my %hoh = ( '111' => { switch => 'on', ip => '10.1.1.1', version => '12.1(SAG1)'}, '222' => { switch => 'off', ip => '12.1.1.1', version => '12.4(FCL5)'}, '333' => { switch => 'null', ip => '13.1.1.1', version => '12.1(5)'}, ); # $hoh{333}{switch} = 'null';