You can, if you want to, use Win32::OLE to imitate the behaviour of the VB code:
sub open_conn {
use Win32::OLE;
use Win32::OLE::Const 'Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects';
$oConn = Win32::OLE->new('ADODB.Connection'); # creates a connection
+object
my $connectionString = '"Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;DataSource=iblons3506\oi
+_c1_prd4;InitialCatalog=OMDPortal;UserID=OMDPortal_General;Password=o
+BfuScaTed;';
$oConn->Open ($connectionString);
}
But with any luck the answers provided by the other monks have already got you on your way.
You can run your SQL with
$oConn->Execute($sql_command)