This string is a qualifier elaborating on the current operational state of this internal link, as tracked on the Fabric Interconnect side. It matters on the same internal chassis backplane link, but the record kept on the Fabric Interconnect (switch) side rather than the IOM/server side because it can explain a down state on the switch side with more detail than a plain up/down reading, such as distinguishing a disabled port from one that failed link negotiation. A stateQual indicating a failed negotiation on this link's fabric-interconnect side points an admin toward a transceiver or speed-mismatch issue rather than an administrative shutdown.