use strict;
use warnings;

$SIG{CHLD} = "IGNORE";

my $pid = fork();
die "can not fork" if !defined $pid;
if ($pid == 0) {
  # in child process
  my $cmd = "/usr/openwin/bin/xterm -display <IPADDRESS:X.Y>";
  my $ssh = Net::SSH::Perl->new(<HOSTNAME>, port => 22);
  my $ssh->login(<USERNAME>, <PASSWORD>)
  my($out, $err) = $ssh->cmd($cmd);
  exit(0);
}

# in parent process
# carry on doing other things...