When you check for end of file, you are not using the object method ($connect->eof). Instead, the perl builtin eof is being used. Although, it might be working in your case ("eof" without an argument uses the last file read), it would be more correct and safer to use the object method.

...the second snippet of code fixes it...but i don't know how to break the loop looking for eof or timeout...

You can use the timed_out method to test for timeout.

my $lineid = 0;
while ($lineid < 20) {
    my $linedata = $connect->getline;

    # check for eof or time-out _before_ using the data
    last if $connect->eof or $connect->timed_out;

    # now save the line
    push(@data,$linedata);
    $lineid++;
}
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