diff --git a/ocs_ci/ocs/utils.py b/ocs_ci/ocs/utils.py
index f67d2701e8b..9212f467f23 100644
--- a/ocs_ci/ocs/utils.py
+++ b/ocs_ci/ocs/utils.py
@@ -1010,7 +1010,8 @@ def collect_ceph_external(path):
         current_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
         script_path = os.path.join(current_dir, "scripts", "bash", "mg_external.sh")
         run_cmd(
-            f"sh {script_path} {os.path.join(path, 'ceph_external')} {kubeconfig_path}",
+            f"sh {script_path} {os.path.join(path, 'ceph_external')} {kubeconfig_path} "
+            f"{ocsci_config.ENV_DATA['cluster_namespace']}",
             timeout=140,
         )
     except Exception as ex:
diff --git a/scripts/bash/mg_external.sh b/scripts/bash/mg_external.sh
index 30a18c99c0b..d6d7d586f7b 100644
--- a/scripts/bash/mg_external.sh
+++ b/scripts/bash/mg_external.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# redirect the debugging output to stdout
+exec 2>&1
 set -x
 
 # Function to print usage information