def split_host_address(host_address):
    """ Splits a host address into the host and the corresponding port (as int) in the form of a dictionary

    :returns: A dict in the form {'host': <IP OR HOSTNAME> 'port': <PORT as int>}
    """
    if ':' not in host_address:
        return None
    host, port = host_address.split(':')
    return {'host': host, 'port': int(port)}