When a MEP detects a fault and fault propagation is enabled for the MEP, CFM needs to communicate the fault to SMGR, so SMGR marks the SAP or SDP-binding faulty but still oper up. CFM traffic can still be transmitted to or received from the SAP and SDP-binding to ensure when the fault is cleared, the SAP goes back to normal operational state. Because the operational status of the SAP and SDP-binding is not affected by the fault, no fault handling is performed. For example, applications relying on the operational status are not affected.
If the MEP is an up MEP, the fault is propagated to the OAM components on the same SAP or SDP binding; if the MEP is a down MEP, the fault is propagated to the OAM components on the mate SAP or SDP-binding at the other side of the service.