TCAM with multi region lookups and a single logical lookup

A network element, comprising:

• multiple ports, configured to transmit and receive a plurality of packets over a network;
• a hardware fabric, configured to forward said plurality of packets between the ports;
• a packet classifier, which is configured to receive at least some of said plurality of packets and to specify an action to be applied to at least one packet of said plurality of packets in accordance with a set of rules, the classifier comprising:
• multiple Ternary Content Addressable Memories (TCAMs) comprising at least a first TCAM and a second TCAM, each of said first TCAM and said second TCAM storing a respective subset of the set of rules, each of said first TCAM and said second TCAM being configured to match said at least one packet to said respective subset of the set of rules and to output a match result;
• and
• circuitry, configured to specify the action to be applied to said at least one packet based on (i) match results produced for said at least one packet by the multiple TCAMs and (ii) a priority defined among the multiple TCAMs;
• and
• control logic, configured to apply the specified action to said at least one packet.