#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;
use Data::Dumper;

my @HOST_IP         =  ("1.2.3",       "5.6.7", "8.9.10");
my @HOST_NAME        = ("Mary",        "Zeke",  "Bob");
my @HOST_DESCRIPTION = ("Development", "Test",  "Manufacturing");

# create a single array structure and then sort that

my @AoA;

while (@HOST_IP)
{
   push @AoA, [shift @HOST_IP, shift @HOST_NAME, 
               shift @HOST_DESCRIPTION];
}

print "The combined data as an Array of Array:\n";

foreach my $arrayRef (@AoA)
{
   print "@$arrayRef\n";
}

@AoA = sort {$a->[1] cmp $b->[1]} @AoA;

print "\nSorted by column 2...\n";
foreach my $arrayRef (@AoA)
{
   print "@$arrayRef\n";
}

__END__
Prints:
The combined data as an Array of Array:
1.2.3 Mary Development
5.6.7 Zeke Test
8.9.10 Bob Manufacturing

Sorted by column 2...
8.9.10 Bob Manufacturing
1.2.3 Mary Development
5.6.7 Zeke Test