This read-only INTEGER counts the number of near-end group failures, specifically Config-abort or Insufficient-Links conditions, that have been reported since power-up or reboot. An administrator uses this cumulative fault counter to distinguish local, near-end configuration or link-count problems from far-end or communication issues tracked by other objects in this MIB. For example, a climbing axisImaGroupNeNumFailures count would point the operator toward a local configuration issue or insufficient active links on this node's side of the IMA group, rather than a problem at the remote end.