eval {
        local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die 'timed out' };
        alarm($connect_timeout);
        $socket = IO::Socket::INET->new(
                PeerAddr => $hostname,
                PeerPort => $port,
                Proto    => 'tcp');
        alarm(0);
    };

##</code><code>##

    eval {
        local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die 'timed out' };
        #         on any subsequent network/socket usage (if thread previously timeout)
        $socket = IO::Socket::INET->new(
                PeerAddr => $hostname,
                PeerPort => $port,
                Timeout  => $connect_timeout,
                Proto    => 'tcp');
    };