$ python
Python 2.6.6 (r266:84292, Jan 22 2014, 09:42:36)
[GCC 4.4.7 20120313 (Red Hat 4.4.7-4)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import salt.client
>>> import salt.config
>>> opts = salt.config.minion_config('/etc/salt/minion')
>>> opts['timeout'] = 10
>>> local_client = salt.client.LocalClient(mopts=opts)
>>> local_client.cmd('dpuppetk.foobar.com', 'test.ping')
Failed to connect to the Master, is the Salt Master running?
{}