A sample from perlipc: 
   eval {
        local $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "alarm clock restart" };
        alarm 10;
        flock(FH, 2);   # blocking write lock
        alarm 0;
    };
    if ($@ and $@ !~ /alarm clock restart/) { die }

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In reply to Re: Ending system() calls after certain time period. by pjotrik
in thread Ending system() calls after certain time period. by ub3rFrank

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