diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aff9329..4a1764a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ SOURCES_3.14 += mlock.c
 DBDS_3.14    += mlock.dbd
 
 SOURCES_vxWorks += bootNotify.c
+
+HEADERS_3.13 += epicsEndian.h
+HEADERS_3.14.8 += epicsEndian.h
diff --git a/epicsEndian.h b/epicsEndian.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f59703
--- /dev/null
+++ b/epicsEndian.h
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#ifndef INC_epicsEndian_H
+#define INC_epicsEndian_H
+
+#if defined (vxWorks)
+
+#include <types/vxArch.h>
+
+#if _BYTE_ORDER == _LITTLE_ENDIAN
+#   define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE
+#elif _BYTE_ORDER == _BIG_ENDIAN
+#   define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG
+#else
+#   error EPICS hasnt been ported to _BYTE_ORDER specified by vxWorks <types/vxArch.h>
+#endif
+
+/* for now, assume that vxWorks doesnt run on weird arch like ARM NWFP */
+#define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_BYTE_ORDER
+
+#elif defined (_WIN32)
+
+/* for now, assume that win32 runs only on generic little endian */
+#define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE
+#define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_BYTE_ORDER
+
+#else
+
+/* if compilation fails because this wasnt found then you may need to define an OS
+   specific osdWireConfig.h */
+
+#include <sys/param.h>
+
+#ifdef __BYTE_ORDER
+#   if __BYTE_ORDER == __LITTLE_ENDIAN
+#       define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE
+#   elif __BYTE_ORDER == __BIG_ENDIAN
+#       define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG
+#   else
+#       error EPICS hasnt been ported to run on the <sys/param.h> specified __BYTE_ORDER
+#   endif
+#else
+#   ifdef BYTE_ORDER
+#       if BYTE_ORDER == LITTLE_ENDIAN
+#           define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE
+#       elif BYTE_ORDER == BIG_ENDIAN
+#           define EPICS_BYTE_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG
+#       else
+#           error EPICS hasnt been ported to run on the <sys/param.h> specified BYTE_ORDER
+#       endif
+#   else
+#       error <sys/param.h> doesnt specify __BYTE_ORDER or BYTE_ORDER - is an OS specific osdWireConfig.h needed?
+#   endif
+#endif
+
+#ifdef __FLOAT_WORD_ORDER
+#   if __FLOAT_WORD_ORDER == __LITTLE_ENDIAN
+#       define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE
+#   elif __FLOAT_WORD_ORDER == __BIG_ENDIAN
+#       define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG
+#   else
+#       error EPICS hasnt been ported to <sys/param.h> specified __FLOAT_WORD_ORDER
+#   endif
+#else
+#    ifdef FLOAT_WORD_ORDER
+#       if FLOAT_WORD_ORDER == LITTLE_ENDIAN
+#           define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_LITTLE
+#       elif FLOAT_WORD_ORDER == BIG_ENDIAN
+#           define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_ENDIAN_BIG
+#       else
+#           error EPICS hasnt been ported to <sys/param.h> specified FLOAT_WORD_ORDER
+#       endif
+#   else
+        /* assume that if neither __FLOAT_WORD_ORDER nor FLOAT_WORD_ORDER are
+           defined then weird fp ordered archs like arm nwfp aren't supported */
+#       define EPICS_FLOAT_WORD_ORDER EPICS_BYTE_ORDER
+#   endif
+#endif
+
+#endif
+
+#endif /* INC_epicsEndian_H */