# Target of repeat operator is not specified vCenter pattner

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296>\
**Category:** Logstash\
**Created:** [September 12, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296 "2016-09-12T13:42:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Felix\_Kutscher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/felix_kutscher/32/83575_2.png) [@Felix\_Kutscher](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Felix_Kutscher)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296/1 "2016-09-12T13:42:36Z")

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Hello,  
I use the the pattners from [http://everythingshouldbevirtual.com/logstash-vcsa-6-0](http://everythingshouldbevirtual.com/logstash-vcsa-6-0)

Now I get a Syntax error with this pattner.  
logstash-2.3.4-1

Syntax error in the given pattern \<%{INT:syslog\_pri}\>%{SYSLOGTIMESTAMP:timestamp} %{IPORHOST:syslog\_hostname} %{TIMESTAMP\_ISO8601:syslog\_timestamp} (?(?(?:[%{DATA:message\_thread\_id} %{DATA:syslog\_level} '%{DATA:message\_service}'\ ?%{DATA:message\_opID}])) [%{DATA:message\_service\_info}]\ (?(%{GREEDYDATA})))  
:target of repeat operator is not specified

Has someone a hint for me?

kr, felix

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**Author:** ![Felix\_Kutscher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/felix_kutscher/32/83575_2.png) [@Felix\_Kutscher](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Felix_Kutscher)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 9:35am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296/2 "2016-09-13T09:35:38Z")

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No one?

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**Author:** ![magnusbaeck](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/magnusbaeck/32/44943_2.png) [@magnusbaeck](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/magnusbaeck)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 10:59am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296/3 "2016-09-13T10:59:32Z")

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I suspect the repeated occurrences of `(?` are causing this. You probably meant to say `(?:` instead.

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**Author:** ![Felix\_Kutscher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/felix_kutscher/32/83575_2.png) [@Felix\_Kutscher](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Felix_Kutscher)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 2:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296/4 "2016-09-13T14:28:13Z")

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Yes, that was the problem. Thank you.

But what mean (?:

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**Author:** ![magnusbaeck](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/magnusbaeck/32/44943_2.png) [@magnusbaeck](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/magnusbaeck)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296/5 "2016-09-13T14:30:38Z")

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> <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3512471/what-is-a-non-capturing-group-what-does-do>

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/target-of-repeat-operator-is-not-specified-vcenter-pattner/60296/6 "2017-07-06T04:38:45Z")

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