1. An apparatus for processing data packets in a data network, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of search engine pipeline stages arranged in series, the plurality of search engine pipeline stages configured to perform search requests in sequential processing steps; a plurality of time division multiplexing (TDM) interfaces coupled to the plurality of search engine pipeline stages, wherein each of the plurality of TDM interfaces is coupled to a subset of the plurality of search engine pipeline stages; and a plurality of search engines of different types coupled to the plurality of search engine pipeline stages via the plurality of TDM interfaces, each of the plurality of search engines configured to provide search results in response to search requests received from one or more of the plurality of search engine pipeline stages via a respective one of the plurality of TDM interfaces.