A * next to the date in a log file indicates that the network device was unable to reach the NTP server when the log messages were recorded. This is a common indication used in Cisco devices to show that the system clock has not been synchronized with a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server, which can lead to issues with time-based configurations and troubleshooting. References: Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies (SPCOR) training12.