ThePerlNoob:

Ok, if you've eliminated the password, I'd try turning on the logging for the session, and turn up the detail to see if there are any clues in that. I'm guessing that there may be a problem establishing an SSH connection. Another option would be to try a telnet connection to see if there's a difference.

You may also want to show some of the output of the program, and add some traces to your code so you can tell which lines are having the problem. (Since you don't specify, I expect it's the connect call.)

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.