get_arch ()
{
# Query the system for the hardware architecture. Newer
# machines use the -M switch and the older Micro-Channel
# architecture (MCA) machines use the -p option for
# the "uname" command.

ARCH=$(uname -M)
if [[ -z "$ARCH" && "$ARCH" = '' ]]
then
     ARCH=$(uname -p)
fi

echo "$ARCH"
}