else
logger.warn("Unable to find matching endpoint for target {} when storing a hint", targetId);
UUID hintId = UUIDGen.getTimeUUID();
// serialize the hint with id and version as a composite column name
CellName name = CFMetaData.HintsCf.comparator.makeCellName(hintId, MessagingService.current_version);
ByteBuffer value = ByteBuffer.wrap(FBUtilities.serialize(mutation, Mutation.serializer, MessagingService.current_version));
ColumnFamily cf = ArrayBackedSortedColumns.factory.create(Schema.instance.getCFMetaData(Keyspace.SYSTEM_KS, SystemKeyspace.HINTS_CF));
cf.addColumn(name, value, now, ttl);
return new Mutation(Keyspace.SYSTEM_KS, UUIDType.instance.decompose(targetId), cf);
}