Parent db handle is DBI::db=HASH(0x7381e8) I'm child 6302 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6303 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6304 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6305 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6306 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6308 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6307 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6310 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) I'm child 6309 with db handle DBI::db=HASH(0x74fc2c) #### for (my $counter = 1;$counter < $MAXCHILDREN;$counter++) { if (my $pid = fork) { # in parent, do nothing } elsif (! defined $pid) { print "fork failed! -->$!\n"; exit; } else { my $new_dbh = $dbh->clone(); print "I'm child $$\n\twith db handle $new_dbh\n"; exit; } }