Gossamer Threads links script won't "verify" links from the admin, how would I run nph-verify.cgi from shell?

Hi, Gossamer Threads links won't verify my 670 links (they need to be done ASAP) that I managed to upload from an older version of links. The mysql db is working okay in every other way though. I get a "the connection was reset" error page. I went into the script and as per GT forum post reduced my chunk and children to 9 from 10 but that didn't change anything. How would I run nph-verify.cgi from shell? The script is seeing "duplicate links" in admin and it is seeing links I have tried in the last couple of days as it shows them as "bad" if they were etc. Whn I click "verify" I can only suppose it's working and the connection is then failing. Any ideas? I haven't talked to my helpdesk yet becasue they are only semi-web server literate (they control it) and I need more knowledge cause they can just say"it's the program". Thank you, S