code: def atlas_peer_ping( peer_hostport, timeout=None, peer_table=None ):
      
      
      if timeout is None:
          timeout = atlas_ping_timeout()
  
      assert not atlas_peer_table_is_locked_by_me()
  
      host, port = url_to_host_port( peer_hostport )
      RPC = get_rpc_client_class()
      rpc = RPC( host, port, timeout=timeout )
  
      log.debug("Ping %s" % peer_hostport)
  
      ret = False
      try:
          res = blockstack_ping( proxy=rpc ) 
          if 'error' not in res:
              ret = True
  
      except (socket.timeout, socket.gaierror, socket.herror, socket.error), se:
          atlas_log_socket_error( "ping(%s)" % peer_hostport, peer_hostport, se )
          pass
  
      except Exception, e:
          log.exception(e)
          pass
  
      # update health
      with AtlasPeerTableLocked(peer_table) as ptbl:
          atlas_peer_update_health( peer_hostport, ret, peer_table=ptbl )
  
      return ret
docs: Ping a host
      Return True if alive
      Return False if not