw
+	// verifies the signature against whatever region the client used, so any
+	// consistent value works; defaults to "default". (The go-ceph admin client
+	// always signs its own requests with region "default".)
+	Region string
+	// CACert is an optional PEM bundle used to verify the radosgw TLS cert.
 	CACert []byte
 	// Insecure disables TLS verification (not recommended).
 	Insecure bool
@@ -41,49 +52,80 @@ type Config struct {
 	Timeout time.Duration
 }
 
-// Client talks to the Ceph dashboard API. It is safe for concurrent use.
+// Client talks to radosgw. It is safe for concurrent use.
 type Client struct {
-	base string
-	user string
-	pass string
-	http *http.Client
+	admin  *admin.API
+	s3     *s3.Client
+	region string
 
-	mu    sync.Mutex
-	token string
+	// keyCache memoises owner uid -> S3 credentials (via the Admin Ops API) so
+	// per-owner S3 calls do not re-fetch keys on every reconcile.
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	keyCache map[string]aws.CredentialsProvider
 }
 
-// APIError is returned for any non-2xx dashboard response.
-type APIError struct {
-	Status int
-	Method string
-	Path   string
-	Body   string
+// notFoundCodes and conflictCodes classify RGW/S3 error codes that surface only
+// as a generic smithy.APIError (i.e. not a modeled S3 error type).
+var notFoundCodes = map[string]bool{
+	"NoSuchUser": true, "NoSuchBucket": true, "NoSuchKey": true,
+	"NoSuchBucketPolicy": true, "NoSuchTagSet": true,
+	"NoSuchTagSetError": true, "NotFound": true,
 }
 
-func (e *APIError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("ceph dashboard %s %s: status %d: %s", e.Method, e.Path, e.Status, e.Body)
+var conflictCodes = map[string]bool{
+	"BucketAlreadyExists": true, "BucketAlreadyOwnedByYou": true, "UserAlreadyExists": true,
 }
 
-// IsNotFound reports whether err is a 404 from the dashboard.
+// IsNotFound reports whether err represents a missing user, bucket, key, policy
+// or tag set, on either the admin or the S3 path.
 func IsNotFound(err error) bool {
-	var a *APIError
-	return errors.As(err, &a) && a.Status == http.StatusNotFound
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, admin.ErrNoSuchUser) || errors.Is(err, admin.ErrNoSuchBucket) ||
+		errors.Is(err, admin.ErrNoSuchKey) || errors.Is(err, admin.ErrNoSuchObject) {
+		return true
+	}
+	var apiErr smithy.APIError
+	if errors.As(err, &apiErr) && notFoundCodes[apiErr.ErrorCode()] {
+		return true
+	}
+	var respErr *awshttp.ResponseError
+	if errors.As(err, &respErr) && respErr.HTTPStatusCode() == http.StatusNotFound {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
-// IsConflict reports whether err is a 409 from the dashboard.
+// IsConflict reports whether err represents an already-exists conflict on either
+// the admin or the S3 path.
 func IsConflict(err error) bool {
-	var a *APIError
-	return errors.As(err, &a) && a.Status == http.StatusConflict
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, admin.ErrUserExists) || errors.Is(err, admin.ErrEmailExists) ||
+		errors.Is(err, admin.ErrKeyExists) || errors.Is(err, admin.ErrBucketNotEmpty) {
+		return true
+	}
+	var apiErr smithy.APIError
+	if errors.As(err, &apiErr) && conflictCodes[apiErr.ErrorCode()] {
+		return true
+	}
+	var respErr *awshttp.ResponseError
+	if errors.As(err, &respErr) && respErr.HTTPStatusCode() == http.StatusConflict {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
 // NewClient validates cfg and builds a Client.
 func NewClient(cfg Config) (*Client, error) {
-	base := strings.TrimRight(cfg.BaseURL, "/")
-	if base == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ceph: dashboard base URL is required")
+	endpoint := strings.TrimRight(cfg.Endpoint, "/")
+	if endpoint == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ceph: radosgw endpoint is required")
 	}
-	if cfg.Username == "" || cfg.Password == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ceph: dashboard username and password are required")
+	if cfg.AccessKey == "" || cfg.SecretKey == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ceph: radosgw admin access and secret key are required")
 	}
 
 	tlsCfg := &tls.Config{InsecureSkipVerify: cfg.Insecure} //nolint:gosec // opt-in via config
@@ -99,124 +141,84 @@ func NewClient(cfg Config) (*Client, error) {
 	if timeout == 0 {
 		timeout = 30 * time.Second
 	}
+	region := cfg.Region
+	if region == "" {
+		region = "default"
+	}
+
+	httpClient := &http.Client{
+		Timeout:   timeout,
+		Transport: &http.Transport{TLSClientConfig: tlsCfg},
+	}
+
+	adminAPI, err := admin.New(endpoint, cfg.AccessKey, cfg.SecretKey, httpClient)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ceph: build admin client: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	s3Client := s3.New(s3.Options{
+		Region:       region,
+		Credentials:  credentials.NewStaticCredentialsProvider(cfg.AccessKey, cfg.SecretKey, ""),
+		HTTPClient:   httpClient,
+		BaseEndpoint: aws.String(endpoint),
+		// radosgw serves buckets path-style, not virtual-host style.
+		UsePathStyle: true,
+		// radosgw (pre-Reef backports) rejects the SDK's default CRC32 /
+		// aws-chunked integrity protections; only send checksums when the API
+		// requires them.
+		RequestChecksumCalculation: aws.RequestChecksumCalculationWhenRequired,
+		ResponseChecksumValidation: aws.ResponseChecksumValidationWhenRequired,
+	})
 
 	return &Client{
-		base: base,
-		user: cfg.Username,
-		pass: cfg.Password,
-		http: &http.Client{
-			Timeout:   timeout,
-			Transport: &http.Transport{TLSClientConfig: tlsCfg},
-		},
+		admin:    adminAPI,
+		s3:       s3Client,
+		region:   region,
+		keyCache: map[string]aws.CredentialsProvider{},
 	}, nil
 }
 
-// do performs an authenticated request, decoding a 2xx JSON body into out (when
-// non-nil). On a 401 it drops the cached token, re-authenticates, and retries
-// once. accept overrides the Accept header version when non-empty.
-func (c *Client) do(ctx context.Context, method, path string, body, out any, accept string) error {
-	if accept == "" {
-		accept = defaultAccept
-	}
-	tok, err := c.ensureToken(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	status, err := c.execute(ctx, method, path, body, accept, tok, out)
-	if status == http.StatusUnauthorized {
-		c.clearToken()
-		tok, err = c.ensureToken(ctx)
+// asOwner returns a per-call S3 option that signs the request as the RGW user
+// uid, looking up (and caching) the user's first key pair via the Admin Ops API.
+// Signing S3 sub-resource operations as the bucket owner (rather than the admin
+// user) makes the owner the bucket owner directly and keeps RGW's per-user S3
+// authorization intact.
+func (c *Client) asOwner(ctx context.Context, uid string) (func(*s3.Options), error) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	provider, ok := c.keyCache[uid]
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	if !ok {
+		user, err := c.GetUser(ctx, uid)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return nil, err
 		}
-		_, err = c.execute(ctx, method, path, body, accept, tok, out)
+		key, has := user.S3Key()
+		if !has {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("ceph: user %s has no S3 keys to sign bucket operations", uid)
+		}
+		provider = credentials.NewStaticCredentialsProvider(key.AccessKey, key.SecretKey, "")
+		c.mu.Lock()
+		c.keyCache[uid] = provider
+		c.mu.Unlock()
 	}
-	return err
+	return func(o *s3.Options) { o.Credentials = provider }, nil
 }
 
-func (c *Client) ensureToken(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+// forgetIdentity drops any cached S3 credentials for uid, e.g. after its keys
+// may have changed.
+func (c *Client) forgetIdentity(uid string) {
 	c.mu.Lock()
-	defer c.mu.Unlock()
-	if c.token != "" {
-		return c.token, nil
-	}
-	tok, err := c.login(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	c.token = tok
-	return tok, nil
-}
-
-func (c *Client) clearToken() {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	c.token = ""
+	delete(c.keyCache, uid)
 	c.mu.Unlock()
 }
 
-func (c *Client) login(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
-	var out struct {
-		Token string `json:"token"`
-	}
-	payload := map[string]string{"username": c.user, "password": c.pass}
-	if _, err := c.execute(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/api/auth", payload, defaultAccept, "", &out); err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("dashboard login failed: %w", err)
-	}
-	if out.Token == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("dashboard login returned no token")
-	}
-	return out.Token, nil
-}
-
-// execute runs a single request and returns the HTTP status. A non-2xx status
-// yields an *APIError. token is sent as a bearer when non-empty.
-func (c *Client) execute(ctx context.Context, method, path string, body any, accept, token string, out any) (int, error) {
-	var reader io.Reader
-	if body != nil {
-		b, err := json.Marshal(body)
-		if err != nil {
-			return 0, fmt.Errorf("marshal request body: %w", err)
-		}
-		reader = bytes.NewReader(b)
-	}
-
-	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, method, c.base+path, reader)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	}
-	req.Header.Set("Accept", accept)
-	if body != nil {
-		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-	}
-	if token != "" {
-		req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+token)
-	}
-
-	resp, err := c.http.Do(req)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	}
-	defer resp.Body.Close()
-
-	data, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-	if resp.StatusCode < 200 || resp.StatusCode >= 300 {
-		return resp.StatusCode, &APIError{
-			Status: resp.StatusCode,
-			Method: method,
-			Path:   path,
-			Body:   strings.TrimSpace(string(data)),
-		}
-	}
-	if out != nil && len(data) > 0 {
-		if err := json.Unmarshal(data, out); err != nil {
-			return resp.StatusCode, fmt.Errorf("decode %s %s response: %w", method, path, err)
-		}
-	}
-	return resp.StatusCode, nil
-}
-
-// Ping verifies connectivity and credentials by authenticating.
+// Ping verifies connectivity and that the admin credentials sign correctly. It
+// asks the Admin Ops API for a sentinel user: a NoSuchUser answer still proves
+// the request authenticated, so only transport/auth errors fail the check.
 func (c *Client) Ping(ctx context.Context) error {
-	_, err := c.ensureToken(ctx)
+	_, err := c.GetUser(ctx, "cephrgw-operator-ping-nonexistent")
+	if err == nil || IsNotFound(err) {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/internal/ceph/client_test.go b/internal/ceph/client_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8595f46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/ceph/client_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package ceph
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	s3types "github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3/types"
+	smithy "github.com/aws/smithy-go"
+	"github.com/ceph/go-ceph/rgw/admin"
+)
+
+func TestNewClientValidation(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name    string
+		cfg     Config
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{"ok", Config{Endpoint: "https://rgw:443", AccessKey: "a", SecretKey: "s"}, false},
+		{"no endpoint", Config{AccessKey: "a", SecretKey: "s"}, true},
+		{"no access key", Config{Endpoint: "https://rgw:443", SecretKey: "s"}, true},
+		{"no secret key", Config{Endpoint: "https://rgw:443", AccessKey: "a"}, true},
+		{"bad ca", Config{Endpoint: "https://rgw:443", AccessKey: "a", SecretKey: "s", CACert: []byte("not pem")}, true},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, err := NewClient(tc.cfg)
+			if (err != nil) != tc.wantErr {
+				t.Fatalf("NewClient err=%v wantErr=%v", err, tc.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		err  error
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"nil", nil, false},
+		{"admin no such user", admin.ErrNoSuchUser, true},
+		{"admin no such bucket", admin.ErrNoSuchBucket, true},
+		{"admin no such key", admin.ErrNoSuchKey, true},
+		{"s3 no such bucket", &s3types.NoSuchBucket{}, true},
+		{"s3 no such key", &s3types.NoSuchKey{}, true},
+		{"generic no such bucket policy", &smithy.GenericAPIError{Code: "NoSuchBucketPolicy"}, true},
+		{"generic no such tag set", &smithy.GenericAPIError{Code: "NoSuchTagSet"}, true},
+		{"admin user exists is not notfound", admin.ErrUserExists, false},
+		{"unrelated", &smithy.GenericAPIError{Code: "AccessDenied"}, false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := IsNotFound(tc.err); got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("IsNotFound(%v)=%v want %v", tc.err, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsConflict(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		err  error
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"nil", nil, false},
+		{"admin user exists", admin.ErrUserExists, true},
+		{"admin bucket not empty", admin.ErrBucketNotEmpty, true},
+		{"s3 bucket already owned by you", &s3types.BucketAlreadyOwnedByYou{}, true},
+		{"s3 bucket already exists", &s3types.BucketAlreadyExists{}, true},
+		{"generic bucket already exists", &smithy.GenericAPIError{Code: "BucketAlreadyExists"}, true},
+		{"admin no such user is not conflict", admin.ErrNoSuchUser, false},
+		{"unrelated", &smithy.GenericAPIError{Code: "AccessDenied"}, false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := IsConflict(tc.err); got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("IsConflict(%v)=%v want %v", tc.err, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/ceph/policy.go b/internal/ceph/policy.go
index 7c433f7..0e14a9a 100644
--- a/internal/ceph/policy.go
+++ b/internal/ceph/policy.go
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ func sid(prefix, uid string) string {
 	return b.String()
 }
 
-// BuildTagJSON renders bucket tags in the JSON form the dashboard expects.
+// BuildTagJSON renders bucket tags as a {Key,Value} JSON list, the intermediate
+// form SetBucketTags parses and re-encodes into the S3 Tagging XML document.
 func BuildTagJSON(tags map[string]string) (string, error) {
 	if len(tags) == 0 {
 		return "", nil
diff --git a/internal/ceph/users.go b/internal/ceph/users.go
index d8dc459..bf9e3bc 100644
--- a/internal/ceph/users.go
+++ b/internal/ceph/users.go
@@ -2,25 +2,25 @@ package ceph
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"net/http"
-	"net/url"
+
+	"github.com/ceph/go-ceph/rgw/admin"
 )
 
 // UserKey is an S3 access/secret key pair belonging to an RGW user.
 type UserKey struct {
-	User      string `json:"user"`
-	AccessKey string `json:"access_key"`
-	SecretKey string `json:"secret_key"`
+	User      string
+	AccessKey string
+	SecretKey string
 }
 
 // User is the subset of an RGW user record the operator consumes.
 type User struct {
-	UID         string    `json:"user_id"`
-	DisplayName string    `json:"display_name"`
-	Email       string    `json:"email"`
-	MaxBuckets  int       `json:"max_buckets"`
-	Suspended   int       `json:"suspended"`
-	Keys        []UserKey `json:"keys"`
+	UID         string
+	DisplayName string
+	Email       string
+	MaxBuckets  int
+	Suspended   int
+	Keys        []UserKey
 }
 
 // S3Key returns the first access/secret key pair, if any.
@@ -40,92 +40,87 @@ type UserSpec struct {
 	Suspended   bool
 }
 
-type createUserRequest struct {
-	UID         string `json:"uid"`
-	DisplayName string `json:"display_name"`
-	Email       string `json:"email,omitempty"`
-	MaxBuckets  *int32 `json:"max_buckets,omitempty"`
-	Suspended   bool   `json:"suspended"`
-	GenerateKey bool   `json:"generate_key"`
+// fromAdminUser converts a go-ceph admin.User into the subset the operator uses.
+func fromAdminUser(u admin.User) *User {
+	out := &User{
+		UID:         u.ID,
+		DisplayName: u.DisplayName,
+		Email:       u.Email,
+		MaxBuckets:  derefInt(u.MaxBuckets),
+		Suspended:   derefInt(u.Suspended),
+	}
+	for _, k := range u.Keys {
+		out.Keys = append(out.Keys, UserKey{User: k.User, AccessKey: k.AccessKey, SecretKey: k.SecretKey})
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
-type updateUserRequest struct {
-	DisplayName string `json:"display_name"`
-	Email       string `json:"email,omitempty"`
-	MaxBuckets  *int32 `json:"max_buckets,omitempty"`
-	Suspended   bool   `json:"suspended"`
-}
-
-// GetUser fetches an RGW user by uid, returning an *APIError with status 404
-// (see IsNotFound) when it does not exist.
+// GetUser fetches an RGW user by uid, returning an error classified by
+// IsNotFound (admin.ErrNoSuchUser) when it does not exist.
 func (c *Client) GetUser(ctx context.Context, uid string) (*User, error) {
-	var u User
-	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodGet, "/api/rgw/user/"+url.PathEscape(uid), nil, &u, ""); err != nil {
+	u, err := c.admin.GetUser(ctx, admin.User{ID: uid})
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &u, nil
+	return fromAdminUser(u), nil
 }
 
-// CreateUser creates an RGW user, asking the dashboard to generate an S3 key
-// pair. The returned User carries the generated keys.
+// CreateUser creates an RGW user, asking radosgw to generate an S3 key pair. The
+// returned User carries the generated keys.
 func (c *Client) CreateUser(ctx context.Context, spec UserSpec) (*User, error) {
-	req := createUserRequest{
-		UID:         spec.UID,
+	u, err := c.admin.CreateUser(ctx, admin.User{
+		ID:          spec.UID,
 		DisplayName: firstNonEmpty(spec.DisplayName, spec.UID),
 		Email:       spec.Email,
-		MaxBuckets:  spec.MaxBuckets,
-		Suspended:   spec.Suspended,
-		GenerateKey: true,
-	}
-	var u User
-	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/api/rgw/user", req, &u, ""); err != nil {
+		MaxBuckets:  int32PtrToIntPtr(spec.MaxBuckets),
+		Suspended:   boolToIntPtr(spec.Suspended),
+		GenerateKey: boolPtr(true),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &u, nil
+	c.forgetIdentity(spec.UID)
+	return fromAdminUser(u), nil
 }
 
 // UpdateUser reconciles the mutable attributes of an existing RGW user.
 func (c *Client) UpdateUser(ctx context.Context, spec UserSpec) (*User, error) {
-	req := updateUserRequest{
+	u, err := c.admin.ModifyUser(ctx, admin.User{
+		ID:          spec.UID,
 		DisplayName: firstNonEmpty(spec.DisplayName, spec.UID),
 		Email:       spec.Email,
-		MaxBuckets:  spec.MaxBuckets,
-		Suspended:   spec.Suspended,
-	}
-	var u User
-	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPut, "/api/rgw/user/"+url.PathEscape(spec.UID), req, &u, ""); err != nil {
+		MaxBuckets:  int32PtrToIntPtr(spec.MaxBuckets),
+		Suspended:   boolToIntPtr(spec.Suspended),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &u, nil
+	return fromAdminUser(u), nil
 }
 
-// DeleteUser removes an RGW user. A 404 is treated as success.
+// DeleteUser removes an RGW user. A NoSuchUser response is treated as success.
 func (c *Client) DeleteUser(ctx context.Context, uid string) error {
-	err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodDelete, "/api/rgw/user/"+url.PathEscape(uid), nil, nil, "")
+	err := c.admin.RemoveUser(ctx, admin.User{ID: uid})
+	c.forgetIdentity(uid)
 	if IsNotFound(err) {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return err
 }
 
-type quotaRequest struct {
-	QuotaType  string `json:"quota_type"`
-	Enabled    bool   `json:"enabled"`
-	MaxSizeKb  int64  `json:"max_size_kb"`
-	MaxObjects int64  `json:"max_objects"`
-}
-
 // SetUserQuota applies a quota to a user. quotaType is "user" or "bucket" (the
 // latter sets the per-bucket default for buckets the user owns). A nil or
 // negative limit means unlimited for that dimension.
 func (c *Client) SetUserQuota(ctx context.Context, uid, quotaType string, enabled bool, maxSizeBytes, maxObjects *int64) error {
-	req := quotaRequest{
+	maxSize := valueOr(maxSizeBytes, -1)
+	maxObj := valueOr(maxObjects, -1)
+	return c.admin.SetUserQuota(ctx, admin.QuotaSpec{
+		UID:        uid,
 		QuotaType:  quotaType,
-		Enabled:    enabled,
-		MaxSizeKb:  bytesToKb(maxSizeBytes),
-		MaxObjects: valueOr(maxObjects, -1),
-	}
-	return c.do(ctx, http.MethodPut, "/api/rgw/user/"+url.PathEscape(uid)+"/quota", req, nil, "")
+		Enabled:    &enabled,
+		MaxSize:    &maxSize,
+		MaxObjects: &maxObj,
+	})
 }
 
 func firstNonEmpty(vals ...string) string {
@@ -137,16 +132,34 @@ func firstNonEmpty(vals ...string) string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func bytesToKb(b *int64) int64 {
-	if b == nil || *b < 0 {
-		return -1
-	}
-	return *b / 1024
-}
-
 func valueOr(v *int64, fallback int64) int64 {
 	if v == nil || *v < 0 {
 		return fallback
 	}
 	return *v
 }
+
+func derefInt(p *int) int {
+	if p == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return *p
+}
+
+func boolPtr(b bool) *bool { return &b }
+
+func int32PtrToIntPtr(p *int32) *int {
+	if p == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	v := int(*p)
+	return &v
+}
+
+func boolToIntPtr(b bool) *int {
+	v := 0
+	if b {
+		v = 1
+	}
+	return &v
+}