package My::Module;

  use IO::Socket::INET;

  ...

  sub open_socket_to {
    my ($class, %args) = @_;
    return IO::Socket::INET->new(
      PeerAddr => $args{machine},
      PeerPort => $args{port},
      Proto => $args{protocol} || 'tcp',
      Type => SOCK_STREAM,
    );
  }