Dell Networking N4000 Series Configuration Manual page 862

Figure 26-2 depicts two MEPs and the MIPs that connect them in a
maintenance domain.
Figure 26-2. Maintenance Endpoints and Intermediate Points
Maintenance Associations
An MA is a logical connection between one or more MEPs that enables
monitoring a particular service instance. Each MA is associated with a unique
SVLAN ID. An MA is identified by a maintenance association ID. All MEPs
in the MA are assigned the maintenance identifier (MAID) for the
association.
An MD consists of one or more MAs at the same domain level.
Figure 26-3 depicts one provider-level domain and two operator-level
domains. Dot1ag operation for a service instance is indicated by the path that
traverses the different domains to provide the end-to-end connectivity fault
management for the service.
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Configuring Connectivity Fault Management