eval
{
   local $SIG{'ALRM'} = sub{die 'timesup';};
   alarm 2;
   # Now do something as a pause
  while(1)
  {
    select(undef,undef,undef,0.01);
  }
  alarm 0;
};
if($@ =~ 'timesup')
{
  # Call timeout code
}