Getting to a MySQL server on a Windows 2000 machine is not a problem. If your scripts are running on a Win32 box, you have a couple of options for reaching the database. You can use Win32::ODBC package to access the database, or use DBI with either the ODBC or MySQL interface. If your scripts are running on a non-Win32 platform, then you probably will not be able to use the Win32::ODBC package (never say never).

PS: The ppm install directive for the MySQL interface to DBI is 'install DBD-Mysql'.