$tree_view->set_search_equal_func(sub {
            # reset to the main tree store, containing all the hosts
            $tree_view->set_model($tree_store);

            my ($_tree_store, $path, $pattern, $iter) = @_;
            return unless length($pattern) > 2;
            my %results;
            $_tree_store->foreach(sub {
                my ($model, $path, $iter) = @_ ;
                my $host = $model->get($iter, 0);
                my $ip   = $model->get($iter, 1);
                if($host =~ /$pattern/){
                    # print "Found $host for $pattern\n";
                    $results{$host} = $ip;
                }
                # return 0, so that the function always iterates through
                # the entire tree store
                return 0
            });

            # build the new tree store and display in the tree view
            if(scalar keys %results > 0){
                my $new_treestore = create_treestore(\%results);
                $tree_view->set_model($new_treestore);
                # $tree_view->set_cursor(0);
   	            $tree_view->set_search_column(0);
                # my $iter = $new_treestore->get_first_iter();
                my $path = $new_treestore->get_path( $new_treestore->get_iter_first() );
                $tree_view->set_cursor($path);
                undef $path;

                #get the Gtk2::TreeSelection of $tree_view
                my $treeselection = $tree_view->get_selection;
                #set its initial mode
                $treeselection->set_mode('single');
            }
    }, undef);