signal(SIGALRM, timeouthandler);
alarm(3);
...(connection to a server that may hang)...

alarm(0);

timeouthandler(){
...(connection to a server that may hang)...
}

signal(SIGALRM, timeouthandler2);
alarm(3);
...(log the time out)...

alarm(0);

timeouthandler2(){
...(log the time out)...
}