Not a Perl solution but depending on the kind of servers in question, if they are name-brand models, such as HP-Compaq, then you should be able to use something like Compaq Insight Manager (or whatever it is being called these days) to monitor the boxes and send out alerts based on criteria. I'm sure other major vendors have similar tools to monitor hardware, although this won't do much for OS/application issues. There is also Microsoft Operations Monitor (aka MOM) that can be set up to monitor the Event Logs on servers and page based on criteria. Price of course is the major issue. I've used CIM and can vouch for it, but not MOM although I've heard our NT administrators talking about it.

If they are from smaller vendors, there might not be anything built in for monitoring. A third-party app might be the best solution if you have to get the project done ASAP. Otherwuise you'll need to look for modules that can capture SNMP and such, at least to start with.

Hope that might provide some direction.

"Ex libris un peut de tout"