# best solution:
$socketA = new IO::Socket::INET(
    PeerAddr => $A_box_address,
    PeerPort => $A_box_port,
    Proto => 'tcp',
) or $skipA = 1;

# another option:
$socketA = new IO::Socket::INET(
    PeerAddr => $A_box_address,
    PeerPort => $A_box_port,
    Proto => 'tcp',
);
$skipA = 1 unless defined($socketA);

# yet another
eval q{
    $socketA = new IO::Socket::INET(
        PeerAddr => $A_box_address,
        PeerPort => $A_box_port,
        Proto => 'tcp',
    ) or die("ouch\n");
};
$skipA = 1 if ($@ eq "ouch\n");

# and still yet...
eval q{
    $socketA = new IO::Socket::INET (
        PeerAddr => $A_box_address,
        PeerPort => $A_box_port,
        Proto => 'tcp',
    ) or die("ouch\n");
} or $skipA = 1;