I'm not entirely clear on what you're trying to do. Let me see if I can understand this correctly: you script connects to a gateway. A VT100 is also connected to this gateway. Your script sends a command to the gateway to connect you to the VT100 - and here the trouble starts. Correct so far? Assuming the above, the fact that you say that you see the traffic after the connection is closed makes me think you are Suffering from Buffering. Possibly not on your side, but on the gateway.

On the other hand, it could be that you are connected to the VT100, but nobody is typing anything. After all, a VT100 is just a terminal, not an active device.

Also: are you using Net::Telnet::cmd to send your communications to the VT100? If you are, you may be having a problem with a mis-set prompt, or line separator.

Try using Net::Telnet::get or Net::Telnet::getline (both with a timeout set), to see if you get any data that way.

And if it's none of the above, show us some code. It might give us a better idea of what you're trying to do.