while(<FH>){
    # Skip the blank lines or the commented lines
    next if (/^\s*$/ || /^\s*\#/);

    # Get the name and the values
    my ($name, $value) = split(/:/, $_, 2);

    # Remove starting/trailing spaces	
    s/(?:^\s*|\s*$)//g foreach ($name, $value);

    # Store the values in the hash in lowercase to 
    # avoid typing mistakes
    $params{$name} = lc($value);
}