Storing keys with variable sizes in a multi-bank database

A network device, comprising:

• a plurality of interfaces associated with network communication links;
• a lookup memory storing a database distributed among a plurality of memory banks;
• and
• a packet processor coupled to the plurality of interfaces, the packet processor being configured to process network packets received via at least some of the plurality of interfaces, wherein the packet processor comprises
• a lookup value generation unit configured to generate a lookup value to be stored in the database, and
• a lookup value insertion unit configured to:
• determine that the lookup value is to be stored across a set of multiple memory banks among the plurality of memory banks, the set of memory banks including a first memory bank and a second memory bank,
• select a first hash function from among a plurality of hash functions respectively associated with the plurality of memory banks, wherein the first hash function is for determining locations for storing lookup values entirely in the first memory bank, and wherein the plurality of hash functions further includes a second hash function for determining locations for storing lookup values entirely in the second memory bank,
• perform a hash operation on the lookup value using the first hash function associated with the first memory bank to determine a memory location for storing the lookup value,
• store a first segment of the lookup value in the first memory bank at the memory location determined using the first hash function associated with the first memory bank, and
• store a second segment of the lookup value in the second memory bank at the memory location determined using the first hash function associated with the first memory bank.