diff --git a/py/test/host.py b/py/test/host.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46ac5715f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py/test/host.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+
+class InvalidHostSpec(ValueError):
+    pass
+
+def parsehostspec(spec):
+    parts = spec.split(":", 2)
+    if len(parts) < 2:
+        raise InvalidHostSpec(spec)
+    type = parts.pop(0)
+    if type == 'ssh':
+        sshaddress = parts.pop(0)
+        basedir = parts and ":".join(parts) or ''
+        return SpecSSH(sshaddress, basedir)
+    elif type == 'socket':
+        host = parts.pop(0)
+        if not parts:
+            raise InvalidHostSpec(spec)
+        remainder = parts.pop(0)
+        parts = remainder.split(":", 1)
+        port = int(parts.pop(0))
+        basedir = parts and ":".join(parts) or ''
+        return SpecSocket(host, port, basedir)
+    else:
+        raise InvalidHostSpec(spec)
+
+class SpecSSH(object):
+    def __init__(self, sshaddress, basedir):
+        self.sshaddress = sshaddress
+        self.basedir = basedir
+        self.host = sshaddress.split('@', 1)[-1]
+       
+class SpecSocket(object):
+    def __init__(self, host, port, basedir):
+        self.host = host
+        self.port = port
+        self.basedir = basedir 
+     
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_host.py b/py/test/testing/test_host.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b1d699e45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_host.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+"""
+
+Testing Host setup and rsyncing operations. 
+
+"""
+
+import py
+from py.__.test.host import parsehostspec
+
+def test_parse_hostspec_ssh():
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("ssh:xyz@domain.net:directory")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.basedir == "directory"
+    assert hostspec.sshaddress == "xyz@domain.net"
+
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("ssh:xyz@domain.net:direc:tory")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.basedir == "direc:tory"
+    assert hostspec.sshaddress == "xyz@domain.net"
+
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("ssh:xyz@domain.net")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.basedir == ""
+    assert hostspec.sshaddress == "xyz@domain.net"
+
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("ssh:domain.net:directory")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.basedir == "directory"
+    assert hostspec.sshaddress == "domain.net"
+
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("ssh:domain.net:/tmp/hello")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.basedir == "/tmp/hello"
+    assert hostspec.sshaddress == "domain.net"
+
+def test_parse_hostspec_socket():
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("socket:domain.net:1234:directory")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.port == 1234
+    assert hostspec.basedir == "directory" 
+
+    hostspec = parsehostspec("socket:domain.net:1234")
+    assert hostspec.host == "domain.net"
+    assert hostspec.port == 1234
+    assert hostspec.basedir == ""
+    
+def test_parse_hostspec_error():
+    py.test.raises(ValueError, """
+        parsehostspec('alksd:qweqwe')
+    """)
+    py.test.raises(ValueError, """
+        parsehostspec('ssh')
+    """)
+    py.test.raises(ValueError, """
+        parsehostspec('socket:qweqwe')
+    """)