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An airflow control apparatus includes a controllable airflow resistance aligned with an airflow path of a plurality of airflow paths, a sensor capable of detecting an airflow condition in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the controllable

An airflow control apparatus includes a controllable airflow resistance aligned with an airflow path of a plurality of airflow paths, a sensor capable of detecting an airflow condition in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the controllable airflow resistance and to the sensor, and can control the controllable airflow resistance to manage airflow recirculation based on the airflow condition detected by the sensor.

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1. An airflow control apparatus comprising: a controllable airflow resistance aligned with an airflow path of a plurality of airflow paths;a sensor that detects an airflow condition in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths;a controllable-speed fan coupled into an airflow path of the plurali

1. An airflow control apparatus comprising: a controllable airflow resistance aligned with an airflow path of a plurality of airflow paths;a sensor that detects an airflow condition in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths;a controllable-speed fan coupled into an airflow path of the plurality of airflow paths;a controller coupled to the controllable airflow resistance and the sensor, the controller comprising a logic that controls the controllable airflow resistance in combination with the controllable-speed fan to manage airflow recirculation based on the airflow condition detected by the sensor;a plurality of controllable airflow resistances; anda plurality of fans coupled into multiple airflow pathways, the controller controllably coupled to the plurality of controllable airflow resistances and to the plurality of fans, and comprising a logic that determines an airflow recirculation condition based on the airflow condition and adjusts the controllable airflow resistances and the controlled-speed fans in combination, wherein the logic detects a recirculation condition and responds to the detected recirculation by reducing fan speed in at least one selected fan and increasing a selected airflow resistance. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the controllable airflow resistance is selected from a group consisting of: controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters; andthe controllable flow resistance is configured in a form selected from a group consisting of: an assembly integrated into a chassis or housing, an assembly attachable to a chassis or housing, a separate assembly that can be positioned adjacent to a fan, an assembly integrated with a fan, and an assembly attachable to a fan. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a servo motor associated with and coupled to the controllable airflow resistance, the controller being coupled to the servo motor to supply the servo motor with signals controlling the servo motor to selectively modify the controllable airflow resistance. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the controller regulates the controllable airflow resistance to a value sufficient to eliminate recirculation and less than infinity to enable some air to be driven through a failed fan in a multiple-fan configuration by functional fans drawing air in an airflow pathway that is otherwise driven by the failed fan. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the controller includes a logic that detects fan failure and responds by controlling fan speed in selected fans in the fan plurality and controlling resistance in selected airflow resistances in the controllable airflow resistance plurality. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the controller includes firmware that detects a configuration of occupied and unoccupied component slots in the plurality of airflow paths and responds by controlling fan speed in selected fans in the fan plurality and controlling resistance in selected airflow resistances in the controllable airflow resistance plurality according to the configuration. 7. A cooling apparatus comprising: a plurality of at least partly intersecting airflow pathways, the individual airway pathways further comprising: at least one fan comprising at least one controllable-speed fan; andat least one controllable airflow resistance associated with the at least one fan;at least one sensor that monitor airflow in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths;a controller coupled to the at least one controllable airflow resistance, the at least one sensor, and the at least one fan, and that controls the controllable airflow resistances and the at least one controllable-speed fan in combination based on the monitored airflow; andfirmware executable on the controller that detects a configuration of occupied and unoccupied component slots in the plurality of airflow paths and responds by controlling fan speed in selected controllable-speed fans of the at least one fan in conjunction with controlling resistance in selected airflow resistances in the controllable airflow resistance plurality according to the configuration, wherein the firmware detects a recirculation condition and responds to the detected recirculation by reducing fan speed in at least one selected fan and increasing a selected airflow resistance. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: a process executable on the controller that detects failure of a fan and respond to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways and fan speed of a non-failing fan of the at least one controllable-speed fan in combination. 9. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of fans in the airflow pathways comprising at least one controllable-speed fan having a controllable fan speed; anda process executable on the controller that detects failure of a fan of the fan plurality and responds to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways and fan speed of zero or more non-failing controllable-speed fans in combination. 10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: the controllable airflow resistances are selected from a group consisting of: controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters; andthe controllable flow resistances are configured in a form selected from a group consisting of: an assembly integrated into a chassis or housing, an assembly attachable to a chassis or housing, a separate assembly that can be positioned adjacent to a fan, an assembly integrated with a fan, and an assembly attachable to a fan. 11. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: at least one servo motor associated with and coupled to ones of the controllable airflow resistances, the controller being coupled to the servo motor to supply the servo motor with signals controlling the servo motor to selectively modify the controllable airflow resistance. 12. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: a process executable on the controller that detects fan failure and responds by controlling fan speed in selected ones of the controllable-speed fans and controlling resistance in selected airflow resistances in the controllable airflow resistance plurality. 13. An electronic system comprising: a chassis;a plurality of components including heat-generating components mounted within the chassis;an air cooling system comprising a plurality of fans and associated controllable airflow resistances forming a plurality of at least partly intersecting airflow pathways; andan airflow control system coupled to the air cooling system and that monitors airflow in the airflow pathways and controls the airflow resistances based on the monitored airflow, wherein: the airflow control system controls fan speed selectively among the plurality of fans in combination with controlling the airflow resistances based on the airflow condition to reduce fan speed and increase airflow resistance in response to a recirculation condition; andthe airflow control system includes firmware that controls fan speed selectively among the plurality of fans in combination including detecting a configuration of occupied and unoccupied component slots in the plurality of airflow paths and responding by controlling fan speed in selected fans in the fan plurality in conjunction with controlling resistance in selected airflow resistances in the controllable airflow resistance plurality according to the configuration, wherein the firmware detects a recirculation condition and responds to the detected recirculation by reducing fan speed in at least one selected fan and increasing a selected airflow resistance. 14. The electronic system according to claim 13 wherein: the airflow control system controls fan speed selectively among the plurality of fans in combination including detecting fan failure and responding by controlling fan speed in selected fans in the fan plurality and controlling resistance in selected airflow resistances in the controllable airflow resistance plurality. 15. The electronic system according to claim 13 wherein individual airway pathways further comprise: at least one controllable-speed fan; andat least one controllable airflow resistance associated with the at least one controllable-speed fan. 16. The electronic system according to claim 13 wherein the airflow control system further comprises: at least one sensor that monitor airflow in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths; anda controller coupled to the controllable airflow resistances and coupled to the at least one sensor, and that controls the controllable airflow resistances based on the monitored airflow. 17. The electronic system according to claim 13 further comprising: a process executable on the controller that detects failure of a fan and responds to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways. 18. The electronic system according to claim 13 further comprising: at least one of the fan in the airflow pathways having a controllable fan speed; anda process executable on the controller that detects failure of a fan and responds to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways in combination with fan speed. 19. The electronic system according to claim 13 wherein: the controllable airflow resistances are selected from a group consisting of: controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters; andthe controllable flow resistances are configured in a form selected from a group consisting of: an assembly integrated into a chassis or housing, an assembly attachable to a chassis or housing, a separate assembly that can be positioned adjacent to a fan, an assembly integrated with a fan, and an assembly attachable to a fan. 20. An apparatus comprising: a cooling assembly for usage in an electronics system further comprising: a controllable airflow resistance; anda controllable-speed fan integrated with the controllable flow resistance to form a unitary assembly, the controllable airflow resistance and controllable-speed fan being adjusted in combination; andfirmware that detects a configuration of occupied and unoccupied component slots in airflow paths in the electronic system and responds by controlling fan speed in the controllable-speed fan in combination with controlling the controllable airflow resistance according to the configuration, wherein: the firmware detects a recirculation condition and responds to the detected recirculation by reducing fan speed in at least one selected fan and increasing a selected airflow resistance. 21. The electronic system according to claim 20 wherein: the controllable airflow resistances are selected from a group consisting of: controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters. 22. A method of managing airflow in a ventilation system comprising: monitoring airflow in a plurality of airflow pathways;detecting a malfunction condition on the monitored airflow;adjusting an airflow resistance to manage airflow recirculation in at least one airflow pathway in response to the detected malfunction condition;adjusting fan speed of at least one fan associated with the plurality of airflow pathways in combination with adjusting the airflow resistance in response to the detected condition;detecting a configuration of occupied and unoccupied component slots in the plurality of airflow paths;responding by controlling fan speed in the at least one fan in combination with controlling airflow resistance in the airflow pathway plurality according to the configuration;detecting a recirculation condition; andresponding to the detected recirculation by reducing fan speed in at least one selected fan and increasing a selected airflow resistance. 23. The method according to claim 22 further comprising: monitoring airflow conditions for detection of a fan failure malfunction condition and/or for detection of an unloaded condition of a fan. 24. The method according to claim 22 further comprising: regulating the airflow resistance to a value sufficient to eliminate recirculation and less than infinity to enable some air to be driven through a failed fan in a multiple-fan configuration by functional fans drawing air in an airflow pathway that is otherwise driven by the failed fan.