The present invention is directed to a sequential tester for longest
prefix search engines. The tester may include a longest prefix search
engine, an inputs generator for providing a nearly random flow of input
commands to the longest prefix search engine and for outputting a
floating rectangle which may represent a search table of the longest
prefix search engine, a coding module for providing address and prefix
information to the longest prefix search engine, a mapping module for
providing data information to the longest prefix search engine, a super
search engine for performing super search operations, and an analyzer for
computing predicted outputs of the longest prefix search engine and for
comparing the predicted outputs with actual outputs computed by the
longest prefix search engine.