eval{
	local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "alarm\n" }; # NB: \n required
	alarm($timeout);

	$conn = DBI->connect($connection, $USER, $PASS,
			{ RaiseError => 0, AutoCommit => 1 }
	);
	alarm(0);
};
if ($@){
	my_die ( "Unable to login : [$@]: [$conn->errstr]");
}