with PERL 5 already down loaded, installed and operational for several years

So you got old activeperl? Yup, must be older than 5.14 :)

I've attempted to utilize run, cmd, ppm and the PPM starts and shows modules available and installed. I have selected DBM-MySQL for installation and followed instructions for that to happen but I get an error message = "Error 401, Authorization Required". Authorization for what? I am logged into the server as administrator. What authorization is required?

ActiveState wants cash/money/contract for authorization for to download old stuff

See for yourself http://code.activestate.com/ppm/DBD-mysql/ Builds marked with a lock icon are only available via PPM to users with a current ActivePerl Business Edition subscription.

I imagine the never versions of ppm which come with never versions of ActivePerl have better error messages