Optimizing Airflow In A Network Device

Techniques for optimizing airflow in a network device are provided. In one set of embodiments, a network device can identify one or more device components whose temperature thresholds may be adjusted to be higher (or in other words, more aggressive) than their normal values. The network device can then increase the temperature thresholds for those identified components and use the increased thresholds as static inputs to a fan control algorithm of the device. In another set of embodiments, the network device can check the current airflow within the device on a periodic basis. If the current airflow does not meet an airflow requirement, the network device can incrementally increase the temperature thresholds of the identified components, provide the increased thresholds to its fan control algorithm, and subsequently re-check the current airflow. These steps can repeat until the current airflow meets the airflow requirement.