I think I'm beginning to understand what you are wanting to do. The Net::FTP script is on the Linux server and its trying to connect to a Win98 PC to get a file? If so, then you need:

A) to make sure there is an FTP server running on the PC
B) you want to use the 'get' method ($ftp->get('$remote_file','$local_file');)

I think I am understanding you properly. If you are attempting to use Net::FTP to connect to a machine that does not have an FTP server running, then you will not be able to do this. I've never really used CGI.pm but I think castaway has the right of it.