def METHOD_NAME(remote, timeout):
    try:
        host, port = remote.split(":")
        port = int(port)
    except Exception as e:
        bb.warn("Failed to read remote definition (%s)" % str(e))
        raise e
    server, _transport = _create_server(host, port, timeout)
    try:
        ret, err =  server.runCommand(['getVariable', 'TOPDIR'])
        if err or not ret:
            return False
    except ConnectionError:
        return False
    return True