Is there a way where I can connect to a linux host via a win32 box using ActivePerl v5.8?

Yep - at it's most basic, you can run an IO::Socket server script on your linux box, and connect to it via an IO::Socket client script running on the Win32 box. See the "Perl Cookbook" if you have a copy of it. (Actually, at an even more basic level, you could use "Socket" rather than "IO::Socket" scripts.)

As davorg hinted, if there's an FTP, SSH, HTTP, or Telnet server running, then there are even more options - eg Net::FTP, Net::Telnet, Net::SSH2, Net::SSH::Perl, Net::SSH::W32Perl, or one of the LWP modules.

Cheers,
Rob