How do I return multiple discrete arrays and/or hashes from a subroutine?

[Lance Murray]

Hello:
 
I know I can return multiple scalar values from a subroutine using an array,
but how do I return multiple arrays, hashes, etc from a subroutine?  For
example, the following snippet...
 
     my @ip_addresses = &getIPAddresses;
     my (@hostfile, @no_dname) = &getHostNames(@ip_addresses);
     print "\nHOSTFILE: ", scalar @hostfile,"\n",@hostfile;
     print "\nNO_DNAME: ", scalar @no_dname,"\n",@no_dname;
 
Generates this for output...
 
     HOSTFILE: 411
     NO_DNAME: 0
 
When what I REALLY want returned is this: (valid data)

 
     HOSTFILE: 44
     NO_DNAME: 367
 
The subroutine I'm using looks like this:
 
sub getHostNames {
  my (@hostfile,@no_dname,$bitbucket,$hostname);
  foreach my $ip_address (@ip_addresses) {
    my @results = `/usr/sbin/nslookup $ip_address 2>&1`;
    chomp @results;
    foreach (@results) {
      # [PARSE OUTPUT HERE]
    }
  }
  @hostfile, @no_dname;
}

 
Obviously the subroutine assignments are just merging the contents of the last
subroutine evaluation statement (@hostfile, @no_dname), and is returning the
merged values to the first variable (@hostfile/411 elements).  How can I return
discrete arrays and hashes from a subroutine?
 
Grateful for any help!
 
Lance
 
 

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