diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/operating_system.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/operating_system.py
index 9d6850bfa6..a4327dde83 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/operating_system.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/operating_system.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from spack.platforms.darwin import Darwin
 from spack.operating_system.linux_distro import LinuxDistro
 from spack.operating_system.mac_osx import MacOSX
+from spack.operating_system.cnl import ComputeNodeLinux
 
 class TestOperatingSystem(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ def setUp(self):
         linux   = Linux()
         darwin  = Darwin()
         self.cray_operating_sys = cray_xc.operating_system('front_os')
+        self.cray_default_os = cray_xc.operating_system('default_os')
+        self.cray_back_os = cray_xc.operating_system('back_os')
         self.darwin_operating_sys = darwin.operating_system('default_os')
         self.linux_operating_sys  = linux.operating_system('default_os')
 
@@ -28,6 +31,12 @@ def test_cray_front_end_operating_system(self):
     def test_cray_front_end_compiler_strategy(self):
         self.assertEquals(self.cray_operating_sys.compiler_strategy, "PATH")
 
+    def test_cray_back_end_operating_system(self):
+        self.assertIsInstance(self.cray_back_os,ComputeNodeLinux) 
+
+    def test_cray_back_end_compiler_strategy(self):
+        self.assertEquals(self.cray_back_os.compiler_strategy, "MODULES")
+
     def test_linux_operating_system(self):
         print self.linux_operating_sys
         self.assertIsInstance(self.linux_operating_sys, LinuxDistro)
@@ -35,7 +44,16 @@ def test_linux_operating_system(self):
     def test_linux_compiler_strategy(self):
         self.assertEquals(self.linux_operating_sys.compiler_strategy, "PATH")
 
-
+    
+    def test_cray_front_end_compiler_list(self):
+        """ Operating systems will now be in charge of finding compilers.
+            So, depending on which operating system you want to build for
+            or which operating system you are on, then you could detect 
+            compilers in a certain way. Cray linux environment on the front
+            end is just a regular linux distro whereas the Cray linux compute
+            node is a stripped down version which modules are important
+        """
+        self.assertEquals(True, False)