Re: Perl, LWP and HTTPS

On Wed, 9 Oct 2013 22:46:36 +0100
"Alastair Mackenzie" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi.
>=20
> I'd like to use Perl to access some web sites.  I've been reading 'Perl &
> LWP' --- which has been very helpful and seems to make sense --- and now =
I'd
> like to get on with some scripting.  However, I've run into a bit of a
> problem.  The main URL that I'm interested in accessing uses the HTTPS
> protocol, and my version of LWP doesn't support HTTPS.  When I try to run=
 my
> script the status_line comes back as "501 Protocol scheme 'https' is not
> supported (Crypt:::SSLeay not installed)".  If I add "use Crypt::SSLeay;"=
 to
> my script I get an error message saying "Can't locate Crypt/SSLeay in @IN=
C".
>=20
> I gather that I need either Crypt::SSLeay --- or possibly LWP-Protocol-ht=
tps
> --- but I don't know how find out exactly what I need or how to get it.  =
Can
> you point me in the right direction, please?
>=20
> I'm using ActivePerl 5.8.8.817.
>=20
> I'm reasonably computer literate, but I don't have any experience of
> compiling packages, so I'll need step-by-step instructions (or a book or
> on-line course on this subject).
>=20
> >>  Which module(s) do I need?
>=20

Crypt::SSLeay

> >>  How do I go about getting and installing the necessary module(s)?
>=20

See the various resources at http://perl-begin.org/topics/cpan/ (Note: I
created Perl-Begin and maintain it).

> >>  My version of ActivePerl seems to include something called 'PPM'.  Is
> >> that relevant?  If so, how can I get step-by-step instructions on how =
to
> >> use it?

Perhaps try this search - https://duckduckgo.com/?q=3Dppm%20activeperl .

>=20
> >>  Do I need OpenSSL?  If so, how can I get step-by-step instructions on=
 how
> >> to obtain and install it?

Yes, you do, unless the Perl extension is statically linked to it. I have no
idea about how to install OpenSSL on Windows (You can try searching the web=
).

>=20
> >>  Would it make any difference if I upgrade to ActivePerl 5.16?
>=20

As you've seen - it did. I should further note that for Windows, most
clueful people would recommend using http://strawberryperl.com/ , which is
free-as-in-speech, open source, community maintained (and naturally -
gratis), and better, over ActivePerl, which is proprietary, or
http://dwimperl.com/windows.html , which contains Strawberry Perl and other
extensions (although it seems that now DWIM Perl is stuck at perl-5.14.x, w=
hich
was end-of-lifed).

Finally, I should note that there's already perl-5.18.1, so you should use =
it
instead of perl-5.16.x.

Regards,

	Shlomi Fish


--=20
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Shlomi Fish       http://www.shlomifish.org/
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