sub ops_new_cmd {
   my ($init_hash) = @_;
   my $new_cmd = {};
   lock_ref_keys($new_cmd, qw(name user host key command status ssh_retcode ssh_retmsg output std_err cmd_ret_code cmd_ret_msg));
   for my $k (keys %$init_hash) { $new_cmd->{$k} = $init_hash->{$k}; }
   return $new_cmd
}

##</code><code>##

my @commands = (
   ops_new_cmd({ name => 'command_name1',
     user => 'user1',
     host => 'server1.foo.com',
     command => 'rsync_command yadda yadda'
   }),
   ops_new_cmd({ name => 'command_name2',
     user => 'user2',
     host => 'server2.foo.com',
     command => 'rsync_command yadda yadda'
   })
);