A physical network element configured to operate as a plurality of separated routing entities, each functioning independently of the others, wherein: a) each of the plurality of routing entities is provided with its own control, management and data planes, and with a dedicated routing information base table and a forwarding information base table; and b) all of said plurality of routing entities are configured to operate while sharing at least one member of a group that consists of: (i) one or more packet processors comprised in said physical network element; (ii) one or more central processing units, CPUs, comprised in said physical network element; (iii) one or more fabrics comprised in said physical network element; and (iv) one or more network interfaces comprised in said physical network element; and wherein said physical network element is characterized in that each routing entity is configured to request specific hardware resources, and wherein said physical network element is further characterized in that for at least two different routing entities sharing a packet processor, identifications, IDs, of said requested specific hardware resources overlap, and wherein said physical network element is further configured to maintain a mapping table for mapping IDs of said hardware resources. a) each of the plurality of routing entities is provided with its own control, management and data planes, and with a dedicated routing information base table and a forwarding information base table; and b) all of said plurality of routing entities are configured to operate while sharing at least one member of a group that consists of: (i) one or more packet processors comprised in said physical network element; (ii) one or more central processing units, CPUs, comprised in said physical network element; (iii) one or more fabrics comprised in said physical network element; and (iv) one or more network interfaces comprised in said physical network element; and wherein said physical network element is characterized in that each routing entity is configured to request specific hardware resources, and wherein said physical network element is further characterized in that for at least two different routing entities sharing a packet processor, identifications, IDs, of said requested specific hardware resources overlap, and wherein said physical network element is further configured to maintain a mapping table for mapping IDs of said hardware resources. (i) one or more packet processors comprised in said physical network element; (ii) one or more central processing units, CPUs, comprised in said physical network element; (iii) one or more fabrics comprised in said physical network element; and (iv) one or more network interfaces comprised in said physical network element; and wherein said physical network element is characterized in that each routing entity is configured to request specific hardware resources, and wherein said physical network element is further characterized in that for at least two different routing entities sharing a packet processor, identifications, IDs, of said requested specific hardware resources overlap, and wherein said physical network element is further configured to maintain a mapping table for mapping IDs of said hardware resources. <EOS>