So if I understand correctly, using Net::SSH2 alone with the shell() call fails as well. If that's the case, there's pretty much no hope for Net::SSH2::Cisco to work since that's what it does.

I'm loathe to put an exec() option in there since the Net::SSH2 documentation says to use shell() for multiple commands, which is the purpose of Net::SSH2::Cisco.

Last thing to try - I uploaded a new version 0.02 to CPAN. Download that one and try this:

....->new(...)

$host->send_wakeup('noflush');

$host->login(...
[download]

Essentially, you're just calling send_wakeup('noflush') after the constructor, before the login() call. It works with or without the send_wakeup() call for me with IOS; I don't have XR to test on.