diff --git a/.github/workflows/est-ds-realm-separate-test.yml b/.github/workflows/est-ds-realm-separate-test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5a704f48eca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/est-ds-realm-separate-test.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+name: EST with ds realm on separate instance
+
+on: workflow_call
+
+env:
+  DB_IMAGE: ${{ vars.DB_IMAGE || 'quay.io/389ds/dirsrv' }}
+
+jobs:
+  # docs/installation/ca/Installing_CA.md
+  test:
+    name: Test
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      SHARED: /tmp/workdir/pki
+    steps:
+      - name: Clone repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Retrieve PKI images
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          key: pki-images-${{ github.sha }}
+          path: pki-images.tar
+
+      - name: Load PKI images
+        run: docker load --input pki-images.tar
+
+      - name: Create network
+        run: docker network create example
+
+      - name: Set up CA DS container
+        run: |
+          tests/bin/ds-create.sh \
+              --image=${{ env.DB_IMAGE }} \
+              --hostname=cads.example.com \
+              --password=Secret.123 \
+              --network=example \
+              --network-alias=cads.example.com \
+              cads
+
+      - name: Set up CA container
+        run: |
+          tests/bin/runner-init.sh \
+          --hostname=ca.example.com \
+          --network=example \
+          --network-alias=ca.example.com \
+          ca
+
+      - name: Install CA
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca pkispawn \
+              -f /usr/share/pki/server/examples/installation/ca.cfg \
+              -s CA \
+              -D pki_ds_url=ldap://cads.example.com:3389 \
+              -v
+
+      - name: Initialize PKI client
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca pki-server cert-export ca_signing --cert-file $SHARED/ca_signing.crt
+
+          docker exec ca pki nss-cert-import \
+              --cert $SHARED/ca_signing.crt \
+              --trust CT,C,C \
+              ca_signing
+
+          docker exec ca pki pkcs12-import \
+              --pkcs12 /root/.dogtag/pki-tomcat/ca_admin_cert.p12 \
+              --pkcs12-password Secret.123
+
+          docker exec ca pki info
+
+      - name: Create EST server certificates in p12
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca pki nss-cert-request --csr estSSLServer.csr \
+              --ext /usr/share/pki/server/certs/sslserver.conf --subject 'CN=est.example.com'
+
+          docker exec ca pki ca-cert-request-submit --csr-file estSSLServer.csr --profile caServerCert | tee output
+          REQUEST_ID=$(sed -n "s/^\s*Request ID:\s*\(\S*\)$/\1/p" output)
+
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-cert-request-approve $REQUEST_ID --force | tee output
+          CERT_ID=$(sed -n "s/^\s*Certificate ID:\s*\(\S*\)$/\1/p" output)
+
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-cert-export --output-file estSSLServer.crt $CERT_ID
+          docker exec ca pki nss-cert-import --cert estSSLServer.crt sslserver
+
+          docker exec ca pk12util -d /root/.dogtag/nssdb -o $SHARED/est_server.p12 -n sslserver -W Secret.123
+
+      - name: Add CA EST user
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-group-add "EST RA Agents"
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-user-add \
+              est-ra-1 --fullName "EST RA 1" --password Secret.est
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-group-member-add "EST RA Agents" est-ra-1
+          
+      - name: Configure CA est profile
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-profile-add \
+              --raw /usr/share/pki/ca/profiles/ca/estServiceCert.cfg
+          docker exec ca pki -n caadmin ca-profile-enable estServiceCert
+          docker exec ca pki-server restart --wait
+
+      - name: Set up EST DS container
+        run: |
+          tests/bin/ds-create.sh \
+              --image=${{ env.DB_IMAGE }} \
+              --hostname=estds.example.com \
+              --password=Secret.123 \
+              --network=example \
+              --network-alias=estds.example.com \
+              estds
+
+      - name: Create EST users
+        run: |
+          docker exec -i estds ldapadd -x -H ldap://estds.example.com:3389 \
+              -D "cn=Directory Manager"  -w Secret.123 << EOF
+          dn: dc=est,dc=pki,dc=example,dc=com
+          objectClass: domain
+          dc: est 
+          
+          dn: ou=people,dc=est,dc=pki,dc=example,dc=com
+          ou: people
+          objectClass: top
+          objectClass: organizationalUnit
+          
+          dn: ou=groups,dc=est,dc=pki,dc=example,dc=com
+          ou: groups
+          objectClass: top
+          objectClass: organizationalUnit
+          
+          dn: uid=est-test-user,ou=people,dc=est,dc=pki,dc=example,dc=com
+          objectClass: top
+          objectClass: person
+          objectClass: organizationalPerson
+          objectClass: inetOrgPerson
+          uid: est-test-user
+          sn: EST TEST USER
+          cn: EST TEST USER
+          userPassword: Secret.123
+          
+          dn: cn=estclient,ou=groups,dc=est,dc=pki,dc=example,dc=com
+          objectClass: top
+          objectClass: groupOfUniqueNames
+          cn: estclient
+          uniqueMember: uid=est-test-user,ou=People,dc=est,dc=pki,dc=example,dc=com
+          EOF
+
+      - name: Set up EST container
+        run: |
+          tests/bin/runner-init.sh \
+          --hostname=est.example.com \
+          --network=example \
+          --network-alias=est.example.com \
+          est
+
+      - name: Install EST
+        run: |
+          docker exec est pkispawn \
+              -f /usr/share/pki/server/examples/installation/est.cfg \
+              -s EST \
+              -D est_realm_url=ldap://estds.example.com:3389 \
+              -D pki_ca_uri=https://ca.example.com:8443 \
+              -D pki_server_pkcs12_path=$SHARED/est_server.p12 \
+              -D pki_server_pkcs12_password=Secret.123 \
+              -v
+      - name: Test CA certs
+        run: |
+          docker exec est curl -o cacert.p7 -k https://est.example.com:8443/.well-known/est/cacerts
+
+          docker exec est openssl base64 -d --in cacert.p7 --out cacert.p7.der
+          docker exec est openssl pkcs7 --in cacert.p7.der -inform DER -print_certs -out cacert.pem
+          docker exec est openssl x509 -in cacert.pem -text -noout | tee actual
+          docker exec est openssl x509 -in $SHARED/ca_signing.crt -text -noout | tee expected
+          diff expected actual
+
+      - name: Install est client
+        run: |
+          docker exec est dnf copr enable -y @pki/libest 
+          docker exec est dnf install -y libest
+
+      - name: Enroll certificate
+        run: |
+          docker exec -e EST_OPENSSL_CACERT=cacert.pem est estclient -e -s est.example.com -p 8443 \
+              --common-name test.example.com -o . -u est-test-user -h Secret.123
+
+          docker exec est openssl base64 -d --in cert-0-0.pkcs7 --out cert-0-0.pkcs7.der
+          docker exec est openssl pkcs7 -in cert-0-0.pkcs7.der -inform DER -print_certs -out cert.pem
+          docker exec est openssl x509 -in cert.pem -subject -noout | tee actual
+          echo "subject=CN=test.example.com" > expected
+          diff expected actual
+
+      - name: Remove EST
+        run: |
+          docker exec est pki-server est-undeploy --wait
+          docker exec est pki-server est-remove
+
+      - name: Remove CA
+        run: docker exec ca pkidestroy -i pki-tomcat -s CA -v
+
+      - name: Check CA DS server systemd journal
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          docker exec cads journalctl -x --no-pager -u dirsrv@localhost.service
+
+      - name: Check CA DS container logs
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          docker logs cads
+
+      - name: Check CA PKI server systemd journal
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca journalctl -x --no-pager -u pki-tomcatd@pki-tomcat.service
+
+      - name: Check EST PKI server systemd journal
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          docker exec est journalctl -x --no-pager -u pki-tomcatd@pki-tomcat.service
+
+      - name: Check CA debug log
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          docker exec ca find /var/lib/pki/pki-tomcat/logs/ca -name "debug.*" -exec cat {} \;
+
+      - name: Check EST debug log
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          docker exec est find /var/lib/pki/pki-tomcat/logs/est -name "debug.*" -exec cat {} \;
+
+      - name: Gather artifacts
+        if: always()
+        run: |
+          tests/bin/ds-artifacts-save.sh cads
+          tests/bin/ds-artifacts-save.sh estds
+          tests/bin/pki-artifacts-save.sh ca
+          tests/bin/pki-artifacts-save.sh est
+        continue-on-error: true
+
+      - name: Upload artifacts
+        if: always()
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: est-ds-separate
+          path: /tmp/artifacts
diff --git a/.github/workflows/est-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/est-tests.yml
index 4d052e56ad9..142067972c3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/est-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/est-tests.yml
@@ -46,3 +46,8 @@ jobs:
     name: EST with ds realm
     needs: build
     uses: ./.github/workflows/est-ds-realm-test.yml
+
+  est-ds-realm-separate-test:
+    name: EST with ds realm on a separate instance
+    needs: build
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/est-ds-realm-separate-test.yml
diff --git a/base/server/etc/default.cfg b/base/server/etc/default.cfg
index d16f63d2754..b6631111a17 100644
--- a/base/server/etc/default.cfg
+++ b/base/server/etc/default.cfg
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ pki_registry_enable=False
 [EST]
 pki_ds_setup=False
 pki_security_domain_setup=False
-pki_registry_enable=False
+pki_registry_enable=True
 pki_ca_uri=https://%(pki_hostname)s:%(pki_https_port)s
 est_ca_profile=estServiceCert
 est_ca_user_name=
diff --git a/base/server/python/pki/server/deployment/__init__.py b/base/server/python/pki/server/deployment/__init__.py
index 80a1e5f230b..9ef3c2af5fc 100644
--- a/base/server/python/pki/server/deployment/__init__.py
+++ b/base/server/python/pki/server/deployment/__init__.py
@@ -5385,6 +5385,10 @@ def create_est_subsystem(self):
 
         subsystem = pki.server.subsystem.ESTSubsystem(self.instance)
         subsystem.create()
+        subsystem.create_conf(exist_ok=True)
+        subsystem.create_registry(exist_ok=True)
+        subsystem.create_logs(exist_ok=True)
+        subsystem.add_est_config(exist_ok=True, force=True)
         return subsystem
 
     def configure_est_backend(self, subsystem):
@@ -5486,7 +5490,6 @@ def deploy_est_webapp(self, subsystem):
         if len(self.instance.get_subsystems()) == 1:
             # if this is the first subsystem, deploy the subsystem without waiting
             subsystem.enable()
-            self.instance.start()
         else:
             # otherwise, deploy the subsystem and wait until it starts
             subsystem.enable(
@@ -5528,12 +5531,11 @@ def spawn(self):
 
         if self.subsystem_type == 'EST':
             self.spawn_est()
-            return
-
-        scriptlet = pki.server.deployment.scriptlets.subsystem_layout.PkiScriptlet()
-        scriptlet.deployer = self
-        scriptlet.instance = self.instance
-        scriptlet.spawn(self)
+        else:
+            scriptlet = pki.server.deployment.scriptlets.subsystem_layout.PkiScriptlet()
+            scriptlet.deployer = self
+            scriptlet.instance = self.instance
+            scriptlet.spawn(self)
 
         scriptlet = pki.server.deployment.scriptlets.security_databases.PkiScriptlet()
         scriptlet.deployer = self
@@ -5555,10 +5557,11 @@ def spawn(self):
         scriptlet.instance = self.instance
         scriptlet.spawn(self)
 
-        scriptlet = pki.server.deployment.scriptlets.configuration.PkiScriptlet()
-        scriptlet.deployer = self
-        scriptlet.instance = self.instance
-        scriptlet.spawn(self)
+        if self.subsystem_type != 'EST':
+            scriptlet = pki.server.deployment.scriptlets.configuration.PkiScriptlet()
+            scriptlet.deployer = self
+            scriptlet.instance = self.instance
+            scriptlet.spawn(self)
 
         scriptlet = pki.server.deployment.scriptlets.finalization.PkiScriptlet()
         scriptlet.deployer = self
diff --git a/base/server/python/pki/server/subsystem.py b/base/server/python/pki/server/subsystem.py
index 3908f93becd..f57c7e1d28a 100644
--- a/base/server/python/pki/server/subsystem.py
+++ b/base/server/python/pki/server/subsystem.py
@@ -2874,9 +2874,10 @@ def authorizer_conf(self):
     def realm_conf(self):
         return os.path.join(self.conf_dir, 'realm.conf')
 
-    def create(self, exist_ok=False, force=False):
+    def create(self, exist_ok=False):
+        self.instance.makedirs(self.base_dir, exist_ok=exist_ok)
 
-        self.instance.makedirs(self.conf_dir, exist_ok=exist_ok)
+    def add_est_config(self, exist_ok=False, force=False):
 
         default_conf_dir = os.path.join(pki.server.PKIServer.SHARE_DIR, 'est', 'conf')
 
@@ -2966,6 +2967,47 @@ def replace_realm_config(self, realm_path):
             exist_ok=False,
             force=True)
 
+    def is_ready(self, secure_connection=True, timeout=None):
+        """
+        Wait for EST subsystem to become ready to serve requests.
+        Since EST do not implement yet status API the check is done agaist the web app
+
+        :param startup_timeout: Total timeout. Unsuccessful status requests will
+            be retried until this timeout is exceeded. Default: None.
+        :param request_timeout: Connect/receive timeout for each individual
+            status request. Default: None.
+        """
+
+        server_config = self.instance.get_server_config()
+
+        if secure_connection:
+            protocol = 'https'
+            port = server_config.get_secure_port()
+
+        else:
+            protocol = 'http'
+            port = server_config.get_unsecure_port()
+
+        # When waiting for a connection to come alive, don't bother verifying
+        # the certificate at this stage.
+        connection = pki.client.PKIConnection(
+            protocol=protocol,
+            hostname=socket.getfqdn(),
+            port=port,
+            accept='application/json',
+            trust_env=False,
+            verify=False)
+
+        response = connection.get(
+            '/est/',
+            timeout=timeout
+        )
+        if response.status_code == 200:
+            logger.info('Subsystem status: running')
+        else:
+            logger.info('Subsystem status: error')
+        return response.status_code == 200
+
 
 class PKISubsystemFactory(object):