diff --git a/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/dfc-start.sh b/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/dfc-start.sh
index 808b0b1..38b78f2 100755
--- a/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/dfc-start.sh
+++ b/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/dfc-start.sh
@@ -1,12 +1,30 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+#function to load sftp servers keys to dfc app depending on KNOWN_HOSTS environment variable
+# when KNOWN_HOSTS == "all_hosts_keys" or is not set, public keys of all sftp servers are loaded
+# when KNOWN_HOSTS == "known_hosts_empty", empty known hosts file is created
+# for other strings known hosts file is not created
+function load-sftp-servers-keys() {
+  if [ -z "$KNOWN_HOSTS" ] || [ "$KNOWN_HOSTS" == "all_hosts_keys" ]; then
+    SFTP_SERVERS="$(docker ps -q --filter='name=dfc_sftp')"
+
+    for SFTP_SERVER in $SFTP_SERVERS; do
+      HOST_NAMES=$(docker inspect -f '{{ join .NetworkSettings.Networks.dfcnet.Aliases ","}}' $SFTP_SERVER)
+      KEY_ENTRY=$(echo $HOST_NAMES "$(docker exec $SFTP_SERVER cat /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key.pub)" |
+        sed -e 's/\w*@\w*$//')
+      docker exec -u root dfc_app0 sh -c "echo $KEY_ENTRY >> /home/datafile/.ssh/known_hosts"
+    done
+  elif [ "$KNOWN_HOSTS" == "known_hosts_empty" ]; then
+    docker exec -u root dfc_app0 sh -c "touch /home/datafile/.ssh/known_hosts"
+  fi
+}
+
 set -x
 
 #Start DFC app
-
 DOCKER_SIM_NWNAME="dfcnet"
 echo "Creating docker network $DOCKER_SIM_NWNAME, if needed"
-docker network ls| grep $DOCKER_SIM_NWNAME > /dev/null || docker network create $DOCKER_SIM_NWNAME
+docker network ls | grep $DOCKER_SIM_NWNAME >/dev/null || docker network create $DOCKER_SIM_NWNAME
 
 docker-compose up -d
 
@@ -14,21 +32,23 @@
 
 #Wait for initialization of docker containers for dfc app and all simulators
 for i in {1..10}; do
-  if [ $(docker inspect --format '{{ .State.Running }}' $DFC_APP) ]
-    then
-      echo "DFC app Running"
-      # enable TRACE logging of DFC
-      docker exec $DFC_APP /bin/sh -c " sed -i 's/org.onap.dcaegen2.collectors.datafile: WARN/org.onap.dcaegen2.collectors.datafile: TRACE/g' /opt/app/datafile/config/application.yaml"
+  if [ $(docker inspect --format '{{ .State.Running }}' $DFC_APP) ]; then
+    echo "DFC app Running"
 
-      #enable TRACE logging of spring-framework
-      docker exec $DFC_APP /bin/sh -c " sed -i 's/org.springframework.data: ERROR/org.springframework.data: TRACE/g' /opt/app/datafile/config/application.yaml"
+    load-sftp-servers-keys
 
-      docker restart $DFC_APP
-      sleep 10
+    # enable TRACE logging of DFC
+    docker exec $DFC_APP /bin/sh -c " sed -i 's/org.onap.dcaegen2.collectors.datafile: WARN/org.onap.dcaegen2.collectors.datafile: TRACE/g' /opt/app/datafile/config/application.yaml"
 
-      break
-    else
-      echo sleep $i
-      sleep $i
+    #enable TRACE logging of spring-framework
+    docker exec $DFC_APP /bin/sh -c " sed -i 's/org.springframework.data: ERROR/org.springframework.data: TRACE/g' /opt/app/datafile/config/application.yaml"
+
+    docker restart $DFC_APP
+    sleep 10
+
+    break
+  else
+    echo sleep $i
+    sleep $i
   fi
 done
diff --git a/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/docker-compose.yml b/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/docker-compose.yml
index 02e0eb6..f92d19f 100644
--- a/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/scripts/dcaegen2-collectors-datafile/dfc-management/docker-compose.yml
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@
       CONSUL_PORT: 8500
       CONFIG_BINDING_SERVICE: "config-binding-service"
       HOSTNAME: "dfc_app0"
+      KNOWN_HOSTS_FILE_PATH: "/home/datafile/.ssh/known_hosts"