Abstract: A network device includes a memory, a memory access circuit, and a processor. The memory is configured to store a hash table for accessing a database of network addresses, the hash table including multiple buckets, each bucket dimensioned to store entries for up to a maximal permitted number of the network addresses. The memory access circuit is configured to receive a network address, to calculate a hash value over at least the network address by applying a hashing scheme selected from among a plurality of hashing schemes, to choose a bucket of the hash table based on the hash value, and to access information in the database pertaining to the network address by accessing the selected bucket. The processor is configured to select the hashing scheme to ensure that none of the buckets will be mapped to more than the maximal permitted number of the network addresses.