my $x = "set manager logport [<0-10000>] set manager secondary ip A.B.C.D set mgmtport auto set mgmtport speed (10|100) duplex (full|half) set portsettletime <0-300> set sensor gateway A.B.C.D set sensor ip A.B.C.D E.F.G.H"; #### my $y = set mgmtport speed (10|100) duplex (full|half) if ($x=~ /$y\s+/ig) { }